4WD road from Glenorchy to Milford Sound

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sud0

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#270320 4-May-2020 11:59

Hi,

I'm planning a trip to the South Island for August (hopefully we'll be back to normal by then). I once heard that there is a 4wd track from Glenorchy to Milford Sound, but couldn't find it anywhere online.

Does anybody here know that road? Do you have more information? Is it safe? is it "easy"? Could I go alone (one 4x4 vehicle only)?

Thanks a lot! :)

Lucas

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#2476225 4-May-2020 11:59

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andrewNZ

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#2476238 4-May-2020 12:19

I don't know if it exists, but if it does:

-It would likely be impassible in August due to snow and/or wet ground.
-It would be extremely foolish to go with only one vehicle.

Nate001

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#2476242 4-May-2020 12:33

Molesworth is an iconic track but from memory that doesn't open until later in the year. Another easier going track is the Hamner-Rainbow track but that also doesn't open till Spring.

Most roads will be closed/too dangerous in August especially if you're alone.

sud0

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#2476255 4-May-2020 13:06

Yup.. I also think that going alone is not advisable.. that's why I decided to ask .. Thanks guys!

Lucas

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ezbee

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#2476261 4-May-2020 13:12

There was this a few years back.

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/307892/4wd-rescue-costs-police-$56,000

Weather conditions can change rapidly in any high passes , so yes you may want to hold out for best weather.

sud0

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#2476262 4-May-2020 13:12

@Wheelbarrow01 pointed out a very interesting URL with some detailed routes and 4wd tracks. Check his original post here.

Lucas

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mudguard

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#2476267 4-May-2020 13:22

I vaguely recall someone telling me they take jetboats across Lake Te Anau and then 4WD over from there... As far as I can tell the 4WDs stay on that side of the lake permanently. And I don't know if they go all the way to Milford.

nova

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#2476274 4-May-2020 13:37

There aren't a lot of options from Glenorchy, as well as being National Park, the terrain is not really suitable for 4WD tracks. There is a gravel road from Mavora to Mt Nicholas / Walter Peak, and also some 4WD around Mavora lakes, but from the Glenorchy side I don't think you get can get much further south than the Greenstone carpark, I don't think you could get around the lake as far as Mt Nicholas.

Wheelbarrow01

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#2476330 4-May-2020 14:41

sud0:

@Wheelbarrow01 pointed out a very interesting URL with some detailed routes and 4wd tracks. Check his original post here.

What happened to my post? Did I say something wrong???

dolsen

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#2476352 4-May-2020 15:05

Wheelbarrow01:

sud0:

@Wheelbarrow01 pointed out a very interesting URL with some detailed routes and 4wd tracks. Check his original post here.

What happened to my post? Did I say something wrong???

Probably not. Most likely, two threads about more all less the same thing, so, 1 removed would be my guess.

Ge0rge

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#2476375 4-May-2020 15:14

Wheelbarrow01:
sud0:

@Wheelbarrow01 pointed out a very interesting URL with some detailed routes and 4wd tracks. Check his original post here.

What happened to my post? Did I say something wrong???

Would you mind posting the link again please @Wheelbarrow01 ? "Here" currently producing a blank page.

sud0

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#2476463 4-May-2020 16:21

Wheelbarrow01:

sud0:

@Wheelbarrow01 pointed out a very interesting URL with some detailed routes and 4wd tracks. Check his original post here.

What happened to my post? Did I say something wrong???

nothing happened. I just thought your comment in my other post very interesting and decided to share it here as well, since it applies here.

(now my old post is returning 404)

Lucas

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neb

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#2476496 4-May-2020 16:42

Nate001:
Molesworth is an iconic track but from memory that doesn't open until later in the year. Another easier going track is the Hamner-Rainbow track but that also doesn't open till Spring.

Most roads will be closed/too dangerous in August especially if you're alone.

I'd also go for the Hamner - St.Arnaud if you wanted to do that sort of thing, not overly strenuous and quite scenic. As others have pointed out though, don't do it in winter and see if you can find someone to go in a second vehicle because otherwise if something goes wrong and you don't have a satellite phone and a lot of spare cash to pay for the rescue you're going to be in trouble.

Having said that, given how mild the winters have been the last few years you could in theory do it, when I was down in the Milford Sound region a couple of years ago I was in shorts and t-shirt in August. However I doubt it'll be open during the winter period.

frankv

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#2476610 4-May-2020 20:14

mudguard:

I vaguely recall someone telling me they take jetboats across Lake Te Anau and then 4WD over from there... As far as I can tell the 4WDs stay on that side of the lake permanently. And I don't know if they go all the way to Milford.

Yeah, Nah. Tui tales.

a) It's National Park.

b) It's rugged af.

c) In most of that area, there's not even tramping tracks, let alone 4WD tracks.

d) Somehow you would have to cross the Milford Track to get to Milford. Trust me, no tracks cross the Milford Track.

e) If you walk the Milford Track, you are allowed to camp, but only 500m or more from the Track. No-one camps, because nowhere can you go 500m from the Track without getting to something close to vertical.

f) The Milford Track is the easiest route from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound (excluding tunnels). Admittedly, a fair amount is more-or-less a 4WD track. But the rest isn't. Whilst I'm sure you *could* probably get across McKinnon Pass in a high-performance 4WD, you wouldn't do it in a street-legal showroom-bought 4WD. Also, you would do enormous damage along the way. (see point (a)).

neb

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#2476667 4-May-2020 22:51

frankv:
f) The Milford Track is the easiest route from Lake Te Anau to Milford Sound (excluding tunnels).

You don't go through mountains, you go over them :-).

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