This is outside the Great Walks season.
- It can be cold and wet, with ice, snow, flooding and avalanches.
- Avalanche-prone bridges across some major watercourses are removed.
- DOC does not manage hazards such as flooding and avalanches.
- Facilities are greatly reduced.
Walking the track at this time should only be attempted by fit, experienced and well equipped people.
Mid-September to late October (Labour weekend) is before the Great Walks season. You can expect higher avalanche risk and unbridged streams that flood often.
It is a more risky and difficult experience – read the information below carefully and decide if it is right for you.
Side streams are unbridged and flood often – you may get trapped on the track
Bridges over side streams are not installed until the Great Walks season. You will need to cross these streams without a bridge.
They flood often, especially in spring due to snow melt. This means you could be trapped by side streams becoming impassable and need to shelter until the stream drops again. Pack an emergency shelter.
Make sure you know the signs of an unsafe stream and have good river crossing skills. How to cross rivers safely.
The track itself also floods
The Milford Track is not an all-weather track. Both the Clinton and Arthur Valleys become impassable during heavy rain, due to flooding. Heavy rain also increases the risk of landslides.
There is no monitoring of weather forecasts and river levels outside of the Great Walk season. Trampers should check the severe weather on MetService for heavy rain in the Fiordland area.
No one should try and walk the track during a severe weather warning/watch, and it’s best to avoid it in early-mid Spring if heavy rain is forecast.
There are avalanches in spring – check the avalanche forecast
DOC does not manage avalanche risk outside the Great Walks season.
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.
- Check the New Zealand Avalanche Advisory for Fiordland and the Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale (ATES) for Fiordland.
- Make sure you have the skills for the ATES class you are going into.
- Talk to the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre.
- Take an avalanche transceiver, avalanche probe and a snow shovel. Know how to use these tools.
We strongly advise staying out of the upper valleys during heavy rain, when it is snowing, or on a hot day following new snow.
Maps of avalanche paths:
Plan for an extra day and a satellite communication device
Plan for an extra day on the track, so you are not on the track during a rainy day. If consistent rain is forecast for more than one day, we recommend changing your trip dates.
Do not book your flight home on the same day as you finish the track – rushing to get to a flight can lead trampers to make bad decisions about river crossings.
There is no cell phone reception on the Milford Track. Carry a distress beacon. Consider carrying a satellite communication device, such as an InReach, so you can communicate with your transport provider if you are delayed by weather.