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“360 degree views of snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, gushing rivers...” |
We have just spent four days in the spectacular Milford Sounds completing the famous Milford Tract walk covering 33.5 miles. You may think the .5 miles was irrelevant but we hobbled through that half mile with more relief then any other half mile we have ever walked.
It is the best way to see the Milford Sounds. 360 degree views of snow capped mountains, crystal clear lakes, gushing rivers, waterfalls forming down every crevice and forests where every inch is covered in green. Huge ferns for which NZ is famous and moss dripping from every tree.
Going on the Milford Track is like entering another world. No cars, no people, no technology, no phone cables. For four days we survived with the freeze dried food on our backs and drunk the water from the rivers and streams. We slept in huts with 40 bunks each filled with people of all ages from all around the world.
On the first day you take an hour ferry trip across the fiords of Te Anau and walk just 5km to the first hut. The first day was easy - the only strain was carrying the wine! The second day we woke to rain - as predicted. It was raining from the minute we left at 7am and continued non stop all day. We managed to get the fire going at the hut and by the time the last walker had hung up their thermals we had turned the hut into a chinese laundry.
The second day we had to climb to the summit of the pass and we did so enclosed by low cloud. We got to the top it was cold and we had seen nothing. We joined other walkers in the shelter just 20 minutes from the Mackinnon pass and used the stove in there to make a few mugs of cuppa soup while we waited in hope that the cloud would clear. After waiting an hour one of the walkers ran in and said it had cleared. Everyone rushed out and the view was amazing.
Simon, Pod and I walked the 20 minutes back to the view point - it was unbelievable as you can see from the photos. You would never have imagined that we were walking past such views.
With the sun on our backs we began our descent. We had been walking for about an hour when I tripped, lost my balance and fell on my knees and face with my backpack on top of me. My lip bled and my eyes watered but it was nothing too serious. For the next 5 hours though every foot of the rocky path was a test of concentration and our knees.
When we arrived at the bottom we had a one hour walk to the Sutherland Falls. The highest waterfall in NZ and the 7th highest in the world. It was spectacular and refreshing as the spray washed over us. When we arrived at our hut it was past 7 O'clock, we cooked up a freeze dried meal and were in bed by 9.
The last day of the walk was thankfully less challenging, although 11 miles when every part of you aches is hardly a walk in the park. We got to the sign at the end by 1.30 half an hour before the ferry arrived to take us back to civilisation. We were all sad to be leaving such a fantastic place but we the thought of a hot bath and the roast beef that Jo was preparing helped to put a smile on our faces.
previous travel blog entryComments or Questions for the Author
Sonic Pod says:
I think the weather is always unpredictable in the Sounds. The altitude wasn´t a problem at all and the third day of the hike is difficult because you are treking down hill for at least half of the day and your knees certainly feel it. The best thing is take walking sticks and do some exercise first otherwise you will be fine!
cmm says:
Hi, I have 2 questions: 1. Is late Nov. or early Dec. a good time for the hike? Are there rainier times than others? cold? 2. At what altitude are you hiking? What makes the hike so difficult? The path itself, the altitude or the distances? My daughter and I are planning on going so your help is much appreciated.