Before you go: Important pre-trip information
Kia ora. Soon you will be enjoying one of the world's most spectacular walking experiences—the Milford Track. Before you travel to Milford Sound, we recommend you take a few minutes to read this important information. These tips will help you pack the right gear, understand what to expect and ensure you’re prepared for what Fiordland has in store. Weather and what to wear: First things first, the weather here has a personality all of its own. We often say you can experience four seasons in a single day in Fiordland, so come prepared with layers and a good raincoat. This incredible landscape can receive over seven metres of rainfall annually, which is what creates the area's magnificent waterfalls. While hiking boots aren't a necessity on the track, we strongly recommend comfortable walking shoes, and waterproof footwear is even better. Other essentials: Pack plenty of water, snacks, and perhaps a lunch to enjoy when you reach Giant Gate Falls. A good tip is to pack a soft cloth for wiping water spray from your camera lens. Another essential item is insect repellent. You can expect sandflies along the walk, especially at the waterfall and Sandfly Point (the name is a giveaway!). Remember, there are no rubbish bins along this track, so take out everything you bring in. Toilets: You will find toilets at two locations along the track. The first is at Sandfly Point, the starting point of your walk after the water taxi transfer from Deepwater Basin. Then at Giant Gate Falls, just across the swing bridge. Please note this approximately 5.5km along the track from Sandfly Point, so plan accordingly! Embrace the digital detox, as there's no cell service on the track. Please note that drones are prohibited in the Milford Sound area. You'll encounter amazing birdlife along the way but remember to observe and photograph only–never feed the wildlife. If you're connecting with a Southern Discoveries cruise after your walk, ensure you allow enough time to reach the terminal and check in 20 minutes before departure. Timing is crucial – always allow plenty of time to get back to Sandfly Point for the last water taxi, which is usually around 4:30 pm. However, we encourage you to check the current schedule on the day prior to starting your walk.
Meeting Point
Your Milford Track adventure begins at Deepwater Basin. From State Highway 94 (SH94), turn left onto Deepwater Basin Road, 600 metres past the Milford Sound Lodge. There's plenty of free parking available at the start of the road and in Pembroke Drive. Park your vehicle and walk approximately 500 metres down to the boat ramp, where you'll see the blue Fiordland Outdoors sign and meet your Skipper. If the boat is not there, it won't be far away, so take a moment to breathe in the crisp Fiordland air. If you park at the cruise terminal in Milford Sound village, it is a 40-45 minute walk to reach the departure point.
Tiaki Promise
We're proud to operate in this World Heritage-listed destination, which, in our opinion, is without equal anywhere on Earth. Both Fiordland Outdoors and Southern Discoveries are committed to the Tiaki Promise, a commitment to care for New Zealand's precious land, sea, and cultural identity now and for future generations. Both Fiordland Outdoors and Southern Discoveries have achieved Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Business certification. This certification means that we operate at the highest level for sustainable tourism in New Zealand, delivering exceptional customer experiences while leading the way in making New Zealand a world-class sustainable destination. When you choose to travel with us, you're supporting businesses genuinely committed to protecting this extraordinary landscape for generations to come.
Water Taxi
Your gateway to the famous Milford Track awaits! This delightful 10-minute water taxi journey across Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point is your first taste of Milford's magic. The water taxi runs approximately every hour throughout the morning, starting at 8:30am, then every half hour during the afternoon, with the last pickup around 4:30pm. The water taxi is the only way to access this end of the Milford Track; make sure you are aware of the boat departure times before heading off.
Sandfly Point
Sandfly Point is perfectly named! Expect to experience the full force of sandflies here. These persistent little insects, known as namu in te reo Māori, are as much a part of the Milford experience as the scenery itself.Sandflies are most active on warm, still days, and are particularly drawn to dark colours. Wearing bright clothing and using insect repellent will help.
Start of the track
Welcome to the world-famous Milford Track! As you step onto this walk, you're following in the footsteps of countless adventurers, from early Māori to the pioneering explorers who first proclaimed this "the finest walk in the world." Follow the well-formed track and boardwalks through the beech forest. The track follows the Arthur River, named after the surveyor Arthur Dobson, who first explored this route in the 1880s. There are breaks in the forest along the way where you can catch a glimpse of the river perfectly framed by the trees.
Care of the Milford Track
The pristine wilderness you're experiencing today is unique and precious. In recognition of this, we work in partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC), which manages New Zealand's national parks and tracks, to ensure these stunning areas remain protected for future generations. A portion of your booking fee goes directly to DOC, supporting vital conservation work across the region. DOC's management includes predator control, ensuring responsible recreation, and maintaining the facilities and infrastructure that make your safe enjoyment of this wilderness possible. Here's an inspiring conservation fact: for every predator trap placed along the Milford Track, the survival chances for our national bird, the kiwi, increase by 20%. This means your visit today directly contributes to protecting one of New Zealand's most treasured and vulnerable species. It's a perfect example of how tourism and conservation can work hand in hand to preserve our natural heritage.
Beech Trees
Beech trees dominate the forest landscape of Fiordland. The most common type of beech found here is silver beech, though you'll also find mountain beech clinging to higher, drier slopes and red beech in the lowland valleys. The shape of a beech tree varies dramatically, so the best way to identify them is by the leaves. On flat, fertile ground, beech trees stand tall and straight like northern hemisphere species, but when clinging to mountainsides, they grow gnarled and twisted like something from a fairy tale. At higher altitudes, harsher conditions mean beech trees don't grow very tall at all. Whether tall or short, red or silver, straight or gnarly, all beech trees burst into scarlet bloom each spring, crowning the forest with colour. Weeks later, fresh lime-green foliage emerges, along with thick white lichen colonies among the upper branches. Remember to look up during your walk, the beech canopy offers a surprisingly colourful spectacle!
Milford Track History
You are retracing the footsteps of early explorers and adventurers on the world-renowned Milford Track. This route was established in 1888 as an overland connection between Lake Te Anau and Milford Sound, but its story begins much earlier. Local Māori were the first to forge an overland route through this challenging terrain in their quest for pounamu/greenstone. The dense bush and rugged landscape proved a formidable barrier to European settlers who arrived later. It wasn't until 1888 that a talented bush navigator and local character carved an established track through the wilderness. Quintin McKinnon, who came to Milford Sound from the Shetland Isles in Scotland, became one of the area's pioneering settlers and the first official Milford Track guide. Fittingly, the 1,000-metre-high McKinnon Pass is named after him. Visitors were in excellent hands with McKinnon; he was good-natured, highly skilled, and renowned for cooking up a delicious pompolona, a type of scone that became legendary. In McKinnon's day, guests would board his sailing boat for the journey up Lake Te Anau before hiking over the pass, across Lake Ada, and down to Donald Sutherland's hotel at Milford Sound. Until the highway was built in 1954, the only way back was to turn around and walk out again. Today, the complete Milford Track stretches 53.5 kilometres (33.5 miles), takes four days to complete, and can only be walked in one direction. Hut bookings are extremely popular and sell out quickly when tickets are released each May before the Great Walks season. The section of track you are walking today is the final section of the four-day tramp.
Fantail
Listen for the distinctive cheep of the pīwakawaka/fantail. Known for being active and friendly around humans, there's a good chance you will encounter these delightful little birds as you walk the track. Small and round pīwakawaka are instantly recognisable with their prominent fan-shaped tails. Most fantails display dark brown plumage with white stripes and a light brown belly, though about five per cent of the South Island population are all black. Their large, showy tail isn't just for display, it enables their erratic flight style, allowing them to dart and change direction while chasing insects through the forest. Fantails are energetic parents, feeding their babies approximately every ten minutes throughout the day–that's about 100 meals daily. With their thriving population and bold nature, fantails are likely to be one of the most commonly encountered native birds on your walk today.
Rock Types
The dramatic landscape surrounding you is made up of some of New Zealand's most ancient and resilient rock formations. As you continue along the track to Giant Gate Falls (approximately one kilometre), you may notice interesting rock formations appearing. The steep cliffs and rugged outcrops here are primarily composed of granite and gneiss, rocks that were once buried deep within the Earth's crust and have been slowly uplifted over millions of years. This area also consists of metamorphic schist. This rock displays a distinctive shiny, layered appearance and has been formed under intense pressure and heat. These remarkable rock formations are more than 350 million years old and have withstood immense glacial and tectonic forces, making them incredibly resistant to erosion. You'll often see them smoothed and polished from glacial action, especially near riverbanks or where the track hugs the cliff sides.
Rocky open clearing
You're approaching a rocky clearing where the track takes you over platforms surrounded by waterfalls streaming down the rock face. During Milford Sound's rare dry spells, these falls may reduce to trickles that you'll have to look closely to spot. Don't worry though, Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world, and dry days are rare. The abundance of water here is what creates the landscape's drama.
Mosses
Thanks to Fiordland's high humidity and abundant rainfall, you're walking through a paradise for moss species. New Zealand is home to about 550 varieties, with many of these being recent discoveries. Please tread carefully, as most mosses are incredibly delicate and can die almost immediately if stepped on. Among the species found along the Milford Track, watch for sphagnum moss (Sphagnum cristatum), also known as peat moss, which can absorb up to 25 times its own weight in water. During wartime, sphagnum moss was used as emergency bandages. You'll also spot kiwi feather moss (Genus Dicranoloma), found throughout New Zealand and the southern hemisphere. There are many variations of this moss, named 'kiwi feather' for its resemblance to our national bird's hair-like feathers. The aptly named goblin moss (Weymoutha mollis) can be found hanging from tree branches in damp and rainy forests. Goblin moss is found more commonly in forests west of the main divide.
South Island Bush Robin
The New Zealand robin is a delightful, black, sparrow-sized bird you might encounter along the track. While not flightless, robins prefer spending their time hopping around the forest floor on their characteristically long, thin legs, foraging for insects in the leaf litter. If you're lucky enough to spot one, try this: gently kick up some dirt from the track to disturb insects, then remain very still and quiet. Robins are naturally curious and will often approach. This behaviour makes them wonderful subjects for photography and memorable wildlife encounters.
Lake Ada
Keep an eye out for a turn-off on your left to Lake Ada. A short path through the forest takes you down to the lake's edge.The views here are beautiful, framed by beech forest, and surrounded by the sounds of birdsong. Once you've enjoyed the tranquillity of Lake Ada, follow the same path back to the main track.In te reo Māori, Lake Ada is known as Te Moana-o-Nohorua Te Moana-o-Nohorua. Moana is the Māori word for ocean or large lake, and Nohorua is the ancestor the lake was named after.
Tree Fuchsia
Watch for the distinctive tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata), known in te reo Māori as kōtukutuku. This is the largest member of the fuchsia family, easily recognised by its small pink hanging flowers and characteristic papery bark. When in flower, the tree fuchsia becomes a bustling hub of bird activity. You might spot tūī, waxeye, bellbird, and kākā feeding on the flowers or peeling bark to search for insects beneath.
Blue Duck / Whio
If you're lucky, you might spot the iconic blue duck/whio near Giant Gate Falls. The whio is a river specialist, perfectly adapted for life in fast-flowing streams with their distinctive yellow eyes and streamlined build. The name whio comes from te reo Māori, meaning "whistle," which describes the distinctive call of the male bird. This endangered species is so special that it features on the New Zealand $10 note, and spotting one is considered a real privilege. These ducks are part of ongoing conservation efforts through the Whio Forever Recovery Programme, working to protect this unique back-country species for future generations.
Water Features
The spectacular Giant Gate Falls ahead represents a perfect example of Fiordland's glacial legacy carved in stone. This waterfall flows over what geologists call a glacial step, essentially a rocky staircase left behind when massive glaciers retreated at the end of the last Ice Age. These dramatic steps form when glaciers carve rock unevenly, leaving behind harder rock shelves that create dramatic drops, perfect conditions for the formation of waterfalls. The result is the thundering cascade you'll soon witness, Giant Gate Falls. When you arrive, notice how remarkably clear and fast-flowing the water appears, with just a slight natural tint from vegetation and fine glacial silt. Along your walk, the Arthur River winds its way through ancient valleys carved by those same glaciers and fed by Fiordland's abundant rainfall. Its course continues to be influenced by both resistant rock formations and ever-changing sediment deposits, creating the dynamic waterway that has been your companion on today's walk.
Giant Gate Falls
Here it is, Giant Gate Falls! This is the turnaround point of your Milford Track day walk. Giant Gate Falls is 30 metres (98 feet) tall and plunges down the hillside into a series of pools before flowing under the swing bridge toward the Arthur River. This is an ideal spot for a lunch or snack stop. You can cross the swing bridge to reach a sheltered area where you'll also find toilet facilities. The swing bridge is the perfect vantage point to view the falls and capture some incredible photos. From here, you'll return via the same route to Sandfly Point.
Weka
The weka is quite possibly New Zealand's cheekiest bird. These charming, inquisitive creatures seem to enjoy spending time around humans, and there is a good chance you will see them at Giant Gate Falls. Their bold, curious nature makes them entertaining companions, though watch your lunch if one decides to join you. The weka is well-known for stealing food, sunglasses, and anything bright and shiny that catches their eye. European settlers called them "bush hens," though they're actually another of New Zealand's signature large flightless birds. Often mistaken for our national bird, the kiwi, weka are much more likely to be spotted during daylight hours and lack the kiwi's distinctive long beak.
Ferns
The tree ferns surrounding you give this forest its primeval, almost tropical atmosphere. And if they remind you of something from the age of dinosaurs, that's because they are! These ancient plants once covered the supercontinent Gondwana, and here in New Zealand, they still thrive everywhere. Tree ferns love the wet, shady conditions of Fiordland, growing slowly with their distinctive spongy or furry trunks topped by crowns of lush, unfurling fronds. When fern fronds are young, they are tightly coiled into spirals. Called koru in te reo Māori, it is a shape that has become an iconic motif in New Zealand design. The most famous is our silver fern, found only in New Zealand and growing up to 10 metres high. This plant is such a national icon that our netball team are called the Silver Ferns, and the symbol is proudly displayed on rugby jerseys of the famous New Zealand All Blacks. To find a silver fern, look for large fern leaves with a distinctive silvery underside. Māori traditionally used these as natural path markers, laying them silver-side up to catch moonlight and guide nighttime travel through the forest.
Weathering & Erosion
You're walking through one of the wettest places on Earth, where constant rainfall combined with steep terrain fuels rapid weathering and erosion. This dynamic environment means the forest around you is constantly changing and reshaping itself. Landslides and slips are common here and are responsible for shaping the forest floor. Keep your eyes open for tilted trees, exposed root systems, and fresh slips that tell the story of recent activity. Rainwater seeps into cracks in the rock, gradually breaking it down over time, especially along fault lines or ancient glacial scars. This constant wearing-away process, caused by water, exposes geological layers while feeding sediment into the rivers, continuously reshaping riverbanks and sometimes altering the course of the Milford Track itself. You may notice areas where the trail has been rerouted due to erosion, or spots where fresh boulders have recently fallen—clear evidence of this constantly evolving Fiordland environment.
Tomtit / Miromiro
Keep an eye out for the tomtit or miromiro along the way. These tiny birds weigh just 11 grams (0.38 ounce) but pack plenty of character. You'll spot them perching on twigs, carefully scanning their surroundings before swooping down on insect prey. In Māori tradition, miromiro hold special significance. They were traditionally used as part of an atahu or love charm, acting as both medium and messenger. Miromiro could seek out an errant partner from any distance, perch on their head, and charm them back to their beloved. Perhaps you'll see one of these little cupids at work in the forest today.
Piopiotahi / Milford Sound
Piopiotahi (Milford Sound) is located in the northern stretches of Te Rua-o-Te-Moko (Fiordland). There are various accounts of the possible meaning of Piopiotahi. One account is that Piopiotahi is a canoe that came across from Hawaiki to gather pounamu. Another account states that after the famed explorer Māui visited Maitahi (Bruce Bay), he travelled further south along the coastline, and named Piopiotahi after a pet bird he had on-board. Piopiotahi is renowned for the tangiwai pounamu which is only found near the sound’s entrance at Hupokeka (Anita Bay). Although tangiwai, known as takiwai in the Kāi Tahu dialect, is Bowenite, it is considered as a treasured form of pounamu. Source: Kā Huru Manu, The Ngāi Tahu Atlas
Thank you & welcome back to Sandfly Point
It has been our absolute pleasure to guide you on and off the world-famous Milford Track today. Please enjoy soaking in the magnificent surroundings from the water as you travel back to Deepwater Basin. If you are heading to a Milford Sound cruise next, you can make your way directly to the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal and the Southern Discoveries check-in desk. If your trip today has inspired you to take on other walks in Fiordland, our team are happy to answer questions. Fiordland Outdoors—who transferred you to the Milford Track today—are the experts in water taxi transfers, all-in-one transport packages, and making sense of accessing the Great Walks in Fiordland. We hope today's experience has inspired you to return for another adventure soon – there's always more of this incredible wilderness to discover. Safe travels, and thank you for exploring with us.
Fiords & Sounds
Here's an interesting geographical puzzle. Despite its name, Milford Sound is technically a fiord, not a sound! Captain John Grono discovered what we now know as Milford Sound in the early 19th century, naming it Milford Haven after his hometown in Wales. Captain John Stokes later renamed it Milford Sound, and the name stuck. Two theories explain why we call it a sound rather than a fiord. Firstly, early explorers weren't familiar with fiords and may never have encountered the term before so they simply used the geographical vocabulary they knew. Secondly, "Milford Fiord" was considered quite a mouthful, so all fourteen of Fiordland's "fiords" came to be known as "sounds". The geological difference is significant. A sound is a drowned river valley, generally V-shaped, relatively shallow, with hills on either side. A fiord, like Milford, is carved by glaciers, creating a distinctive U-shape with tremendous depth and steep mountains rising from the water's edge. In both cases, when sea levels rose thousands of years ago, these valleys filled with seawater.
Milford Café
After your walk, you may be in need of a coffee stop. The Milford Sound Café offers the perfect opportunity to refuel and is conveniently located about halfway between the Milford Sound Cruise Terminal and Deepwater Basin. It's an ideal spot to grab a barista coffee, enjoy a light bite, and soak in the stunning surroundings.
Other Southern Discoveries Experiences
Southern Discoveries is Milford Sound's original cruise boat operator. But we also offer experiences beyond Milford Sound that showcase more of this remarkable region. Whether you're staying in Te Anau, Queenstown, or extending your Fiordland visit, we'd love to see you join us for another one of our experiences.Te Anau Farm Tour - A family-friendly farm tour featuring sheep shearing demonstrations, skilled working dog displays, and genuine Kiwi hospitality. Of course, no Fiordland visit is complete without our spectacular Milford Sound Nature Cruise, which can be included in the Farm Tour experience.Queenstown Wine Tour - If your travels take you to Queenstown, why not join us for a premium wine tour through Central Otago's world-class wine country? Available as a small group tour or private charter, this is an experience designed especially for wine lovers. You'll enjoy private tastings at award-winning cellar doors, learn about the wines from your host and enjoy a delicious platter lunch.
Tawaki Project
Southern Discoveries is a proud supporter of the Tawaki Project, a long-term scientific study dedicated to understanding one of New Zealand's most mysterious and rare seabirds, the Fiordland crested penguin, known as tawaki in te reo Māori. These elusive birds nest in the remote rainforest along Fiordland's coastlines, making them incredibly difficult to study and observe. Their secretive nature and challenging habitat mean that much about their lives is unknown. Through our sponsorship, researchers can delve into the secret lives of these penguins, uncovering vital information about their feeding habits, breeding behaviour, and migration patterns. By supporting this important conservation work, we're helping protect the fragile ecosystems of Milford Sound and ensuring that future visitors have the chance to glimpse these incredible birds in their natural habitat.
