Overview
The Milford Track is walked in one direction only, over four days and three nights, sleeping at Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling huts in that order. The 2026/27 Great Walks season runs from November 1 to April 30, with the last departure on April 28.
The Department of Conservation opens the entire season in a single release: for 2026/27 it was May 13, 2026 at 9:30 AM, and the 2027/28 date is not published yet. You are booking three consecutive nights in sequence plus boat transport at both ends, so a missing middle night means no trip at all.
At a glance
| Do you need a permit or reservation? | Great Walk hut bookings (three nights) |
|---|---|
| Cost | NZ$152 per adult per night (international visitors) |
| How to get it | Create a DOC account and save your details before the release morning. |
| When it opens | Hard to get · Opened May 13, 2026, 9:30 NZST |
| All-inclusive alternative | None we can recommend: no tour we checked includes this access, so the official channel is the way in. |
| Official rules | doc.govt.nz DOC blog: 2026/27 Great Walks booking dates |
How the permit works
- 1Create a DOC account and save your details before the release morning.
- 2Be logged in at the exact release time; the whole season opens at once.
- 3Book Clinton, Mintaro and Dumpling huts on three consecutive nights, in that order.
- 4Book the Te Anau Downs boat to Glade Wharf and the Sandfly Point boat out separately.
- 5Hut fees in the Great Walks season: NZ$152 per adult per night for international visitors, NZ$106 for New Zealand residents.
Required documents
- DOC hut confirmation for all three nights
- Boat transport bookings at both ends of the track
- Photo ID matching the lead booking name
Insider tips
- Have a second and third date combination written down before the release opens — you will not have time to think.
- Book the boats at each end as soon as the huts are confirmed; they are separate bookings.
- Fiordland gets several metres of rain a year. Waterproofs and a spare dry layer are not optional, and the track can close after heavy rain.
Sold-out alternatives
If your dates are gone, these get you a comparable experience.
Frequently asked questions
When do Milford Track bookings open?
In one release for the whole season: for 2026/27 it was May 13, 2026 at 9:30 AM NZST. The 2027/28 date is not published yet; watch doc.govt.nz.
Can I walk the Milford Track in the other direction, or in a day?
No. In Great Walk season it’s one-way, four days, with fixed hut nights in sequence.
What if only two of the three huts are available?
Then you can’t do the trip on those dates: all three consecutive nights are required.