My understanding is that the guided Milford track is a minimum of five days, while the guided Routeburn track can be for three days. Has anyone done both? Is the Milford track so much better that it is worth taking the extra two days and sacraficing other things, or is the Routeburn track just as good?

The Milford Guided Walk takes 5 days because the last day involves a day-long boat tour of Milford Sound. I have not done the Guided Walk, but I have done the unguided "Free" walk. Unless you are well-off and feel a need for creature comforts, I would recommend the Free Walk option, which involves staying in fairly well-appointed Department of Conservation (DOC) huts. Cots, mattresses, and cookstoves are provided, so all you need to bring is a sleeping bag, clothing, and food. The 35-mile track takes 4 days to traverse, with almost all the mileage spread over the last 3 days (the first hut is only a couple of miles or so along the Track). The Guided Walk lodges are in different locations, so the 4-days of walking is spread out a bit more evenly. I have also tramped the Routebourn Track. The Guided walk there also has two fine lodges, while the DOC huts are a bit more primitive, compared to the Milford Track. <BR><BR>Both walks involve hiking up a valley, climbing over an impressive pass, then hiking down another valley on the other side. The approaches to the Milford's Mackinnon Pass are longer on both sides, when compared to the approaches to the Routebourn's Key Summit. It felt like the Milford was an easier walk (more gentle grades), while the ascent and desent on Key Summit seemed substantially steeper. Another reason why the Milford takes more time is that there is a substantial boat ride on both ends; across Lake Te Anau at the start, across Milford Sound at the end. While it seemed to me that the Milford was overall a more spectacular walk, it is not extremely different from the Routebourn. If you are short on time, the Routebourn might be the way to go. As a guided walk, it is obviously much cheaper too, about NZ$1000, as opposed to NZ$1500 for the Milford.

I'd second Alf's recommendation - do the free Milford walk. The hostels are of a fiarly decent standard, and you'll have more of a chance to do what you please. I think it was the Lonely Planet that had a good guide to it.....<BR>

Here's a couple of Milford Track photos:<BR><BR>Atop Mackinnon Pass<BR>http://www.justlikebeingthere.com/pub/image.php?ign=0&in_username=afriedma&image_id=2969 <BR><BR>Approaching Mackinnon Pass<BR>http://www.justlikebeingthere.com/pub/image.php?ign=0&in_username=afriedma&image_id=2968 <BR><BR>