Hollyford Track
Hollyford Track
5
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
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5.0
35 reviews
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28
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7
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crusty582016
Buckinghamshire, UK28 contributions
Jan 2023 • Solo
I wanted to get under the skin of New Zealand away from the tourist spots. This experience delivered in spade fulls. The 2 guides were brilliant, both good talkers and story tellers and knew their subject inside out. They kept the group together and nothing was too much to ask. The 2 overnight stays at the lodges were excellent with excellent food and a chance to unwind with a beer and chat to new friends. The group members also made it it special, a really good bunch. If you want a good walk (or 3 ) in good company then this is it. A thoroughly enjoyable time in beautiful settings, good company and great staff. Thank you!
Written 23 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Graham Ardern
10 contributions
Nov 2022 • Couples
We went into this trip blind not knowing what to expect and the unexpected was fantastic. The guides were so passionate about the area and all that live or traveled around the Hollyford. The stories , history and landscape were something to die for everywhere you looked was an inspiration for more. The water falls , swing bridges, forestry, wide life and more . The lodges where you stooped for the night where magic with two hosts that looked after your every need, the food they served up was all top class and the beds were very comfortable. The jet boat is designed for this journey with a drive with a passion the same as others that work in the Hollyford Area. The chopper ride out is very special this is a trip of a life time and I guarantee you will come away from Hollyford with a new appreciation and understanding of what take place to make this one of the most fantastic places to travel through.
If you want to know more you just have to contact
Hollyford Wilderness Experience they are so helpful and very professional in the way they run their service.
Best of luck with your next adventure.
If you want to know more you just have to contact
Hollyford Wilderness Experience they are so helpful and very professional in the way they run their service.
Best of luck with your next adventure.
Written 17 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bellers59
Ireland8 contributions
Feb 2015 • Couples
We are a 30 and 32 year old of average fitness, travelling through NZ in February, prior to this trip we hadn't trekked longer than day trips. On this holiday we also walked the routeburn from which we got the bug and as the other great walks were all booked decided to tackle the lesser known Hollyford Track.
The route is a point to point walk (ie not a circuit), generally the options seem to be to drive to the Hollyford road end and start the walk there and then boat or fly back from Martins Bay or vice versa. We decided to fly to Martins Bay with 'Trips and Tramps' and then walk to the road end. Trips and tramps provide a pick up service and will collect / bring you back to Te Anau depending on your chosen route. Our decision was based mainly on the weather, the last day of our trek was due to be wet and we thought it best to be getting picked up by car rather than relying / waiting for a plane to arrive.
The flight out to Martins Bay is wonderful, the views are fantastic and just the experience of being in such a light aircraft is exciting in itself!
We opted for a 3 night stay choosing not to stay in Martins Bay Hut. Instead we landed on the Bay and walked part of the way to the hut to get the ocean views and then doubled back on ourselves to cross the landing strip towards Hokuri Hut. We left our backpacks by the landing strip rather than carry them on the 2 hour round trip.
I will try and summarise our trek below :
Day 1
Round trip Landing Strip to Bay (Martins Bay hut is further) - 2 hours mostly a bush walk and stone beach.
Landing Strip to Hokuri Hut - 2 hours again mostly bush and stone beach. Hokuri is a great hut, we were the only trampers there (in fact over the course of day 1 and 2 we didn't see anyone in the hut or walking for 24 hours). It was here we noticed the sandflies, bring lots of repellent!
Day 2
Hokuri Hut to McKerrow Hut - the section called the Demon Trail took us 5 hours, it is incredibly rocky and slippy with a number of streams / rivers to cross although many of the larger crossings have V bridges but not all. It had not rained on our trek so far and hadn't rained for a number of days, this section could be tough if it was wet, we also had poles which helped us massively and saved us a few tumbles here and there. After a break at the Demon Trail Hut for food and a rest we continued to the McKerrow hut, this took us over an hour but was a fine walk.
McKerrow is not a serviced hut, it is an older hut but the facilities are fine although a lot more sandflies so I slept with long layers on. The hut itself could be difficult to spot, the track markers seem to come to an end at one side of a river but the next is actually on the other side of the river.
Day 3
McKerrow Hut to Hidden Falls Hut - although this is a long day (20km) the walk is a lot easier than the Demon Trail section, we managed to cover this section in 6 hours. Alabaster Hut is around half way and is a great stopping point for lunch (although it is 15 mins off track), the lake is beautiful for a swim.
Day 4
Hidden Falls Hut to Hollyford Road End - a very easy walk out to the road along well maintained tracks used for the guided walks.
We opted to stay in the huts each night but there were campers in both the McKerrow and Hidden Falls Huts. The huts have no gas but do have running water and stoves for drying out wet feet!
We walked with a 38l and 48l pack and had everything we needed and more, I think our enjoyment of the track was part due to small packs, plenty of food, sandfly repellent and walking poles. Do have good waterproofs with you, it did rain on our last day so as a silver lining we didn't carry them for nothing!
This is a fabulously remote track, we hope this review is helpfully and you enjoy the walk as much as we did!
The route is a point to point walk (ie not a circuit), generally the options seem to be to drive to the Hollyford road end and start the walk there and then boat or fly back from Martins Bay or vice versa. We decided to fly to Martins Bay with 'Trips and Tramps' and then walk to the road end. Trips and tramps provide a pick up service and will collect / bring you back to Te Anau depending on your chosen route. Our decision was based mainly on the weather, the last day of our trek was due to be wet and we thought it best to be getting picked up by car rather than relying / waiting for a plane to arrive.
The flight out to Martins Bay is wonderful, the views are fantastic and just the experience of being in such a light aircraft is exciting in itself!
We opted for a 3 night stay choosing not to stay in Martins Bay Hut. Instead we landed on the Bay and walked part of the way to the hut to get the ocean views and then doubled back on ourselves to cross the landing strip towards Hokuri Hut. We left our backpacks by the landing strip rather than carry them on the 2 hour round trip.
I will try and summarise our trek below :
Day 1
Round trip Landing Strip to Bay (Martins Bay hut is further) - 2 hours mostly a bush walk and stone beach.
Landing Strip to Hokuri Hut - 2 hours again mostly bush and stone beach. Hokuri is a great hut, we were the only trampers there (in fact over the course of day 1 and 2 we didn't see anyone in the hut or walking for 24 hours). It was here we noticed the sandflies, bring lots of repellent!
Day 2
Hokuri Hut to McKerrow Hut - the section called the Demon Trail took us 5 hours, it is incredibly rocky and slippy with a number of streams / rivers to cross although many of the larger crossings have V bridges but not all. It had not rained on our trek so far and hadn't rained for a number of days, this section could be tough if it was wet, we also had poles which helped us massively and saved us a few tumbles here and there. After a break at the Demon Trail Hut for food and a rest we continued to the McKerrow hut, this took us over an hour but was a fine walk.
McKerrow is not a serviced hut, it is an older hut but the facilities are fine although a lot more sandflies so I slept with long layers on. The hut itself could be difficult to spot, the track markers seem to come to an end at one side of a river but the next is actually on the other side of the river.
Day 3
McKerrow Hut to Hidden Falls Hut - although this is a long day (20km) the walk is a lot easier than the Demon Trail section, we managed to cover this section in 6 hours. Alabaster Hut is around half way and is a great stopping point for lunch (although it is 15 mins off track), the lake is beautiful for a swim.
Day 4
Hidden Falls Hut to Hollyford Road End - a very easy walk out to the road along well maintained tracks used for the guided walks.
We opted to stay in the huts each night but there were campers in both the McKerrow and Hidden Falls Huts. The huts have no gas but do have running water and stoves for drying out wet feet!
We walked with a 38l and 48l pack and had everything we needed and more, I think our enjoyment of the track was part due to small packs, plenty of food, sandfly repellent and walking poles. Do have good waterproofs with you, it did rain on our last day so as a silver lining we didn't carry them for nothing!
This is a fabulously remote track, we hope this review is helpfully and you enjoy the walk as much as we did!
Written 24 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
waynowski
Auckland, New Zealand37 contributions
Dec 2012 • Couples
not too difficult for the less experienced, DOC huts are over crowded in summer, take a tent.... othwerwise do teh guided walks with booked luxury huts. great scenery, no massive mountains to climb. not overly challenging.. , expensive if you're walking one way, have to pay for a plane to fly you at one end $500. be prepared for bad weather year round, lots and lots of rain. can turn cold any time of year..... take insect repellent, lots of biting insects....
Written 8 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Estcarp
Stratford, New Zealand5 contributions
We had absolutely terrible weather but that didn't detract from the walk. Nothing too strenuious but a good leg stretcher,
Written 16 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Keith-B-Robinson
Waterton Lakes National Park, Canada922 contributions
Feb 2014 • Couples
Due to time constraints, we were unable to walk the entire Hollyford Track, but we decided to make a 1-day tramp out to Hidden Falls and back. At 9km 1-way, we kept up a good pace and made it to Hidden Falls in 2.25 hours, thanks to a decent trail that didn't have a lot of elevation gain/loss. The trail itself followed alongside a beautiful, turquoise-colored, slow-flowing river at the bottom of the valley. The surrounding vegetation is incredibly thick and prevents any real views of the scenery. Hidden Falls itself was pretty impressive; it was large enough that the falling water created its own wind/updraft, causing mist to blow everywhere within 100' of the base of the falls. As we walked back to the trailhead, we counted 68 bridges of various size that we had to cross!
Written 17 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heather M
Wellington, New Zealand84 contributions
Apr 2014 • Friends
This is the version of the walk for independent trampers who walk the entire distance from the Hollyford Road to Martin's Bay or vice versa. This was a very pleasant tramp with beautiful bush and views. Pretty lakes and a back drop of snow covered mountains. The track quality varies from very easy to reasonably challenging with 3 wire bridges. Any experienced tramper or hiker would manage it. The huts are typical back country huts. The Hokuri hut is in a very nice setting but they are all in good spots. The huts were serviced huts but the only one with toilet paper was Martin's Bay. There were some cleaning things at some huts but generally didn't seem particularly serviced. But absolutely fine for us. Hut fees are $15 pp per night. Four nights on the track is good. Trips and Tramps provided our transport from track ends and were very good.
Written 30 April 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tania K
Brisbane11 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
A challenging walk - it has everything! We didn't see any other humans for 5 days, had the huts to ourselves, poured rain every night, massive storms. We had an encounter with Fiordland penguins & seals (from a respectful distance) on the last day before flying out.. its an authentic experience of Fiordland. When we left, we chartered a flight to fly from Martins Bay back to Gunns Camp airstrip, flying back over the track to review where we walked - which I would highly recommend!
Written 14 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JamesLewisnz
Hamburg, Germany2 contributions
Feb 2015 • Solo
I completed the Hollyford track and the Pyke track can be completed together to make a complete circuit of the peninsular, possible in an 8 day loop. Pyke track should only be completed by the adventure crowd, attracted by pain more than glory!
Following the pristine Hollyford river through virgin native bush, the Hollyford track guides you towards Lake Alabaster, and continues along the ‘demon trail’, named for its gruelling sections of ascent and descent over moss-covered rocks. Crossing raging rivers while balancing on a strand of wire, and finally emerging from the bush to meet the fierce Tasman Ocean at Martins Bay.. So, did it deliver?
See more information here! http://nomadpassage.com/the-hollyford-track-showcasing-the-best-fiordland-new-zealand/
Following the pristine Hollyford river through virgin native bush, the Hollyford track guides you towards Lake Alabaster, and continues along the ‘demon trail’, named for its gruelling sections of ascent and descent over moss-covered rocks. Crossing raging rivers while balancing on a strand of wire, and finally emerging from the bush to meet the fierce Tasman Ocean at Martins Bay.. So, did it deliver?
See more information here! http://nomadpassage.com/the-hollyford-track-showcasing-the-best-fiordland-new-zealand/
Written 4 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ValMike2014
Menlo Park, CA35 contributions
Mar 2014 • Couples
Our two day adventure was an unforgettable experiance. Part of a small group hiking tour with the fantastic company New Zealand Trails. Our flight down Milford Sound was in perfect weather conditions and awe inspiring. The Lodge at Martins Bay is welcoming and relaxed and the food delicious. At night so far from light pollution the sky is bursting with stars. Small things often make a big difference to your trip for example. The Lodge has a drying room so no need to over pack (you have to carry it). Their alcoholic drinks are very reasonably priced. Private toilets and enclosed huts at make your lunch stops much more comfortable. Next morning we took an exhilarating Jet boat ride up Lake McKerrow which left us with 11 miles to walk to the end of the Hollyford Track. The views along the Track are spectacular with veiws over the blue Pyke River towards the glaciers of Mt Mathilda on one side and the forest and waterfalls on the other. No need to carry lots of water you can fill your bottle from the fast flowing streams on the way. The well maintained trail is gently undulating with one steeper section towards the middle of the hike.The miles flew by as we enjoyed interesting historical tales and interpretation of the forest with our excellent guide Crystal.
Bring layers of clothing including waterproof out wear, comfortable walking boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, food, water bottle and a camera
Bring layers of clothing including waterproof out wear, comfortable walking boots, sunscreen, insect repellent, food, water bottle and a camera
Written 26 March 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is the track non-technical enough to wear trail running shoes as opposed to boots? I'm a trail runner and prefer to wear my running shoes whenever possible because of the greater flexibility and ability to dry out faster. When my boots get soaked, they stay soaked! Both my boots and trail runners have good grip. Situations where I'd prefer boots would be long periods of steep terrain with minimal foot holdings, or boulder hopping.
Written 2 June 2018
Sorry for the late reply. That should be ok yes, if the weather is fine
Written 26 June 2018
Hello,
I am planning for our hike and looking to buy hiking boots. I will select a waterproof boot, but is there any reason, other than ankle support, to get a higher boot, rather than an ankle height boot?
Thank you
Paula Manderfield
Written 10 September 2017
As a keen hiker (or tramper as they're called in NZ) a proper hiking boot will not just give ankle support but also prevent toes being bruised if the ankle is well supported & give better grip on slopes. You walk 19km on the first day in about 6-7hrs on uneven paths so good boots are needed. Hollyford track can be muddy so a higher hiking boot keep your feet dry longer, consider wearing gaiters if wet too as otherwise bottoms of trousers get muddy & soggy......
Written 15 September 2017
Hi Guided Walks New Zealand, which is part of Ngai Tahu Tourism, run the Three day guided walk in the Hollyford. You can check their Hollyfordtrack website for more information and to book online.
Written 27 April 2018
It all sounds fantastic.
It is a late decision to come to Queenstown so we don't have the lead time for too much training but we are reasonably fit.
the review on footware was helpful. I may bring my heavier workboots as I hadn't considered mud.
Do you recommend any particular insect repellent?
Written 20 March 2017
Kia ora Sue, It is an amazing experience and you will thoroughly enjoy it. Footwear with good support is recommended but you also don't want something too heavy. Insect repellents are dependent on whether you would like a natural spray or don't mind and just want the protection.Bushman or Off are two I have used in the past and have been useful.
We look forward to having you on the Hollyford Track.
Safe travels.
Kind Regards, Kate
Written 20 March 2017
what is the name of tour guy ?
Written 21 November 2016
Kia ora, we have several knowledgeable and experienced guides. Have you done a trip with us? We have three lead guides. Their names are Graeme, Justin or Brendan. Hopefully this helps. Kind Regards, Kate
Written 21 November 2016
Rodger P
Brooklana, Australia
With the air fight, how many flights a day are there. We understand the plane only takes 8 passengers, however there will be 9 of us?
Written 27 January 2015
Hi Rodger, although I am ID'd as Shotover Jet I am also the marketing manager for Hollyford Track. To clarify, we have stopped using fixed wing aircraft for transfers in and out of the valley. Helicopters are better in adverse weather conditions, better seating, easier to get in and out of and better views. Generally helicopter loads are either 4 or 6 people and the loads made up by the guides to suit.
Written 2 February 2015
Rodger P
Brooklana, Australia
With the air fight, how many flights a day are there. We understand the plane only takes 8 passengers, however there will be 9 of us?
Written 27 January 2015
Hi Rodger, I'm assuming you are asking about the freedom transfers? We only use Helicopters with a maximum capacity of 6 people. However we are often flying in and out up to 16 people so it is a matter of being patient as your group is ferried in. Often there are two helicopters working at a time. The flights are once a day around mid day and only every second day.
Kind regards
Nigel Kerr
If you wish to make a booking please contact
Hollyford Track on +64 3 4423000 with dates and number of people.
Written 27 January 2015
chelsea b
Perth, Australia
Hi, I'm doing this walk next month, planning to walk in my good, worn in runners, is it really necessary to have hiking boots?
Written 21 January 2015
Hi Chelsea,
Boots versus runners the difference is ankle support. Even with your personals thats an extra 5kg you are not used to carrying, and if the track is wet or muddy even the best fitting runners aren't that supportive. And over 20km on the first day the more flexible sole generally gives the feet a pounding. So our standard recommendation is boots, even if they are a light Kathmandu model, it does make a difference.
However it definitely comes down to personal choice. A few people can and do wear runners and on the third day they are better suited than boots (its also the shortest).
See you next month
Nigel
Written 21 January 2015
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