Dusky Track

The pinnacle of New Zealand's alpine walking tracks ...the Dusky Track offers an opportunity for fit experienced trampers to explore Fiordland back country wilderness at it's rawest.

Here is an opportunity to explore one of New Zealand's most daunting tracks the Dusky Track. This is not for the faint hearted. One trip we had half a metre of rain and got stuck in the Loch Maree Hut for two days when the lake level rose 4 metres over night. We hit snow on the tops and then had a near vertical descent clambering down rocks and tree roots hand over hand for four hours …. in the pouring rain. These kind of experiences reinforce the raw nature of the Fiordland wilderness.

The trip starts in Tuatapere. We boat across Lake Hauroko the deepest Lake in New Zealand, passing the remains of a Maori princess called the Princess of the Lake resting in the cleft of a rock on Mary Island.

The track then proceeds up the Hauroko Burn to the Lake Roe Hut set beautifully amongst massive granite outcrops, travels along the tops of the Pleasant Range with spectacular views of Dusky Sound and the surrounding mountains before descending steeply to Loch Maree.

The last section travels along the Seaforth River to Supper Cove in Dusky Sound. Settlers here used to cover themselves in kerosene to escape the wrath of Fiordland's biggest sandflies. Returning by helicopter Fto civilisation and a good hot bath. Believe me, you will have earned it.

A very high level of fitness is required.

Just a note to say thank you very much for the great Dusky Track walk. It was a great trip and I really enjoyed it. Graeme was an excellent guide - good food, good company, good weather for Fiordland), empty huts, sensible pace etc, etc!

Hilda Firth, November 2008

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