Milford Sound
New Zealand’s 11 Great Walks are world-class multi-day tracks, and during the Great Walks season (typically late October to late April) every bunk and campsite is bookable through the Department of Conservation (DOC). The most popular tracks (Milford, Routeburn and Kepler) sell out within minutes of bookings opening.
Here’s a practical, step-by-step guide to Great Walks bookings, so you don’t miss out on the track you want.
When Great Walks bookings open
DOC Great Walks booking dates are announced each autumn (typically April-May) for the following summer season. Opening dates are staggered across the tracks, with each released on a specific date and time, usually 9.30am NZ time.
Milford Track booking is traditionally the hottest ticket of the lot. Routeburn Track booking is not far behind, and Kepler, Abel Tasman and Tongariro Northern Circuit also fill quickly in peak months.
Sign up to DOC’s Great Walks mailing list to get notified of opening dates, and mark them in your calendar. Have your account and payment details ready before the moment bookings open.
How to book: step by step
All Great Walks bookings are handled through the official DOC website (bookings.doc.govt.nz). Here’s the process:
- Create a DOC online account well ahead of opening day. Verify your email and save your login.
- On opening day, log in 15 minutes early and head to the Great Walks page.
- Select your track and choose “Book now”.
- Pick your start date. Most tracks are walked one-way, with Milford and Kepler in set directions.
- Select your huts or campsites for each night. Bunks are unassigned within the hut.
- Add walker details (names, ages, nationality, residents pay less).
- Pay by card. Bookings are confirmed by email straight away.
For the busiest tracks, have a backup plan ready: alternative dates, a second-choice track, or a shoulder-season option.
Milford Track booking
Milford Track booking is the most competitive in the country. The track is walked one way from Glade Wharf to Sandfly Point over four days, with fixed bookings at Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling Huts.
Only 40 independent walkers start each day. Weekend dates in January and February often sell out within two minutes of opening.
Tips for Milford Track booking:
– Be logged in and on the page at 9.29am on opening day.
– Be flexible on dates. Mid-week is easier than weekends.
– Shoulder seasons (late October, April) have more availability.
– If you miss out, monitor the booking system for cancellations, which appear regularly.
There is no camping option on the Milford Track, huts only. Guided walks (run by a private operator) are an alternative if DOC independent spaces sell out.
Routeburn Track booking
Routeburn Track booking covers a 32km point-to-point walk between Mount Aspiring and Fiordland National Parks. Most walkers complete it in two to four days with nights at Routeburn Flats, Routeburn Falls, Lake Mackenzie or Lake Howden Huts. There are also two campsites.
Like Milford, Routeburn sells out fast. Walkers can choose either direction (Divide to Routeburn Shelter or reverse), with most preferring east-to-west for the climbing gradient.
Transport at both ends needs to be planned in advance. The trailheads are 350km apart by road, so most walkers book a coach or car transfer through a private operator.
Kepler, Abel Tasman and Tongariro
Kepler Track booking is slightly less competitive than Milford or Routeburn but still sells out in peak months. Advantage: both trailheads are near Te Anau, making transport simpler.
Abel Tasman Coast Track is the easiest to book, with more huts, more campsites and water-taxi access at multiple points. Tongariro Northern Circuit (which shares terrain with the famous Tongariro Alpine Crossing) sells out in summer.
For all of these, the same rule applies: book early, be flexible, and have a backup.
Fees and costs
Great Walks fees vary by track and walker type. New Zealand residents pay around half what international walkers pay. As of the current season:
– Milford Track hut (international adult): around NZ$110 per night.
– Routeburn Track hut (international adult): around NZ$102 per night.
– Campsites (where available): around NZ$36-48 per night.
Children’s rates apply under 17, and under-fives are free. Check the DOC website for current fees, they’re reviewed annually.
If you miss out on bookings
Cancellations appear daily through the booking system. Set up alerts, check mornings and evenings, and be ready to act quickly when a date appears.
Alternatives include:
– Guided walks (Milford and Routeburn both have guided options with private operators).
– Non-Great Walks tracks (Rees-Dart, Greenstone-Caples, Dusky Track).
– Day walks on the Great Walks themselves (Key Summit, Luxmore, Routeburn Flats).
What to do either side of your walk
Most walkers build rest days into their Great Walks itinerary. From Te Anau, plenty of our guests finish the Milford Track and head straight onto our Milford Sound cruise, the classic way to see the fiord from sea level after four days walking toward it. Before the Kepler, our Te Anau Glowworm Caves tour is a relaxed way to spend a pre-trip afternoon.
Ready, set, book
Great Walks booking rewards preparation. Sign up to DOC’s newsletter, mark the opening dates, know your preferred tracks and dates, and be online the moment bookings open. With a little planning, the best multi-day tracks in the country are yours for the walking.
Ready to finish your walk on Milford Sound
We’d love to see you out on the fiord after your tramp. Our coach and cruise from Te Anau or Queenstown is the easiest way to swap your boots for a deck and let our skippers show you Milford Sound from sea level.
Book a Milford Sound Coach & Cruise
See more latest news