New opening date set for Milford Track after delays

The start of the Milford Track, PHOTO: ODT FILES
The start of the Milford Track, PHOTO: ODT FILES
The Milford Track is scheduled to open next Monday, as the opening date slips back again.

Wild weather in Fiordland had led to three changes to the opening date over the past few weeks.

The track normally opens on October 28, but wild weather damaged tracks and bridges and the starting date was put back to November 11.

Significant snow and rain throughout September have caused large avalanches on the Milford Track, changing watercourses, damaging bridge footings and track infrastructure, and covering sections with ice and rock debris, the Department of Conservation (Doc) said.

The date was then pushed back to November 19 because of ongoing avalanche risk following recent snowfall.

When contacted yesterday, Doc confirmed the track would now reopen on Monday.

Doc Te Anau operations manager John Lucas said persistent avalanche conditions coupled with unfavourable weather meant the work to reinstall some of the bridges was not able to happen until this week.

"We’re all looking forward to getting the track opened and getting on with the summer season," he said.

In the last 30 days, Milford Sound has recorded more than 1.1m of rain.