The Victory Lap (Friday, March 13)
The morning after Pass Day, everyone was moving a little slower. And by “a little,” I mean like a platoon after a forced march.
The team was just barely starting to forgive me for dragging them into the Milford Track adventure.
It had rained hard all night—which in Milford means one thing: the rivers rise, the trail crossings get wetter, and the waterfalls multiply.
Our guides delayed departure by thirty minutes to let the water levels drop and make the crossings safer.
Welcome to Milford.
This would be our final day on the trail—13.5 miles of hiking to Sandfly Point, where we’d catch a small boat across Milford Sound to Mitre Peak Lodge.
After days of diesel generators, no Wi-Fi, and damp gear, the words full bar sounded like poetry.
The trail followed the Arthur River through deep forest, with distant views of Sutherland Falls crashing down the mountainside—one final reminder that Fiordland doesn’t do anything halfway.
We stopped at Dumpling Hut, had morning tea at the Boatshed, crossed over to Mackay Falls and Bell Rock, and pushed on to Giants Gate—one of the most impressive waterfalls on the track and a perfect lunch stop. And yes, we needed to reward ourselves with a gummy bear at each mile marker to keep going!
From there, the trail flattened out and followed the water toward Sandfly Point—the official end of the Milford Track.
But there was one final enemy.
Sandflies.
And unlike the mountain, the rain, or the switchbacks… these little terrorists never stop attacking.
By the time we boarded the boat and crossed Milford Sound to Mitre Peak Lodge, civilization had never looked better.
A hot shower. An incredible view from your room. Internet. And yes… a full bar.
At that moment, morale improved dramatically.
Lesson Learned: Adventure is great. But adventure with a hot shower and a cold drink at the end? That’s civilized hiking!
