Milford Track – 4 Day Great Walk
Day 1 : Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut.
5.50km. 1hr 17min. 40m Elev. Gain.
I have been wanting to hike the Milford Track since moving to Southland and am so happy to now be experiencing this incredible Great Walk with Nath.
We arrived at Glade Wharf just before 3pm, the one hour ride taking us to the head of Lake Te Anau and through stunning isolated mountains.
It looked like it might rain but once we got to the jetty we chanced it and set off leaving our jackets and rain covers in our packs. It was gloomy but beautiful and while low cloud persisted, we stayed dry, enjoying a couple of stops along the Clinton River to marvel at the crystal clear waters.
Our first presented side mission was the walkway to the Clinton Valley Wetlands Boardwalk. It was there we made the decision that we would take every single side track offered – just in case we never make it back to this beautiful remote location. With amazing views down the valley, it was well worth the short deviation, even in the mist and low cloud.
Checking in at Clinton Hut, we reserved our bunk beds then dropped our packs so that we could return to explore the river and trail a bit more.
Dinner consisted of BackCountry dehy meals – Nachos and Cottage Pie. They were surprisingly nice. We listened to the entertaining Rangers talk. It’s early in the Great Walk Season but she seems well practiced, having perfected the balance or humour and entertainment, while still drilling home the seriousness of safety and conservation. She recommends the Glowworms just a few hundred meters down the track and so we stay up late waiting for it to get dark so we can venture out a third time in search of tiny lights on the banks of the river.
Eventually we retire to our beds. A short but amazing first day on the Milford Track – cool and cloudy, it’s forecasted to be our ‘worst’ weather for the 4 day mission. So lucky!
Our new blow up pillows a most valued addition to our hiking and camping kit. They couldn’t entirely aid sleep though, with only two bunk rooms between 40 people, it was a long and loud night of squeaky DoC mattresses and persistent snoring. We’re packing ear plugs next trip….
