Milford Track huts and shelters
There are two types of walkers on the Milford, the freedom trampers, 40 max, using the DOC supplied huts and the guided walkers, 50 max, using more upmarket private huts that are fully catered.
Three DOC huts are used on successive nights: Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling.
The private huts are: Glade House, Pompolona Lodge and Quintin Lodge.
Due to possible inclement weather there is also a number of shelters that provide some respite from poor conditions.
Yeah, there was no respite for the poor cameras on the fact gathering trip, hence the somewhat waterlogged images in this section, then again, that’s the reality of this area, you might not get the weather you would personally choose.
A big roof, adjacent to the Roaring Burn suspension bridge to allow shelter from the weather.
This hut is a 1973 reconstruction by Bill Anderson and Sandy Brown, near the original location, of the first two huts built for the Milford Track here in 1890 and which were used until 1897.
Very basic shelter, ie, dirt floor, adjacent to Marlene’s Creek to allow shelter from the weather while waiting for the creek levels to lower in the winter months when the bridges are removed.
Set at a forest/wetlands interface with views to the impressively steep mountains, if you get a distant view, the nearby waterfalls if you don’t.
After the gloom and confines of Mintaro Hut this is majorly airy and spacious.
Two very basic shelters, ie, just a narrow roof with a bench beneath.
A fully enclosed alpine shelter, complete with airlock, and room for 40 trampers to give protection from the elements.
you will feel you are right in the heart of the Fiordland mountains.
A shelter to house packs while trampers venture unemcumbered up to the Sutherland Falls.
A fully enclosed shelter, ie, with a door and flyscreens on the windows, used if you don’t time your run to the boat at Milford Sound to perfection.