|
Accommodation and Food
The Milford Track Guided Walk is a 5 day / 4 night Queenstown
to Queenstown all-inclusive guided walk through
the heart of Fiordland National Park to Milford
Sound.
The package includes all transport, accommodation, meals,
snacks, backpacks and rain jackets. Accommodation
is in our luxury lodges and you will be led by our expert
guides.
The Milford Track is the ideal way to experience New
Zealand's enchanting forest and inspiring peaks, the
advent of guided walking has made these areas accessible
to a great number of people who otherwise may have missed
out.
It is important to remember, however, that the track
is in a remote wilderness area. While our
lodges have been been designed for your comfort we are
still without a number of modern amenities such
as telephones, faxes and email. Mobile phones
do not work on the track so save yourself the extra
weight.
We have radio contact in case of emergency but otherwise you
will cut off from the rest of the world for a few
days.
All our lodges have toilets, as do our lunch shelters.
All walkers on the Milford Track multi day walks will
need to attend a pre track briefing at our Queenstown
office the day before the track departure at 6.30pm.
Health and Fitness
Our walks are neither easy nor difficult. They are a
challenge which people of all ages and abilities will
relish. To enjoy your walk you need to be able to carry
a medium sized backpack containing your personal belongings
weighing 5-7kg (10-14lbs) for 6-8 hours over 15-21kms
(9-13 miles) of mountain tracks each day.
We encourage you to walk at your own pace, there is
no pressure to walk with others or keep up with the
fastest walkers. There is always a guide at the front
and rear of the party.
The track surface varies from smooth well-formed paths
to rough terrain broken by rocks and tree roots. There
are steep rocky downhill sections and you may have to cross
small streams and wade in deep water after heavy rain.
If you are not a regular walker we suggest you begin
a daily walking regime 6-8 weeks before departure. Carry
a backpack and gradually increase the distance you walk.
Staircase or hill climbing will leave you even better
prepared for your challenge.
Thousands of walkers enjoy our walks every year without
any problems whatsoever. The average age of our
walkers is 40+ and we have had many in their 60s and
beyond.
Challenge yourself!
Prices and Dates
Please enquire.
Savety
Safety is always our number one priority on the
tracks and in the lodges. We operate using an approved
documented safety plan, with which all personel are
familiar with. All guides are trained in first aid and
carry first aid kits. Every guide and lodge has a hand
held radio which links them to each other and our bases
in Queenstown, Te Anau and Mount Cook 24 hours a day.
Our radio system is also linked with those of emergency
service providers.
In the event of extreme weather the safety of all the
walkers becomes the number one priority. Weather patterns
are constantly monitored and no area of the track will
be entered if any members of the party are deemed to
be at risk.
Guides may have to adapt the day's walk in certain situations,
while they will make every effort to meet your needs,
please adhere to their professional decisions if circumstances
demand this.
|
|
What to bring
We provide all food and bedding.
Soap, shampoo and conditioner are provided in the lodges.
For those who need them, we can also supply backpacks
and rainjackets.
Everyone is given a sleepsheet so there is no need to
bring a sleeping bag (some people prefer to bring their
own silk sleepsheet).
For Walking:
|
| |
Waterproof raincoat with hood (We can lend you
one) |
| |
Boots or strong walking shoes, broken in! preferably
with ankle support |
| |
Woollen or polyproylene thermal underwear (top
& bottom) is essential |
| |
Warm hat - fleece or woollen |
| |
Fleece jacket or micro fleece top |
| |
T shirts for fine weather |
| |
Gloves |
| |
Shorts for walking |
| |
Woollen or thermal socks - two pairs |
| |
Sunscreen |
| |
Insect repellent |
| |
Water Bottle |
| |
Camera |
For Evenings:
|
| |
Shirt or Sweater |
| |
Trousers, skirt or lightweight track pants |
| |
Underwear - two sets |
| |
Sandals or lightweight shoes |
| |
Pyjamas or night wear |
| |
Hankerchiefs, not tissues |
| |
Toilet requisites (towels, soap, shampoo &
conditioner are provided) |
Optional items you may want to include are a sun
hat, swimsuit, spare laces, journal and second skin for
blisters. We do not recommend you walk in cotton garments,
jeans or silk thermals: perspiration means you are likely
to feel damp and cold even inside the best raincoat.
We suggest you put all your clothing in plastic bags inside
your pack liner for added rain protection. Keep your pack
as light as possible while still taking the essentials.
Remember hand laundry facilities are available in the
lodges and a lighter pack will enhance your experience.
For those of you who prefer to travel light, we have a
small shop where the majority of the above items can be
purchased (with the exception of boots, underwear, pyjamas
and personal toilet requisites) at reasonable prices.
Weather
The big question: What will the weather be like?
It is essential to be well prepared when walking. New
Zealand has very changeable weather patterns.
Fiorldand and Mt Aspiring National parks have high
rainfall levels and the weather can change dramatically
in one day.
The unpredictable nature of weather in this region means
that snow, high winds and rain can occur at any time
of the year. It is therefore very important to
be prepared for the worst conditions and carry the appropriate
clothing at all times.
The weather however is not always wet! We do have
sustained periods of fine sunny days throughout the
summer. There is however no pattern to when these
will be! Your guided walk will be a memorable one, whenever
you choose.
|
|
