Milford Sounds...

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PetAT

239 posts

Master Geek

#245470 5-Feb-2019 16:12

Have some friends coming over for a few weeks from half the way around the world and they want to do Milford, I cant get much info, seems to say we need tickets, or books huts, we have decided to just stay in tents, so we dont need huts, we planned to start around sometime in march, can anyone fill me in on whats up and the due process? do you have to book to walk the track or is it just buy tickets and go in, and booking only for the huts? thanks guys..

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Geekzone

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#2173545 5-Feb-2019 16:12

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mattyb

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2173550 5-Feb-2019 16:18

I assume you mean the Milford Track, rather than visit the town and sound itself?

Camping on the track is not permitted - you have to book and stay in the huts.

https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/fiordland/places/fiordland-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/milford-track/#page-id-42122

PetAT

239 posts

Master Geek

#2173554 5-Feb-2019 16:26

Yep, the track. Any other ideas? are sleeping bags without any tents permitted?

Linux

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#2173558 5-Feb-2019 16:32

Visit Milford here on the North Shore and do some shopping and say you misunderstood

John

mattyb

254 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2173560 5-Feb-2019 16:35

PetAT:

Yep, the track. Any other ideas? are sleeping bags without any tents permitted?

You'd be nuts. It's an alpine environment, and you can get snow year round at the top of McKinnon Pass if the weather turns.

trig42

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#2173562 5-Feb-2019 16:36

You have to book to actually walk the track I believe. It books out pretty fast and in advance.

From: https://tripsandtramps.com/tales-from-the-trails/how-to-experience-the-milford-track-in-a-day/

We love this place and would like to keep it in its pristine state for a long time to come. So our Department of Conservation (DOC) controls how many people hike this iconic track. A maximum of 40 independent walkers are allowed to start the Milford Track hike each day. And during the booked walking season (October to late April), passes sell out very quickly. Besides that, there are only three DOC huts on the walk and camping is not permitted.

But some companies appear to offer a Milford Track in a Day experience (which I'm sure they will charge you likewise for).

PetAT

239 posts

Master Geek

#2173600 5-Feb-2019 18:12

Just did some reading, apparently they allow camping 500m away from the track ONLY on off season when its dangerous, otherwise, you gotta play this ponsy tourist trap money making scheme, oh and they made it 2x as much for non NZers since past year. Thanks for your assistance guys but our group verdict is we are not playing that game.

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mudguard

2114 posts

Uber Geek

#2173606 5-Feb-2019 18:22

PetAT:

Just did some reading, apparently they allow camping 500m away from the track ONLY on off season when its dangerous, otherwise, you gotta play this ponsy tourist trap money making scheme, oh and they made it 2x as much for non NZers since past year. Thanks for your assistance guys but our group verdict is we are not playing that game.

I think they play that game so they don't have to send in helicopters to pick up the people who won't play properly?

I think places for huts is pretty intense. A friend of mine has been wanting to do the Heaphy Track for sometime but it's getting into the huts on the right dates that makes it hard.

PetAT

239 posts

Master Geek

#2173607 5-Feb-2019 18:27

Its just milking mate, if they are so concerned they ought to close it down when its most dangerous season not leave it open and make it more lucrative to folks and allow camping off site and yet when its safest make a monopoly and say hey you cant even buy your way in. So its enabling danger. But hey if thats what they want to do, let em.

dfnt

1512 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

#2173608 5-Feb-2019 18:28

Your loss really, we did the guided walk and it was awesome.

PetAT

239 posts

Master Geek

#2173612 5-Feb-2019 18:31

Not my loss, I dont want to play into that game, I got Aus, Sweden and all of Europe, better places than the self prompting tourist traps we got down here that are now targeting hard working kiwis too. But hey, maybe a couple of us will go there myself on the danger season since thats what they are enabling.

Delphinus

611 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2173616 5-Feb-2019 18:35

Why don't you just try another walk that hasn't had Great Walk advertising applied? Plenty of country here to enjoy that isn't a tourist highway.

nickb800

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#2173625 5-Feb-2019 19:12

PetAT:
Just did some reading, apparently they allow camping 500m away from the track ONLY on off season when its dangerous, otherwise, you gotta play this ponsy tourist trap money making scheme, oh and they made it 2x as much for non NZers since past year. Thanks for your assistance guys but our group verdict is we are not playing that game.

Makes sense doesn't it? Those who pay taxes towards DOC are already contributing to the track in a way, so higher fees from overseas tourists make up their fair share? Everywhere in the world has their ways to make more money from tourists one way or the other e.g. locals pricing at bars/restaurants

They literally have to helicopter poo in barrels out of the toilets on the Milford track, it's not a cheap operation in that type of environment.

As per advice in this thread - go one mountain range over and you'll find walks just as scenic with virtually no other people and token fees

MileHighKiwi

782 posts

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#2173640 5-Feb-2019 19:49

You can't really have been that interested in it. No idea of what's involved (or the correct name) and when you find out you can't just rock up with a sleeping bag and sleep under the stars, and real costs and conditions are involved, you throw your toys, lol. It's a premium NZ experience, one of the worlds best walks. Plenty of people are happy to 'play that game'. Maybe tramping in the wilderness isn't for you?

amiga500

1484 posts

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#2173689 5-Feb-2019 20:51

Insect repellant is an absolute must or the sandflies and mosquitos will make it unbearable. Sandflies are especially bad anywhere near water.

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