The Milford Track from Queenstown: fees, transport and what it adds up to
Four days, one direction, two boats and no camping. The DOC fees for 2026/27, the transport packages from Queenstown, and the total per walker.
Published 4 September 2026 · Last checked 19 September 2026 · Corrected 19 September 2026 · By Queenstown Pocket
In short: The Milford Track is 53.5 km over four days, walked one way from Glade Wharf to Sandfly Point. In the Great Walks season (1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027) huts cost $106 a night for NZ residents and $152 for international visitors, three nights. Tracknet’s Queenstown loop, every bus and boat included, is from $348 adult. Budget about $666 (NZ) or $804 (international) before food.
DOC hut fees, 2026/27
| Period | Adult NZ | Adult international | Child NZ | Child international |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hut, 1 Nov to 30 Apr (Great Walks season) | $106 | $152 | $53 | $76 |
| Hut, 1 May to 31 Oct (off season) | $30 | $30 | $15 | $15 |
Three nights (Clinton, Mintaro, Dumpling huts) in the season, booked through DOC; bookings for 2026/27 are open and the last season departure is 28 April 2027. Camping is not permitted anywhere on the track. Off season there are no wardens, bridges are removed and the walk becomes a serious alpine undertaking.
Transport from Queenstown
Neither end of the track has road access, so every walker buys a boat at each end and a bus to and from Te Anau. Tracknet packages the lot; prices are the from adult / child prices it publishes.
| Package | Includes | From (adult / child) |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown loop | Queenstown to Te Anau Downs by bus, boat to Glade Wharf, boat from Sandfly Point, bus Milford Sound to Queenstown | $348 / $216 |
| Queenstown loop with Milford cruise | As above plus a Milford Sound cruise at the end | $505 / $305 |
| Te Anau loop | Te Anau to Te Anau Downs, both boats, bus back to Te Anau | $243 / $153 |
| Te Anau loop with cruise | As above plus the cruise | $399 / $242 |
| Te Anau Downs only | Both boats, bus from Milford Sound back to Te Anau Downs (own car) | $205 / $130 |
| Ferries only | Glade Wharf and Sandfly Point boats | $130 / $85 |
| Leg | Departs | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Queenstown to Te Anau | 10:15am | About 2 h 30 min |
| Te Anau to Te Anau Downs | 1:25pm | Included |
| Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf (boat, Ultimate Hikes) | 2:00pm | 1 hour |
| Sandfly Point to Milford Sound (boat) | 2:00pm to 4:30pm | About 15 minutes |
| Milford Sound to Queenstown | 10:00am, 2:30pm | About 5 h 25 min |
- Overnight in Milford. The packages let you pick a later return date if you want a night at Milford Sound before the 5 h 30 bus back.
- Winter. A May service runs on confirmed dates with a four-passenger minimum, adult only, $265.
- Bags. Store what you do not carry at Info & Track in Queenstown ($10 per item overnight) or freight it to Milford Lodge for $35; the luggage guide has the detail.
What it adds up to
| Item | NZ resident | International |
|---|---|---|
| Three hut nights | $318 | $456 |
| Queenstown loop transport | $348 | $348 |
| Total before food and gear | $666 | $804 |
| With the Milford cruise package instead | $823 | $961 |
Compare that with the Routeburn, which shares the Fiordland bus network but needs only two hut nights and no boats.
Questions people ask
How much does the Milford Track cost from Queenstown?
For a New Zealand resident in the Great Walks season: three hut nights at $106 ($318) plus Tracknet's Queenstown loop transport at $348, so $666 before food and gear. An international visitor pays $152 a night ($456) plus the same $348, so $804. Add $157 for the package that ends with a Milford Sound cruise.
How long is the Milford Track?
53.5 km in one direction only, walked over 4 days and 3 nights from Glade Wharf at the head of Lake Te Anau to Sandfly Point in Milford Sound. Daily legs are 5 km, 17.5 km, 13 km and 18 km. Camping is not permitted.
When is the Milford Track open?
The Great Walks season runs 1 November 2026 to 30 April 2027 with the last departure on 28 April 2027; bookings are required and are open now. Outside the season the huts are first come, first served with bridges removed and no wardens; Tracknet runs a limited winter service in May.
How do I get to the Milford Track from Queenstown?
Bus to Te Anau (about 2 hours 30 minutes, 10:15am on Tracknet) and on to Te Anau Downs, then a one-hour boat to Glade Wharf. At the far end a 15-minute boat takes you from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound, and the bus back to Queenstown (10:00am or 2:30pm) is about 5 hours 25 minutes. There is no vehicle access to either end.
Can I leave my bags in Queenstown while I walk the Milford Track?
Yes. Info & Track at 37 Shotover Street stores bags for $10 per item overnight, and bag freight to Te Anau ($25) or Milford Lodge ($35) is available if you are carrying on. Most accommodation will hold bags for returning guests.
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Related guides
- Queenstown to Milford Sound: coach, fly, or drive
Coach, fly or drive: what each costs, how long it takes, and the Milford Road rules.
- Where to leave your bags in Queenstown
Airport lockers $7 to $20 per 12 hours, Info & Track $5 a day in town, freight to Te Anau, what to do with a car.
- The Routeburn Track from Queenstown: getting there and what it costs
DOC hut and campsite fees for 2026/27, the track bus from Shotover Street, bag storage, the one-way logistics.
- Queenstown to Te Anau by bus or car
InterCity from Athol Street, the Tracknet track bus at $68, the drive via Kingston and Mossburn, and where each one stops.
Sources: DOC, Milford Track (fees, season, distances) (opens in a new tab), Tracknet, Milford Track transport (opens in a new tab) and Info & Track, FAQs (bag storage and freight) (opens in a new tab), retrieved 19 September 2026. Totals are our arithmetic from the published prices; Tracknet lists its package prices as from prices, and DOC fees are per person per night as published for 2026/27. This independent guide is published by Tally Sphere Limited, a New Zealand company. Spotted a change? Report a problem with this page and the page address comes with your email.