Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific - Milford Track in November

We're going to New Zealand in November for about two weeks and are trying to figure out if it would make sense to do the guided walk on the Milford Track. The current plan is to stay on the South Island for the whole period.

It looks like a beautiful walk, with the best parts not accessible by day trip and we would get food, queen beds, etc. rather than having to carry lots of stuff. On the other hand, the guided walk is expensive and we usually don't like group tours. Is it likely to rain heavily in November? Are there similar or better walks?

It can rain at any time - Fiordland gets 20-40 feet of rain a year.

We're going to New Zealand in November for about two weeks and are trying to figure out if it would make sense to do the guided walk on the Milford Track. The current plan is to stay on the South Island for the whole period.

It looks like a beautiful walk, with the best parts not accessible by day trip and we would get food, queen beds, etc. rather than having to carry lots of stuff. On the other hand, the guided walk is expensive and we usually don't like group tours. Is it likely to rain heavily in November? Are there similar or better walks?

There are tons of walks all over the North, South and Stewart island. Check out the DOC (http://www.doc.govt.nz/) site for some specifics.

On the South island, in Southland (where the Milford track is), I've done portions of the Milford, Kepler, Routeburn, and Hollyford tracks. These tracks are multi-day hikes, but each has segments you can do for short to very long/hard day hikes and there are many other options in addition to the big tracks. Official brochures are available for free download on the DOC site and most have time lines, distances, elevation, as well as what to expect and how to reserve huts/camp sites.

And yes ... over two weeks you can expect some rain, and some of the tracks can become impassible, but the DOC is very good with weather reports.

We're looking for spectacular hikes without having to stay in group huts or carry much.

I'm wondering whether it makes sense to sign up for the guided Milford Track walk (http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/mt_home.asp), as it seems we would have to sign up well in advance and cancelling would be expensive.

At least November is not the highpoint for rain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milford_Sound#Climate and http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=36699

The DOC site seems to say you can't do a day hike on the Milford Track during November.

What would you recommend?

We're looking for spectacular hikes without having to stay in group huts or carry much.

I'm wondering whether it makes sense to sign up for the guided Milford Track walk (http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/mt_home.asp), as it seems we would have to sign up well in advance and cancelling would be expensive.

At least November is not the highpoint for rain: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milford_Sound#Climate and http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=36699

The DOC site seems to say you can't do a day hike on the Milford Track during November.

What would you recommend?

Can't comment on ultimate hikes. I think you'll be happy with day hikes available in NZ ... most only require a day pack, some optional weather gear/clothing, and a car.

I gave incorrect info on my previous post. I did the Key Summit hike on the drive to Milford Sound, but that's on Routeburn track. The Milford track is more isolated than most ... looks like you must either boat / fly to a starting point.

If you really want to do the Milford track then I think your options are limited.

If you just want to do some great hiking in the South Island then I recommend you consider picking a few towns to base out of such as Queenstown, Te Anau, Wanaka and plan single and / or mult-day hikes / sight seeing. For the multi-day hikes there are vendors that will drive / fly you to either end and you'd park your car at the finishing point.

Hi

I can recommend this guy called 'PC' for some advice on the area. He is very knowledgeable.

http://www.knobsflat.co.nz/.

Luck of the draw with rain. I have managed to be there when its not and its stunning. Although its pretty stunning even if it is bucketing down.

Cheers

We're looking for spectacular hikes without having to stay in group huts or carry much.

There aren't any private huts. So you will always either have shared hut or have to carry a tent. Even on day trips into the mountains it is advisable to carry something in case the weather turns bad quickly (as it can).

There aren't any private huts. So you will always either have shared hut or have to carry a tent. Even on day trips into the mountains it is advisable to carry something in case the weather turns bad quickly (as it can).

Seems like not a month goes by without seeing a story or two on the nzherald site or via newstalk ZB about some hiker/hikers getting rescued ... or much worse.

There aren't any private huts. So you will always either have shared hut or have to carry a tent. Even on day trips into the mountains it is advisable to carry something in case the weather turns bad quickly (as it can).Ultimate Hikes, the only private concessionaire for the Milford Track according to the DOC, offers private bedrooms with one queen or 2 single beds and private bathrooms.

What are your favorite day hikes on the South Island?

What are your favorite day hikes on the South Island?

There's too many to mention. As well as bits of the more well known tracks (Milford, Heaphy, Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes, Kepler, Hollyford, etc) there are also countless tracks that are unknown except to locals that are just as good, albeit usually less amenities. Pretty much every bush or wilderness area has such tracks - some are very easily accessible from towns or cities, or from the main highways.

Where are you going and what are you interested in? Beaches, caves, kaarst landscape, mineral rich areas with unique vegetation, beech forests, rain forests, mountain ranges, foothills, inland valleys, subalpine, old alpine passes, old railway passages, etc.

Two weeks in the SI, with no particular limitations on where we'd go. Interested in anything beautiful (and not overly strenuous). Not really interested in beaches, caves, railway passages, but very flexible beyond that. Given that we only have two weeks, accessibility is definitely a good thing.

You could try the Akaroa Walk
http://www.tuataratours.co.nz/akaroa-3-day-walk/

You can do this guided or independent and it really is a beautiful walk. It's across farmland with spectacular scenery. Each nights accommodation is on a different farm - one night there is a shower inside a tree and an outdoor bath. Another night is near a penguin colony that you can walk to.

Of course you end up in Akaroa which is a lovely little town to visit.

You would never regret walking the Milford Track though!