New Zealand's "Great Walks" - experiences?

[Warks]

Finally I've managed to dig up this thread and report. A truly great trip. Couldn't have been better. I'm just so impressed with the facilities not to mention the amazing landscapes. What everyone says about the Heaphy Track is that each day is different and it's true. Day one is uphill through beech forest. Day two across the limestone plains then into the granite country. Day three is downhill through rainforest to the coast with its amazing rivers. Day four follows the coast and beaches and crosses many rivers. We actually did it in five days, splitting day two which was nice as the first day was tough and it was good to have a couple of shorter days then.
I've written a full report on TripAdvisor if anyone is interested:
https://www.tripadvisor.com.au/Attr...l_Park_Nelson_Tasman_Region_South_Island.html
I was going to post some photos but I need to cut down their size first.

Looking forward to doing another walk next summer on another track with those brilliant facilities.

 

[Warks]

Some photos:

Perry Saddle hut in the fog


Perry Saddle

The path to Saxon Hut

View back east

Bridge over Cave Creek

 

[Warks]

One of the suspension bridges put in on the limestone plain for flood crossings.

Saxon Hut, an older style hut.

From Saxon Hut to Mackay Hut

One of the many river crossing on the west coast.

Avenue of palms

 

[Warks]

Mouth of the Heaphy River.

From inside a cave not far from Heaphy Hut

Cricket game on the lawn at Heaphy Hut

Coast track on the last day to Kohaihai.

 

[Warks]

Hard to believe it's a year ago now.

Planning Milford for December 2017. Going before Xmas as I found post-Xmas and January booked out within hours of opening last May. Flying direct to Queenstown, grabbing a cheapie rental from Apex and leaving the car at the start of the walk (ferry port). Getting a car relocation service to take the car to Milford Sound so we'll have wheels at the end. Even paying for four days of unused car rental is cheaper than the bus transfers (and airport transfers) so that's the way we'll do it.

With a bit of time left over we may well try to do the Routeburn track as well. If I can get the teens motivated twice of course...

I was reading the reviews for the Milford Track on TripAdvisor. The ratings:
Excellent: 196
Very good: 12
Average: 1
Poor: 1
Terrible: 2

That's fairly clear cut! The only negative Nellies were complaining about rain which is a given in that part of the world.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Geeze, being a keen walker, I am amazed that I have missed reading this thread till now. A longer NZ tramp is still on my "gunna" list as I keep indulging in further afield walks. I might have to set some time aside in 2018 (my 2017 is already fully allocated travel-wise).

 

[Warks]

Would love to do the Tongariro Circuit as well. Have had it recommended to me by several Kiwis.

 

[a330j]

You can add a +1 to the Excellent ratings on trip advisor. I did Milford about 8 years ago now :shock: and loved it. I was lucky with the weather, it only rained on the final day into Milford!

 

[NZflygirl]

Would love to do the Tongariro Circuit as well. Have had it recommended to me by several Kiwis.

I've done Tongariro a couple of times - it's gorgeous on a great day. One time the weather forecast was bad but we went down anyway and it turned out to be a great day! Gotta love devil's staircase.

Did Waikaremoana too - a friends now ex-wife ran it!! Mind you there is a run on the Keppler track too.:shock:
Did heaphy some years back. Just remember being angry that one of the girls just walked ahead and wasn't part of the group, didn't give a toss about anyone but herself:evil:.

Also did the Whanganui river with my brother - what a mistake that was!!! We were out of the canoe within 30 mins on the water!!! I'd rather do this as a group and with someone I trusted. Love my brother but really painful when he for some unknown reasons changes sides he's paddling on when you're going around a corner through a small rapid which was NOT part of the plan:evil::evil:. Also came out going down one of the grade 2 rapids on the last day but we met up with a group the night before so went down with them and were rescued. I found it stressful after we came out of the canoe the first time. We had the rapids sorted on the 2nd day. I think if I was with someone else then I may have felt better. I've kayaked before but river is a bit different and ugh.... my brother!!!! Having the direction of my vessel depend on both of us communicating, well - I felt like I was talking to a brick wall sometimes!

I've been wanting to do Milford and Routeburn and Queen Charlotte and Abel Tasman..... etc.... but obviously haven't actually prioritised that so it hasn't happened. I also need to get exercising prior to these hills!! Been too much of a city bumpkin unfortunately.

Will read your future trips with jealousy

 

[Warks]

Looking up the Hump Ridge Track and it's a privately owned sort of thing like that Three Capes walk in Tasmania. Fancy lodges and fancy price tags so not on my agenda at this stage of life. But there are also quite a few other interesting walks near the Milford/Routeburn/Kepler area where the huts cost about $5 per night instead of $54.
This one, for example:
Greenstone and Caples tracks: Walking and tramping in Greenstone and Caples Conservation Areas

 

[RB]

Looking up the Hump Ridge Track and it's a privately owned sort of thing like that Three Capes walk in Tasmania. Fancy lodges and fancy price tags so not on my agenda at this stage of life. But there are also quite a few other interesting walks near the Milford/Routeburn/Kepler area where the huts cost about $5 per night instead of $54.
This one, for example:
Greenstone and Caples tracks: Walking and tramping in Greenstone and Caples Conservation Areas

It was interesting to click on the links there and read the descriptions in the walking categories. We have done most of our walking in Europe & tried to educate ourselves before setting out but sadly in many cases there doesn't seem to be a "consistent" standard of description (sometimes variety even within countries)

 

[Tooner]

Looking up the Hump Ridge Track and it's a privately owned sort of thing like that Three Capes walk in Tasmania. Fancy lodges and fancy price tags so not on my agenda at this stage of life. But there are also quite a few other interesting walks near the Milford/Routeburn/Kepler area where the huts cost about $5 per night instead of $54.
This one, for example:
Greenstone and Caples tracks: Walking and tramping in Greenstone and Caples Conservation Areas

Just back from NZ and we did Routeburn from Divide to Routeburn Shelter. 2 average days and 2 glorious days (fortunately the last 2 days so the scenery was stunning). We spent the first night at Lake Howden which is also o the Greenstone and Caples tracks. The Ranger was talking them up and emphasised that they are more natural than the Routeburn. As in, they are not maintained like a Great Walk! Important to remember that the places in huts sel-out very quickly: we booked ours in May 2016.

We also used trackhopper (very easy) and hired most equipment from Outdoor Supplies in Te Anau. One side effect is it will be some time before I can even look at Back Country freeze=dried food!

 

[Warks]

Well the Milford Track bookings finally opened today and what a debacle. Couldn't get past the booking page - overloaded so the servers said no. By the time I got in after a couple of hours the Milford was booked out from at least mid December to 20 January! At 40 beds per hut that's a LOT of people. I suspect booking bots must have been involved to ensure some people got their tickets but I'm not even sure that's possible. Anyway we booked our flights (on points) six months ago and now we're stuffed.

I looked at Kepler as a back-up. It's showing zero availability all summer but I think that's a fault as there's no way it's more popular than Milford. Routeburn has a bit of availability but that's further down my list as it's a shorter walk. We could do that as well as another walk so I'm not rushing to book that yet. Might have to though. I've emailed DoC to check what's going on with Kepler and if there's a chance of getting a berth for Milford. If I can't then I can't see any way of getting on it ever. Pure luck or go the luxury route. Disappointed is all I can say.

 

[RB]

Well the Milford Track bookings finally opened today and what a debacle. Couldn't get past the booking page - overloaded so the servers said no. By the time I got in after a couple of hours the Milford was booked out from at least mid December to 20 January! At 40 beds per hut that's a LOT of people. I suspect booking bots must have been involved to ensure some people got their tickets but I'm not even sure that's possible. Anyway we booked our flights (on points) six months ago and now we're stuffed.

I looked at Kepler as a back-up. It's showing zero availability all summer but I think that's a fault as there's no way it's more popular than Milford. Routeburn has a bit of availability but that's further down my list as it's a shorter walk. We could do that as well as another walk so I'm not rushing to book that yet. Might have to though. I've emailed DoC to check what's going on with Kepler and if there's a chance of getting a berth for Milford. If I can't then I can't see any way of getting on it ever. Pure luck or go the luxury route. Disappointed is all I can say.

Obviously makes planning pretty difficult. The Dolomites would help you get over your disappointment!

 

[Tooner]

Obviously makes planning pretty difficult. The Dolomites would help you get over your disappointment!

You might need to go [gulp] guided! :shock:

 

[Milboo]

Why not do the Abel Tasman? Beautiful weather at that time of year there too.

 

[Beehelp]

My au-pair girl hiked Routeburn. It's one of the shortest and not very complecated. But still picturesque

 

[NZflygirl]

Well the Milford Track bookings finally opened today and what a debacle. Couldn't get past the booking page - overloaded so the servers said no. By the time I got in after a couple of hours the Milford was booked out from at least mid December to 20 January! At 40 beds per hut that's a LOT of people. I suspect booking bots must have been involved to ensure some people got their tickets but I'm not even sure that's possible. Anyway we booked our flights (on points) six months ago and now we're stuffed.

I looked at Kepler as a back-up. It's showing zero availability all summer but I think that's a fault as there's no way it's more popular than Milford. Routeburn has a bit of availability but that's further down my list as it's a shorter walk. We could do that as well as another walk so I'm not rushing to book that yet. Might have to though. I've emailed DoC to check what's going on with Kepler and if there's a chance of getting a berth for Milford. If I can't then I can't see any way of getting on it ever. Pure luck or go the luxury route. Disappointed is all I can say.

That would be part of the reason I haven't done it - difficult to get on. I remember the news having a segment on why so many tourists do it but not many kiwi's and I was yelling at the tv going "because all the tourists get in first!":evil:
I wonder if booking stuff like this is the time to use your credit card concierge or AMEX travel to be on top of it when bookings are available.

 

[Warks]

DoC (Dept Conservation) replied to my email with a "it's very popular" waffle but no other explanation. They did thoughtfully book me into the Kepler for the nights I mentioned but I had to write back and say I'd already booked the Kepler - got in on the stroke of 7 the next day when they opened bookings for that track. Huts are now $NZ65 a night - up from $52 a year or so back. The big three walks (Milford, Routeburn and Kepler) all have more expensive huts than the rest of the Great Walks.

Seeing as we'd already booked to fly to Queenstown it was going to be one of these, nice though the Abel Tasman sounds. The Routeburn is short enough to fit in as well on this trip but two walks in ten days might be gilding the lily for the teens I'm with. Plenty more to do around Queenstown with them anyway.