New Zealand’s Great Walks are a bucket list item for many, but they don’t come cheap. The cost of hiking the Milford Track can be especially high because of how rural and in-demand it is. It’s known as one of the most beautiful hikes in the world! If you can afford it, it’s definitely worth it. Bookings for the summer season typically sell out in minutes. So if you’re lucky enough to secure a spot, it’s helpful to be prepared for all the associated costs. I’ve broken it down into segments and summarize it at the end, so keep scrolling!
All prices are listed in NZD.
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may get a commission if you buy/book something I’ve linked to. I only ever recommend things I have used or would use myself.
Hut accommodation cost of hiking the Milford Track
I went in 2023 but will update this post regularly to keep up with the changing costs for current seasons. In 2024/25, the cost of one night in a shared dorm was $92 for locals, and $130 for internationals. (Up $20 from the previous year!)
So 3 nights come to $276 per person if you live in New Zealand, or $390 if you’re visiting from overseas.
The walk takes four days, and there are no cheaper alternatives like camp sites. There is a more bougie and expensive alternative with more amenities if you want to join the Ultimate Hikers group, and this costs a mere $2,750 to $6,690 per person. The price includes transport, meals, and lodges with way more amenities than the regular huts, but it’s still extremely expensive.
Unfortunately, the bookings are very limited so there’s no guarantee you’ll get one on the dates you want. (Or at all!)
The website actually crashed in 2023 and again in 2024 because so many people tried to reserve their spot as soon as the booking site opened.
Right: Dumpling Hut
Your best bet is to have your browser open and ready to go as soon as the booking portal opens, usually sometime in July. I went with a group of friends and there were 6 of us in total, so securing a booking for all of us was particularly challenging. We had 3 of us on standby ready to book as soon as the page opened, and only 1 of us was successful (me)! So it’s helpful to be flexible and set up several tabs with different date selections so you can test the availability of each before every spot gets snapped up.
Read more: What are the Milford Track Huts Like?
Transport cost of hiking the Milford Track
We were just focused on getting a booking and hadn’t considered the other factors that determine the total cost of hiking the Milford Track, so it was a bit of a shock to the ol’ wallet. There are only a couple of options and no real or convenient way to book each stage of the transport on your own. To ensure your trip there and back is seamless, you could do what we did and book with Fiordland Outdoors, or check out another option like Tracknet or Klook.
Consider whether you plan to stay in Queenstown or Te Anau and be sure to double check exactly what each transport company offers. For example, that link above for Klook may look a lot cheaper than the others, but it only includes the boats. You still have to get to Te Anau Downs and back from Milford Sound. Very sneaky. Even if you can drive yourself to Te Anau Downs, how will you get back to your car from Milford? These are important considerations.
I genuinely recommend Fiordland Outdoors.
They took care of our bus and boat transfers on both sides of the track. The cost per person is $332, and it’s the same for local and international hikers. The team was super friendly and the trip was seamless.
Flights contribute to the cost of hiking the Milford Track
You’ll need flights unless you live in Queenstown or Wanaka or something. (And if you do, I’m jealous.) But for the purpose of this article, I’ll assume we’re all coming from further away.
You can sometimes find $99 one-way domestic flights from Auckland to Queenstown with Air New Zealand or on Grab a Seat. Keep in mind that $99 doesn’t include a checked bag, seat selection, yada yada, so it’ll be more than that. Flights from Christchurch can be as low as $69.
Our return trip from Auckland cost $275 per person, but Chesney and I had enough Airpoints to cover both of us. So this part of the journey was actually free!
The cost of accommodation before and after the track
We were lucky to have a free spot to stay with friends in Queenstown which cut down on our costs, so that was a blessing. If you’ve been to Queenstown before, I’d suggest staying in Te Anau because it’s much closer to the track. It’s cheaper overall and actually really cute! But if you’ve never been to Queenstown, it’s kind of a must, so definitely be sure to incorporate at least a few days into your itinerary before or after you do the Great Walk.
It’s hard to estimate this accurately, but I’d say the cost of one night in an Airbnb in Queenstown is around $200, while Te Anau is much cheaper at $80. You might also consider a hostel dorm to keep costs down because the total cost of hiking the Milford Track adds up pretty quickly.
Assuming you’ll have more than just your hiking clothes and backpack, you’ll probably want to leave your bags somewhere. And you’ll want to avoid spending $800 on 4 nights for an Airbnb you won’t even be using. So instead, you could leave your bags with a service like Mind My Bag. It’ll be about $50 to store your bags for 4 nights. I’ve never done this, but this would be a much cheaper option.
You could also stay at a hostel for about $120/night, and many will hold your bag while you’re away for like 5 bucks a day. Or maybe even free!
Total Cost of Hiking the Milford Track
Ok, we now have everything now under consideration. Here are two options that show the total cost of hiking the Milford Track.
Best Case Scenario
- Huts at the local rate: $92 x 3 = $276
- Fiordland Outdoors transport from Te Anau Downs (Cheapest option): $138
- Domestic return flights from Christchurch (checked bag, seat selection): $198
- Half the cost of 1 night of accom in Te Anau on either side of the hike: $80 / 2 = $40
- Baggage storage while on the trail: $50
Total $702 per person
Assuming you share the cost of accommodation with one friend.
Worst Case Scenario
- Huts at the international rate: $130 x 3 = $390
- Fiordland Outdoors transport from Queenstown, including boat transfers: $332
- Domestic return flights from Auckland (1 piece checked baggage, seat selection): $275
- 5 nights of accom in Queenstown (bags stored here): $200 x 5 = $1,000
Total $1,997 per person
Assuming you’re traveling alone from another country and pay for the whole accommodation. Realistically, you’ll find something between the best and worse case.
There’s also the cost of food and hiking gear, but that’s sooooo subjective and depends on too many factors for me to consider on your behalf. I don’t even like math.
The Milford Track is sold out for 2024/25, but you can always plan for next year, or check out the other Great Walks!
The Department of Conservation (DOC) outlines all the booking dates here. If you’ve missed the multi-day Milford Track, you can hop on a boat and do a day walk on the final stretch of the trail. It’s a great way to get a taste without having to front the full cost of hiking the Milford Track!
Things to do in Milford Sound before/after the hike
Milford Sound isn’t exactly easy to get to, and it’s known as the 8th Wonder of the World. (Well, one of many…) So you should totally make the most of your time by fitting in some activities before or after your hike! Sure, these add on adventures will add to the total cost of hiking the Milford Track, but YOLO.
We booked an incredible cruise through Milford Sound. This is a once in a lifetime experience and a cool way to see the stunning landscapes you just hiked through (or will hike through) from a different perspective.
If the weather looks nice enough, you could also go kayaking, which would be absolutely unreal. I wish I’d known this was a thing when I was there. Te Anau’s glow worm caves are another must-do activity in the area.
Check BookMe for great discounts on activities around Queenstown, Te Anau, and Milford Sound.
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