Child friendly rating: 5 stars

Distance: 5km

Signposted time: 1 hour

Bookings Required? No

Suitable in Winter? Only suitable for winter

Camping Available? No

4wd required? No

Parking:

You'll have to catch the boat first, which departs from Te Anau Downs. Park there.

The Track:

This is an amazingly easy child-friendly hut to visit, however it's only child-friendly off-season! In-season, this can only be visited overnight as part of the full Milford Track, which is definitely not beginner child friendly. But in winter, you can just visit this hut as an overnight trip.

First, you'll need to catch the boat from Te Anau Downs. You'll need to ring up Fiordland Outdoors to arrange this. The cheapest way is tagging on to existing trips they've got rather than getting a charter. They depart daily at 8.30am over winter, and it takes 1 hour to get to Te Anau Downs. They run whenever there's at least 6 passengers, which is normally every day in good conditions the month before the season starts and after the season ends.

So best to be ready at the wharf to leave the track before 9.30 on your way out, or go with a couple of families to make your own group of 6.

The other option would be to find a friend with a boat!

The walk itself is basically 100% flat and as wide as a 4WD track the whole way. It took us almost exactly 1 hour 30 minutes with a 2yo walking most of the track himself.

Hut:

The hut is massive with 2 separate bunkrooms. You have to go outside to access the bunkrooms from the lounge - no interior door. In winter, most people skip this hut, so even when the rest of the track huts are full off-season, this hut shouldn't be more than half full. Be aware it can get quite cold in winter with no fireplace in the bunkrooms. Take some matresses into the floor of the lounge if you can for a warmer night sleep.

Recommendations:

If you can get there, I thoroughly recommend visiting this hut in winter. It's such a great easy walk, and an awesome way to experience the Milford Track with kids!