Fees and bookings

Outside of the Great Walks season, hut fees are reduced and bookings are not required. Full information can be found in the fees and booking section for this track.

Expect challenging track conditions

Many of the bridges across side streams are removed over winter to avoid damage from avalanches. These side streams can rise very quickly, so you must be competent at crossing large, swift, icy rivers.

Weather forecast

Omanui/McKinnon Pass weather forecast – NIWA website

The track over Omanui/McKinnon Pass is not marked and is often covered in deep snow. You will need to have navigation and alpine skills to traverse this section of the track. View current conditions on the Omanui/McKinnon Pass webcam.

Thick snow blankets Omanui/McKinnon Pass

Conditions will be wet and cold with snow

During the winter months Fiordland can be very wet and cold. Daylight is limited and the high mountains let little sunlight into the valleys. Alpine areas are usually covered in snow. Dress for these conditions.

Flood risk

The Milford Track is not an all-weather track. Both the Clinton and Arthur Valleys become impassable due to flooding, during heavy rain. 

Heavy rain increases the risk of landslides. In spring (September – November) the snowmelt makes the rivers and side streams come up even faster. Heavy rain also triggers avalanches, increasing avalanche risk.

There is no monitoring of weather forecasts and river levels outside of the Great Walk season. Trampers should monitor the severe weather on MetService for heavy rain in the Fiordland area.

If there is a heavy rain warning for Fiordland during your scheduled tramp dates, then you should make alternative plans, as the track will become flooded/impassable during heavy rain.

If the heavy rain warning is:

• for one day only – schedule an extra day / another night in a hut, so you are not walking on the track that day
• for more than one day – postpone your tramp until the weather improves.

Avalanches can be frequent

The Milford Track is mainly complex avalanche terrain. Avalanches are frequent. There are over 57 avalanche paths, which may bring avalanche debris to the valley floor. Some of these have the potential to cross the Milford Track – their start zones cannot be seen from the track.

If you are going into places avalanches could occur, be sure you:

• have checked the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory for Fiordland and the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) for Fiordland
• have the skills for the ATES class you are going into
• have talked to the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre
• take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. Know how to use these tools.

Maps of avalanche paths: Clinton Valley avalanche paths (JPG, 1,742K) | Arthur Valley avalanche paths (JPG, 1,703K)

Expect reduced hut facilities

• Gas is not provided – you will need to bring your own cooking stove.
• Flush toilets are replaced with pit toilets.
• Running water is turned off inside the huts. Water can be obtained from the outside water tank; if this is frozen, then from the nearest water course or by melting snow.
• No rangers based at the huts.

Expect reduced transport services

All transport must be arranged before starting the track. During winter, transport operators require minimum numbers and do not always operate a daily service. Transport arrangements can be affected by bad weather. You must discuss an alternative option with transport operators before you begin your walk.

Contact a transport operator for information:

• Cheeky Kiwi
• Cruise Te Anau
• Easyhike
• Fiordland Outdoors Company
• Tracknet

Be totally self-sufficient

You need to be totally self-sufficient. In addition to what to take in the Great Walks season, you also need:

• food for at least two extra days
• stove and gas for cooking
• lighter or matches
• alpine equipment: ice axe and crampons
• avalanche equipment: beacon, snow shovel, avalanche probe
• personal locator beacon
• satellite messenger (optional).