SheraG

My husband and I will be doing the SI by rental car in November. We plan to do the Routeburn Track and probably a day trip to Milford Sound but not the full Milford Track. I've seen the DOC info on transport companies but I still can't quite figure out the "best" way to manage this. If we start from the Queenstown end then we could do a day trip to Milford from Te Anau but our rental car will still be back up on the Queenstown end. Any suggestions?

Melnq8

Hi Shera -

At what point in your trip will you be in Queenstown?

If it's at the beginning, you could delay collecting your rental car until you've returned from the Routeburn Track. If it's at the end, you could return your rental car early. If it's in the middle, you could arrange to leave your car at your QT lodging, or return it to the rental car company in Queenstown to hold until you get back from the track. Sometimes it's less expensive to keep the car than to return it and pick up another.

We've had to leave our car in Picton on two occasions while we were in the Marlborough Sounds and we left our car in Bluff once, while we visited Stewart Island. In Picton, the rental car company was very accommodating - they kept the car for us in their lot and saved us the cost of parking - they even cleaned it.

As you probably know, there are several companies that offer scheduled transport to both ends of the Routeburn Track (advance bookings required).

If you start the track on the Glenorchy end, you'll end at The Divide. The walk from the last hut (Howden) to the Divide is only 3.4 km (about 1-1.5 hours). The drive distance from The Divide to Milford Sound is only 36 km, so you could easily combine your last walk day with a trip to Milford Sound for a cruise. Transport is available from The Divide to Milford and Te Anau.

After your Milford cruise, you could catch a bus to Te Anau, and perhaps stay there for the night, returning to Queenstown the following day.

It sounds like a logistical nightmare, but it's done all the time.

If you want to walk the Milford Track as a day hike, you might consider spending a night in Te Anau, taking a bus to Te Anau Downs, then take the boat to the beginning of the track. Upon your return to Te Anau Downs, you can take a bus back to Te Anau or possibly on to Queenstown.

Suggest you take a look at some of the transport companies to see what exactly they offer - many of them will combine trips
that you can book all at once.

Enjoy NZ - it's a beautiful place.

vbca

Have a look at this link
http://www.tracknet.net/
They provide transport to both ends of the Routeburn track (Glenorchy and The Divide), and their timetables are aranged around what most track walkers require.
Although over 100 coaches per day run between Queenstown and Te Anau/Milford Sound, there is very little scheduled transport, so doing your own thing can be a logistical nightmare.
However, as Melnq8 says, people do it all the time, so it's possible.
Contact Tracknet and ask them for some suggestions.

mlgb

You should be able to find free luggage storage in Queenstown, especially if you overnight there, perhaps your hotel will hold it until you return. I would rather do that than leave my belongs in a rental car in a lot somewhere when I'm gone for 3 days. Perhaps tracknet can advise you.

You'll just have to cost it out with the companies as far as cheaper to keep and store the car or not. There are quite a few independents in Queenstown. Apex is pretty good.

KensingtonGirl

Have you thought of doing the Routeburn in the opposite direction from the Divide to Glenorchy and doing Milford Sound before your hike?

Take a bus from Queenstown to Milford Sound and spend the night. Either the first day or early the next take a cruise and then catch the bus to the Divide. From there its 4-5 hours to Lake MacKenzie Hut and is easily doable in a half day or only 1-1.5 hours to Howden Hut. (If you stay at Howden, the next day will be either long or very short.)

FYI - I considered the view from the carpark at the Glenorchy end, one of the best in New Zealand.

Melnq8

That's a excellent suggestion KensingstonGirl.

SheraG - Just be aware that lodging in Milford is extremely limited:

www.milfordlodge.com/

Visiting Milford Sound late (3-4ish) or early in the day will also help you avoid the bus loads of people that will arrive from QT around 11-12. You can be finished with your cruise and on to your walk before most visitors even arrive.

If you're also interested in walking the Milford Track as a day walk, you might consider leaving your car in QT, arrange transport to Te Anau then spend a night there. The following day you could go to Te Anau Downs (Real Journeys operates the boat to the start of the Milford Track + transfers to and from Te Anau Downs). You might even be able to arrange transport from Te Anau Downs (after your day walk) on to Milford Sound, where you can spend the night and then do as KensingtonGirl suggests.

SheraG

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. This is MOST helpful. Now I feel I can put together a reasonable plan. Great links!

koala

Were looking at www.kiwidiscovery.com for our transportation to and from the Routeburn. Haven't booked it yet, but they seemed to have more of a plan for people doing this trek that includes a stop at Milford Sound.