Milford Road

The Milford road itself traverses some spectacular alpine scenery, travelling from Te Anau up the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys allows access to some beautiful valley and high alpine walks.

The tracks decsribed below vary in difficuly and length, but all provide a fantastic way to explore and access some outstanding scenery.

	Key Summit 3 hours return. The track starts at the Divide car park and shelter and follows the Routeburn Track for about an hour. It then branches off on a 20 minute climb to Key Summit, to panoramic views over the Humbolt and Darren Mountains. Called Key Summit, as this is the origin (or Key) to three major river systems of Otago/Southland, the Hollyford/Eglinton and Waiau, as well as Greenstone-Clutha Rivers.
	Lake Marion - 3 hours return The track is signposted from a car park about 1km down the Hollyford Road. The track crosses the Hollyford River/Whakatapu Ka Tuku by swing-bridge then passes through silver beech forest to a spectacular series of waterfalls after approx 10 minutes walking. The track then becomes a little steeper and continues for 1.5 hours through the forest to Lake Marion. Lake Marion is a hanging valley formed by glacial action. The lake is above the bush line and reflects the Darren Mountains which surround it. Lake Marian offers photographers some beautiful reflections on a still day.
	Lake Gunn Nature Walk An easy 45 minute loop walk which is also wheelchair accessible. The walk provides an introduction to tall red beech forest and birdlife of the Eglinton Valley. Side trips can be made to lake beaches and sheltered fishing spots.
	Knob's Flat Here an interpretive display shows the effect of avalanches on the Milford Road and gives some information on the wildlife of the Eglinton Valley.
	Mirror Lakes 5 minute walkway. Small lakes on the roadside provide outstanding reflective views of the Earl Mountains. Waterfowl and wetland plants can be seen against a backdrop of beech forest.
	The Chasm 20 minutes return. Two footbridges over the Cleddau River offer spectacular views of a series of waterfalls. Thousands of years of swirling water have sculptured round shapes and basins in the rock.
	Homer Tunnel Walks On the eastern side of the Homer tunnel a walk leads through natural alpine garden. The native plants are delightful to view especially Dec/Jan flowering period.
	Piopiotahi Milford Foreshore Walk An interpretive 30 minute walk, starting from the main visitor carpark at Milford Sound.
	Lake Mistletoe 45 minutes return. Attractive forest walk from Te Anau Downs.
	Humbolt Falls 30 minutes return. Starts from near the end of the Hollyford Road.