Tramping the Milford Track

Four days in the wilderness with another 39 people, staying in huts along the way. What an adventure the Milford Track was. 

Day 1 started with a boat ride out to the start of the track ready for the gruelling one hour and thirty minute walk for the day. Ok it wasn’t gruelling, but the first day is particularly short as it takes so long to get there. The weather was drizzly, but it wasn’t long until we reached our first hut. The huts are formed of giant bucks with a room to cook some food with gas and running water. There’s some long drop toilets and the smells reminded me of being at a festival. 

After an afternoon of getting to know some of the other 39 people I’d be spending the next 4 days with, it was time for the Hut Talk. It sounded like it should be some sort of podcast or something. Ranger Birgit talked us through what to expect over the next few days. Birgit was lovely but she did go on for 45 minutes. 

Day 2 was wet, which Birgit warned us about. But there’s a huge benefit of rain. Waterfalls, lots of waterfalls. I was disappointed by the waterfalls on my cruise the other day but this was something else. The day ended at the next hut where we lit the fire almost immediately. This was then surrounded by everyone’s wet clothes and boots, giving the main communal area a lovely stench. Ranger Scotty then gave us episode 2 of Hut Talk, but he wasn’t as enthusiastic as Birgit sadly. Snoring descended on the bunk that night, meaning I woke up at 3am and couldn’t get back to sleep.

Day 3 was the big one. We were going to reach the top of the track and then completely descend it. The day started off wet but the rain and clouds began to clear as we reached the summit. There’s a number of shelters on each leg. One of them had gas burners which Dylan was able to light with his breath. We were also treated to the fifth highest waterfall in the world, which I decided to have a closer inspection of, but ended up completely drenched. The day ended at my favourite hut of the journey. Ranger Ryan gave us our third and final Hut Talk, giving us plenty of laughs. 

Day 4 was a race to the boat extraction point at the end of the track. The boats are small, so you needed to get there as soon as you could in a way to ensure you could get off promptly. The sun was out all day as we walked the final leg. 

The beauty of this track was that it’s very inaccessible. There were only 40 of us on each section, meaning you knew everyone you were walking and staying in bunks with. With the addition of no phone signal, it was great to spend time in nature with a set group of people, getting to know them and just laughing constantly. One of my highlights in New Zealand that’s for certain. 

I also found out in New Zealand their name for hiking is tramping. I found it hilarious for some reason.