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Photo credit / Jase Blair / Katabatic Creative Ltd

​Thanks to Glacier Valley Eco Tours

Fiordland National Park

2/3/2022

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Milford Track Fiordland National Park
Living in Japan’s volcanic archipelago, tramping every weekend was de rigueur for me. Passing local hikers on the mountain tracks, they would ask where was I from. When I replied New Zealand, they replied with hushed awe ‘ah Milford or Fiordland National Park'. It seemed everyone knew this place whether they had been there or not.
Our guests often comment on this tramp, speaking with reverence of their experiences having walked it so I decided to write a blog about it.

Milford Track New Zealand

​I have scant memories of the first time experiencing this great walk fifteen years ago, mainly because the weather was overcast and cloudy. This time when we began the track in clear skies and warm sunshine, the scenery and track seemed like it was all new. As the vistas unfolded with the steep mountains stretching out, I felt that despite all the walkers, the track was unspoiled and it was easy to slip the crowds and be alone. ​
Milford Track New Zealand
Rivers, forests mountains wilderness
Hiking NZ Fiordland National Park
Great Walks NZ Milford Walk

Best Hike in The World

I truly do believe that the Milford Sound Track is one of the epic hikes in the world. When I got up on the first night to go out to look at the starry night, I disturbed two wapiti grazing near the lodge, their big silhouettes against the starry skies. They were startled by me and thundered across the grassy flats into the bush. I got a heck of a fright by this close encounter.  More excitement the next morning, as I had chance to watch a long-tailed cuckoo, being fed by its foster parents. I was in awe, as In my early morning bike rides in Franz Josef, I have heard their unmistakable calls, yet never have seen these secretive birds.   ​
A long tailed cuckoo on the Milford Track
The elusive long tailed cuckoo

Milford Track Huts

Hut on the Milford Sound
Track workers hut
Friendly robin on the Milford Track
Friendly robin
Trout in the clear waters Milford Sound
Trout in the clear waters
​We came across the first hut we stayed in on our first trip. Jo was working for the Department of Conservation, so we were lucky to have had access to the rangers' work huts. Then it was Easter and cold, the weather was clagged in. I remember that when we came across it then, the hut was a haven. Today, even in the sun, 15 years later, it looked pretty basic and dirty. I couldn’t help but wonder what had changed, me or the hut? 
Walking up the McKinnon Pass Milford Sound
Praire Lake Milford Sound
Walking up McKinnon Pass Milford Sound

McKinnon Pass

​Tramping up the valley, we came to a lake in the steeply U-shaped glacier valley named Prairie Lake which was perfect for a swim with a waterfall as a backdrop. While refreshing in the cool water I pondered that with all its hype. It would be easy to mistake the Milford track as a pilgrimage to a heavenly place. The next day the climb up the mountain to the McKinnon Pass, the exhausting kilometres we were yet to traverse would knock that thought away at times!  
Jonathan over the final bridge Milford Sound Great Walk
Rising above all is the fiord’s Mitre Peak Rahotu
Seals resting on the rocks
Milford Sound Fiords
The lofty peaks of Piopiotahi
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    Keen on the outdoors, we often hike around our local area so we can pass on all our knowledge about Westland Tai Poutini National Park.

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