Self Guided Day Walk & Return Water Taxi

Experience a taster of one of New Zealand’s Great Walks on a self-guided Milford Track day walk with boat transfers provided by Fiordland Outdoors Co. Starting off in Deepwater Basin in Milford Sound, a water taxi transports you to Sandfly Point, which is the end point of the Milford Track. Spend approximately half a day hiking through this secluded part of Milford Sound and Fiordland on the world-famous Milford Track, before catching a return water taxi in the afternoon.

The Milford Track was once named ‘the finest walk in the world’, and with good reason. This 53 kilometre hiking trail travels past glacier-carved valleys, rainforests and mountain peaks from near Te Anau Downs to the track’s end point at Sandfly Point in Milford Sound. Showcasing the best of alpine and fiordland scenery, the Milford Track can also be explored on an easy-going day walk from Milford Sound, with a scenic return water taxi and 3-4 hours of self-guided walking.

Ideal for those staying in Te Anau or Milford Sound, the water taxi with Fiordland Outdoors Co. departs from Deepwater Basin, close by to Milford Sound’s cruise terminal. It’s a 10 minute boat ride to reach Sandfly Point and the start of your Milford Track adventure. Then, for a 3-4 hour or 11 kilometre return hike, you can make your way along the Arthur River and Lake Ada before reaching the popular destination of Giant Gates Falls. This 30 metre waterfall cascades through the native rainforest into a beautiful pool, where you can stop for lunch and even a swim. Enjoy the Milford Track at your own pace, soak in the fiordland surroundings and look out for native wildlife before heading back for your return water taxi at the end of this surreal day walk.