Milford Track — what I'd do differently next time
Quote from Rafick on May 7, 2026, 9:53 pmI walked the Milford Track in November 2025. The full story is on the blog — a wet and bumpy hike — but the short version: 8 of our group of 10 turned back at Mintaro Hut. Sarah and I carried on. The leg from Mintaro to Dumpling via MacKinnon Pass became one of the hardest things I've done.
Below is what I'd do differently next time. Some of it is small. Some of it isn't.
1. Walk it in February, not late November.
This is the big one. Late November is the start of the Great Walks season, and the weather is still volatile. We had two track closures, one forced rest day, then 76 mm of rain on the day we crossed the pass. February is statistically more stable — drier, longer days, warmer huts. I've already booked my next Milford for 20–23 February 2027.
2. Snow gloves on, before the climb.
I had snow gloves in my pack. I knew it would be cold at the pass. I told myself I'd put them on when I needed them. By the time I needed them, my fingers were too frozen to bend, and there was no way I was opening the pack in driving rain and wind. The lesson: when the weather is bad and you're heading up, put the gear on before you start, not when it's already too late.
3. Don't trust DOC's "green light" blindly.
Janet at Mintaro told us we could leave at 7:00 am. I personally thought we should wait until afternoon when the rain calmed. The 8 who turned back had the right instinct. I'd still have gone — but with hindsight, an afternoon start would have been safer for everyone who continued. Have your own opinion. Don't outsource the decision to authority.
4. Carry a cap that doesn't soak.
My brown cap absorbed water within minutes. I spent the climb taking it off, shaking it, putting it back on, repeat. A peaked cap with proper waterproofing — or a hood-only setup — would have saved energy and stopped my glasses from steaming.
5. Eat properly before the hardest leg.
I walked 9+ hours from Mintaro to Dumpling on 5 snack balls and a cup of tea. Looking back — that's not enough fuel for the conditions, even with my "survival mode" approach. On a normal day, fine. On the day you're crossing MacKinnon Pass in a storm, no. The pre-hike breakfast and a proper hot meal at the MacKinnon Shelter would have made a real difference.
What I'd not change: the decision to go. Sarah and I made it. We stayed calm. We focused on reaching the next shelter, not on the suffering. The white orchids on the climb — described in the full blog post — are something I'll never forget.
It was hard. It was unique. It was worth it.
Over to you:
- For anyone who's done Milford — when did you walk it, and how was the weather?
- What gear decision do you regret most from a hard tramp?
- And the big one — has DOC ever given you a "green light" you wished you'd ignored?
I walked the Milford Track in November 2025. The full story is on the blog — a wet and bumpy hike — but the short version: 8 of our group of 10 turned back at Mintaro Hut. Sarah and I carried on. The leg from Mintaro to Dumpling via MacKinnon Pass became one of the hardest things I've done.
Below is what I'd do differently next time. Some of it is small. Some of it isn't.
1. Walk it in February, not late November.
This is the big one. Late November is the start of the Great Walks season, and the weather is still volatile. We had two track closures, one forced rest day, then 76 mm of rain on the day we crossed the pass. February is statistically more stable — drier, longer days, warmer huts. I've already booked my next Milford for 20–23 February 2027.
2. Snow gloves on, before the climb.
I had snow gloves in my pack. I knew it would be cold at the pass. I told myself I'd put them on when I needed them. By the time I needed them, my fingers were too frozen to bend, and there was no way I was opening the pack in driving rain and wind. The lesson: when the weather is bad and you're heading up, put the gear on before you start, not when it's already too late.
3. Don't trust DOC's "green light" blindly.
Janet at Mintaro told us we could leave at 7:00 am. I personally thought we should wait until afternoon when the rain calmed. The 8 who turned back had the right instinct. I'd still have gone — but with hindsight, an afternoon start would have been safer for everyone who continued. Have your own opinion. Don't outsource the decision to authority.
4. Carry a cap that doesn't soak.
My brown cap absorbed water within minutes. I spent the climb taking it off, shaking it, putting it back on, repeat. A peaked cap with proper waterproofing — or a hood-only setup — would have saved energy and stopped my glasses from steaming.
5. Eat properly before the hardest leg.
I walked 9+ hours from Mintaro to Dumpling on 5 snack balls and a cup of tea. Looking back — that's not enough fuel for the conditions, even with my "survival mode" approach. On a normal day, fine. On the day you're crossing MacKinnon Pass in a storm, no. The pre-hike breakfast and a proper hot meal at the MacKinnon Shelter would have made a real difference.
What I'd not change: the decision to go. Sarah and I made it. We stayed calm. We focused on reaching the next shelter, not on the suffering. The white orchids on the climb — described in the full blog post — are something I'll never forget.
It was hard. It was unique. It was worth it.
Over to you:
- For anyone who's done Milford — when did you walk it, and how was the weather?
- What gear decision do you regret most from a hard tramp?
- And the big one — has DOC ever given you a "green light" you wished you'd ignored?