Milford Track Transport

The Milford Track starts at Glade Wharf, Te Anau Downs. You must book a 1-hour boat transfer across Lake Te Anau to the start of the walking track. We offer a daily ferry service during the Great Walk season. Free car parking is available at Te Anau Downs, or bus transfers can also be booked from Queenstown or central Te Anau.

After four days of tramping through beautiful beech forests and across alpine passes, the track ends with a short boat ride from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound. RealNZ operates a boat service at the track's end, which must be booked in advance. Please note that the Milford Track end is in Milford Sound, and you will need to arrange a relocation or transport back to Te Anau Downs to collect your car after you finish the track. 

Important things to know about the Milford Track 

• The Milford Track can only be walked in one direction (Te Anau Downs to Milford Sound) 
• The track must be walked as a 3-night, 4-day walk.
• You must book your hut passes directly through DOC; no camping is allowed on the Milford Track.
• Rated as an Intermediate track, the walk is suitable for various abilities.
• The Milford Great Walk is maintained to a high standard, with well-formed tracks and sturdy bridges.
• Outside of the great walk season, facilities are significantly reduced, and additional safety hazards are present. Only very experienced and well-equipped trampers should attempt the track during this time.
• Visit The Department of Conservation for more information on track conditions, what to pack, and to book your hut passes.

Milford Sound Track Transport has a 24-hour cancellation policy for bookings made directly with RealNZ. Reschedules or refunds will be given in the event of a cancellation, and amendments can be made to your booking when RealNZ receives notification at least 24 hours prior (NZ time) to your departure time.

Milford Sound

Nestled amidst towering cliffs and lush rainforests, the breathtaking beauty and raw nature of Milford Sound captivate all who visit, but it also comes with its share of natural hazards. Visitors to Milford Sound should be aware of various natural hazards, including earthquakes, tsunamis, severe weather events, flooding, landslides, and avalanches. The Alpine Fault, capable of producing Magnitude 8 earthquakes, poses a significant risk of triggering landslides and tsunamis, while the area's mountainous terrain and high rainfall lead to frequent landslides and potential road closures due to flooding and avalanches.

Earthquake

The Alpine Fault runs approximately 800km up the spine of the South Island of New Zealand and is one of the world’s major geological features. Responsible for the prominent geological features that are evident in Milford Sound, the Alpine Fault is active, with rupture events occurring on average every 300 years. The latest significant earthquake was in 1717 AD. For more information, see the link here: AF8 website.

Analysis indicates that major ruptures are likely to exceed Magnitude 8. The next Alpine Fault event is likely to be very destructive and could trigger landslides and potentially a localised tsunami. An Alpine Fault rupture of Magnitude 8 is anticipated to damage critical infrastructure in Milford Sound, such as key road networks.

Tsunami

Milford Sound is susceptible to both local and distant-sourced tsunami events. Scientific analysis indicates that in the event of any severe earthquake (Magnitude 8 or higher), a destructive landslide (including submarine) induced tsunami could be generated. Supporting analysis also indicates that the substantial volume of water displaced by a landslide may result in a tsunami reaching very significant wave and run-up heights.

In areas such as Milford Sound, where numerous visitors are received each day, a landslide-induced tsunami of any significant height would pose a significant risk to people at Milford Sound. The only warning these people would receive of a potential tsunami is the onset of an earthquake. This section will be updated once a new risk assessment of landslide-induced tsunamis has been completed.

Severe Weather Events

Flooding

Milford Sound’s mountainous terrain results in significant annual rainfall, with the area receiving in excess of 7 metres of rain each year on average. Low soil absorption typically sees rain run directly into the sea, lakes, or high-capacity rivers throughout the area. It is not unusual to get rainfall accumulations of 200 mm in 24 hours with intensities of up to 30 mm per hour.

Whilst the roading infrastructure is well developed to cope with most heavy rain events, significant and sustained rain events have the potential to close roads and isolate Milford Sound while repairs are carried out.

Landslide

Landslides are a regular occurrence in Milford Sound due to regular severe weather and the area's soil conditions. They are primarily vegetation-based near the coast, where topsoil is limited; however, further inland, they have a higher content of rock and soil.

Snow/ Avalanche

Avalanches also threaten the road networks that service the Milford Sound area. While the preventative actions of the Milford Road Alliance (i.e. avalanche control) significantly reduce avalanche risk, avalanches continue to occur periodically.