Fiordland’s Great Walks: Milford, Routeburn & Kepler - 7 Days
New ZealandFiordland

Fiordland’s Great Walks: Milford, Routeburn & Kepler - 7 Days

7 Days
Easy to Moderate

Fiordland’s Great Walks: Milford, Routeburn & Kepler - 7 Days

from $3,695 / person

Overview

Walk unfettered by having to travel with a group, at your own pace self-guided and pack-free. Hike on three iconic Great Walks of New Zealand tracks, with two walks on both the Milford and Kepler Tracks and Key Summit on the Routeburn. The tracks find their way through glacier-carved valleys, pristine lakes, and ancient rainforests. Enjoy exclusive extras like a helicopter flight to the Kepler Track and cruise on Milford Sound plus various boat trips along the way.

This new adventure from Auswalk blends adventure with luxury to create an unforgettable journey. Stay in 4-star hotels, you'll have all the comfort you need after hiking these extraordinary tracks.

Highlights

  • Walks on the Routeburn, Kepler and Milford Tracks
  • Stay in 4-star style in Te Anau & Queenstown
  • One-of-a-kind views over Milford Sound on a boat cruise
  • Helicopter to Kepler Track for a second walk on the Kepler
  • Walk from Lake Te Anau for your first walk on the Kepler Track
  • Two-day hikes on the world-famous Milford track
  • Forests filled with birdsong, lush rainforest gullies packed with majestic tree ferns and mountain peaks.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Queenstown

Arrive at anytime today and spend the remainder of the day exploring Queenstown. There is a lot to do so pre plan is the key. There's a lot to do particularly if you are interested in adventure, however some activities are a little over the top. The Shotover Jet Boat on the Shotover River is well worth the effort. It must be booked well beforehand.

Accommodation

4-star Hotel in Queenstown

What's Included

Accommodation

4-star Hotel (6 nights)

Meals

6 breakfasts

Transfers

  • Luggage Transfers
  • Helicopter
  • Boat Ride
  • Private Vehicle Transfers

Guidance & Support

  • Itinerary & Walk Notes
  • Walking App for Navigation
  • 24/7 on-trip support

Included Activities

  • Milford Sound - Boat Cruise
  • Lake Manapouri - Helicopter Flight

How We Rate This Walk

2

Auswalk Walking Grade

Easy to Moderate

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Mostly flat terrain with some gentle inclines. Suitable for anyone with basic fitness who enjoys walking.

View Fitness Guide

5

Days on the trail

8-14 km

Daily distance range

15-400 m

Daily ascent range

4/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

You'll spend the best part of the trip in Te Anau at a luxury 4-star hotel, right in the heart of town and just a short stroll from Lake Te Anau, the South Island's largest lake and the launching pad for your Fiordland adventure. In Queenstown you'll settle into a convenient 4-star hotel close to all the action, including the lakefront.

What You'll Eat

Your Te Anau hotel has two restaurants on-site, and the cafe and bar is a firm favourite with locals, the perfect spot to unwind after a day exploring Fiordland. In Queenstown, buffet breakfast is included every morning, with an optional à la carte dinner and cocktail bar on hand when you fancy staying in. The town's food scene is worth heading out for too, just be sure to book ahead, restaurants fill up fast. Or keep it relaxed with a Fergburger and a lake view.

More About This Trip

The walk both starts and finishes in Queenstown. Fly direct from most major Australian cities, or connect through Air New Zealand's domestic network if you're arriving from further afield, Queenstown's airport also takes some international flights. A short taxi ride gets you from the airport into town. Already in New Zealand, self-drive or bus both work well, with excellent roads running north from Christchurch and plenty to see along the way.

Expect moderate, mostly even walking across all three tracks, with daily distances running between 10 and 14 km. The Kepler is flat beech forest crossed by a swing bridge, the Routeburn climbs through rainforest into alpine terrain around Key Summit, and the Milford follows the Clinton River through ancient forest and wetland. Day 6 is the one day with real elevation change, and even then the helicopter transfer removes the steepest 800 m climb, leaving a gentle descent back to Lake Te Anau. Underfoot conditions can shift fast given how changeable Fiordland weather is.

Fiordland's weather runs on its own schedule, so plan for changeable conditions no matter when you go. December through February bring the warmest weather, while July sits deep in winter, and it's that rain in between which feeds the region's waterfalls and lush forest year round.

See the New Zealand Meteorological Service for information about average temperatures and rainfall at different times of the year.


You must hold adequate travel insurance for your trip, including cover for personal liability and accidental injury and illness. For all trips involving international travel, your policy must also include emergency medical treatment, evacuation and repatriation cover. We strongly recommend your policy also covers trip cancellation and curtailment, and loss of or damage to luggage.

A cancellation fee usually applies if you cancel after your booking is confirmed. Travel insurance with cancellation cover will generally cover this fee, so it's worth arranging your policy at the time of booking.

Full insurance requirements are set out in our booking terms and conditions.

For over 30 years, we have taken pride in providing seamlessly organised walking holidays, but we know, even with that in mind, that you'll have many more questions. You will receive a very detailed information pack and itinerary approximately 6 weeks out from departure, outlining all the fine details and much more.

The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre in Te Anau has a small natural and human history museum with displays on the geology, wildlife and Maori cultural significance of the surrounding landscape. Queenstown has Kura Gallery in the town centre, dedicated to Maori and New Zealand pounamu (greenstone), fine art and jewellery.

Dates & Pricing

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

October 2026

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Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

Fiordland reviews

5.0
7 reviews
5 Star
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1 Star
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Elizabeth D
5 months ago

Everything about the tour was amazing from the guides to the hotels the food to the walks & also the other walkers. The guides were so good - our main guide Michelle was so knowledgeable & also friendly.

Tia N
5 months ago

Michelle is an excellent guide- the best! Such a lovely person & wide knowledge base.

Denise U
5 months ago

The itinerary was well balanced. The walks were different everyday. Easy with only one moderate day. All were spectacular. A highlight for me , and the most unexpected was the back road gravel drive to Walter Peak High Country Station. Just stunning.

Deborah W
5 months ago

All the guides were amazing, especially Michelle. She gave 110 % the entire trip. Accommodation walks and food were all fantastic.

Zoe K
6 months ago

The tour was absolutely well managed and extremely enjoyable. I wouldn't change anything. The guides were extremely knowledgeable and the walks were just right.

Lorri H
9 months ago

Guides were great. Excellent- amazing walks scenery organisation. From helicopter and jet boat trips to Milford Sound cruise all was excellent. Accommodation and food at Martin's was amazing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fiordland can be walked year-round, though January and February are the warmest months and July the coldest. That said, the weather here is famously unpredictable — the "Roaring Forties" westerly winds roll in from the Tasman Sea at any time of year, bringing heavy rain and occasional snow at higher elevations. Whatever month you visit, pack for all conditions.

Most itineraries are based out of Te Anau, where you'll stay at a central 4-star hotel — typically the Distinction Luxmore Hotel — with well-appointed rooms and two on-site restaurants. Queenstown stays are at a similarly comfortable 4-star property near the lake with a cocktail bar and daily buffet breakfast. On the group-guided Hollyford Track, the highlight is an overnight at Waitai Lodge — a remote luxury coastal retreat with ocean views, wood-fired hot tubs, and gourmet dining using fresh local produce.

All transfers to and from trailheads are included. Self-guided tours include a vehicle transfer from Queenstown to Te Anau (approximately 2 hours 45 minutes). Group-guided tours depart from a central pick-up point at Steamers Wharf coach park in Queenstown, opposite the Crowne Plaza — you'll need to make your own way there. Water transfers — including lake water taxis, Milford Track ferries, and a Milford Sound boat cruise — are also included. Some itineraries add a helicopter drop onto the Kepler Track or a scenic flight to Waitai Lodge.

No. Getting from Queenstown Airport to your pre-tour accommodation is a short taxi ride and is not included in the package. Group-guided guests must arrive in Queenstown the night before the tour begins. Self-guided guests should arrive before 3:00pm to catch the 4:30pm transfer to Te Anau — you'll need to provide your flight details in advance.

All Fiordland itineraries are designed as pack-free walking holidays. Your main luggage stays at your Te Anau hotel while you walk each day — you only carry a light daypack on the trails. Any transfers between Queenstown and Te Anau are handled during your scheduled vehicle transfers.

Your packed walker's lunch, at least two water bottles, wet weather gear, a warm layer, and any personal items such as a camera. A pack with padded shoulder straps, a chest strap, and a hip belt will make a significant difference on uneven terrain. Walking poles are worth considering — particularly for the Routeburn Track, which involves notable elevation gain and can be rocky underfoot.

Fiordland weather is notoriously changeable, so pack for everything. Essentials include broken-in hiking shoes or light boots with good grip, waterproof jacket, waterproof over-trousers, warm layers, sunhat, sunglasses, and sunscreen (SPF 15+). Also useful: a pack cover or heavy-duty plastic bag to keep your daypack dry, insect repellent, a camera, binoculars, and a thermos. If you're walking in January or February, a fly net is worth adding to the list.

Fiordland's forests and alpine zones are alive with native birdlife. Keep an eye out for the brown creeper, rifleman, and kaka, and at higher elevations, the kea — a large, highly intelligent alpine parrot and one of New Zealand's most entertaining trail companions. The tracks themselves wind through glacier-carved valleys, ancient podocarp forests, and temperate rainforest, with glacial waterfalls — including the impressive Giant Gate Falls on the Milford Track — along the way.

Yes. If you're on a self-guided trip, you must carry a complete first aid kit. On guided tours, your guide will carry group first aid supplies, but you should bring personal medications, a blister kit, band-aids, sunscreen, and insect repellent.

This depends on your itinerary. Self-guided packages include breakfasts only — you'll need to budget for lunches and dinners. A packed lunch is provided each walking day to carry on the trail. The group-guided tour includes all meals: breakfasts, packed lunches, and chef-prepared dinners throughout.

Yes — travel insurance is a condition of booking. Your policy must cover injury, cancellation, and loss of luggage. As New Zealand is an international destination for most guests, medical evacuation coverage is also required.

A solid level of fitness is recommended. The tracks are manageable but involve real terrain — the Kepler Track includes an 800m ascent to Mt Luxmore, and the Routeburn is rocky in sections with meaningful elevation gain. Focus your preparation on hill climbing and building endurance on uneven ground rather than flat distance walking.

Want to Know More?

The Fiordland experience

Wonder
Walk four of New Zealand's Great Walks in one journey: the Milford, Routeburn, Kepler, and Hollyford Tracks
A helicopter flight into the remote Hollyford coastline and a cruise on Milford Sound are included
Milford Sound's dramatic cliffs and waterfalls, accessible at the end of the Milford Track, are extraordinary
Wellness
Pack-free walking through Fiordland's 12,000-square-kilometre UNESCO World Heritage wilderness
The combination of alpine passes, ancient rainforest, and glacier-carved valleys is unmatched in New Zealand
Walking these four tracks outside peak season reveals Fiordland at its most elemental and uncrowded
Nature
Glacier-carved valleys, moss-draped beech forests, and pristine alpine lakes throughout Fiordland
Look out for native kaka, brown creeper, and riflemen birds along the Routeburn and Kepler Tracks
Fiordland's extraordinary silence, broken only by waterfalls and birdcalls, is its defining sound