Giant Gate Falls is an impressive waterfall located near the end of the Milford Track, normally experienced on day four of this world famous multi-day hike.
But did you know you can see Giant Gate Falls as a day walk from Milford Sound? Yep, that’s right! You can experience a Milford Track day walk, one of the greatest walks in the world.
Don’t have time to read the whole article? Book your Milford Track Day Walk here which gets you return transport on the water taxi from Deepwater Basin to Sandfly Point.
The day walk to Giant Gate Falls is a great way to get a taste of the Milford Track without the four-day commitment. A multi-day hike, carrying gear and staying in backcountry huts isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but there’s no denying the Milford Track is a pretty spectacular place to see.
Or, perhaps you are keen on doing the full Milford Track hike and missed out on securing a booking for the season. I can relate.
Being one of the most popular New Zealand Great Walks with a limited number of spots available and a stressful booking process that sells out in minutes, it can be incredibly difficult to secure a spot. And, as the most expensive Great Walk in New Zealand, it may not be within everyone’s budget.
While not exactly the same experience as completing the full 53.5 km track, the day walk provides a chance to experience a portion of the Milford Track for a lot less time and money. You’ll arrive at Giant Gate Falls with fresh feet and plenty of energy to take it all in.
The Milford Track day walk is ideal for anyone visiting Milford Sound for the day or staying overnight and wanting to experience Fiordland’s wild and beautiful landscapes on this coveted track.
Although the Milford Track is world famous, this day walk option isn’t as well known. I’m sharing all the details in this guide based on our own experience, so you too, can see Giant Gate Falls and experience a small slice of the Milford Track during your next visit to Fiordland.
About Giant Gate Falls
Giant Gate Falls is a spectacular 30-meter-high (98-foot) waterfall on the Milford Track, about a 1.5 hour-walk from Sandfly Point and the end of the track.
Considering I live in New Zealand and have years of experience exploring this beautiful country under my belt, it came as a surprise that I hadn’t heard of Giant Gate Falls until recently. How could that be! And, what a pleasant surprise!
It was while planning our itinerary for a recent trip to Milford Sound with a friend of mine that she mentioned she’d like to go to Giant Gate Falls. Having done the full Milford Track previously, she made it to Giant Gate Falls after four exhausting days of walking but didn’t manage to get a decent photo of it at the time.
This prompted us to see if there was a way to get to the falls from the Milford Sound side of the track as a day walk. After a bit of research we were stoked to learn that it was possible!
Key Info: Milford Track to Giant Gate Falls
| Difficulty: | Easy |
| Distance to falls: | 11km (6.8 miles) |
| Elevation gain: | 50m |
| Trail type: | Out and back |
| Time needed: | 3 hours minimum |
| Starts from: | Deepwater basin in Milford Sound |
| Available from: | October to May |
| Cost: | From $50 per adult / $25 per child |
| How to book: | Book your spot here |
| Departure times: | Starting from 8:30am |
| Pickup times: | From 1.30pm, last pickup around 4.30pm |
How to book:
You’ll need to book this walk for access to the track, which includes return transport on the water taxi from Deepwater Basin, for $50 New Zealand Dollars per adult and $25 per child. Fiordland Outdoors runs the water taxi and they are fantastic.
🤩 For the ultimate experience, I love this Milford Track Full Day Guided Hike and Nature Cruise tour because it includes a walk on the Milford Track with an expert guide plus a cruise along Milford Sound on a small boat in the afternoon.
These are both good options if you are driving yourself to Milford Sound.
Alternatively, this Full Day Milford Sound Walk and Cruise is available from late October to March and includes return scenic flights from Queenstown, a water taxi to Sandfly Point and an afternoon cruise on Milford Sound. This is a great option if you are short on time and want to experience the Milford Track and all Milford Sound has to offer in one day – from land, the sea and the air!
If you’re staying in Te Anau, you have a couple of options for a Milford Track day walk. You can include transport from Te Anau which includes a bus journey from Te Anau to Milford Sound, a water taxi to the start of the track, an optional afternoon Milford Sound cruise and a bus back to Te Anau starting from $174 New Zealand Dollars per adult and $115 per child.
Or, you can experience Milford Track as a day walk from the Lake Te Anau side. This Milford Track Day Walk from Lake Te Anau includes a 50-minute boat journey between Te Anau Downs and Glade Wharf where your walk on the Milford Track begins. You won’t see Giant Gate Falls from this side of the track but you can hike to Clinton Hut (5km one way) and enjoy a swim in the nearby Clinton River before returning to catch the boat back to Te Anau.
Whichever option you’ll choose, you get to experience a portion of the Milford Track and the beautiful landscapes it’s known for.
Best time to go:
The season runs from October until May. Since the Milford Track is only walked in one direction starting from Te Anau Downs, you’ll be walking in the opposite direction to most of the hikers completing the full track, who will be finishing their 4-day hike in the afternoon.
If you take an early morning ferry over you’ll be able to enjoy the track at the quietest time.
Where to stay:
The Milford Sound Lodge in the only accommodation right in Milford Sound. Otherwise, there are several DOC campgrounds along the Milford Highway, or there are plenty of accommodation options in Te Anau.
It’s definitely worth spending a night or two in Te Anau. There are some great walking tracks around Te Anau and plenty of other fun things to do there.
Related Read: If you’re driving from Queenstown or Te Anau to Milford Sound, you may like to check out this guide on all the best places to stop along the way.
How to Get There
If driving yourself, the Milford Track day walk to Giant Gate Falls starts from the Deepwater Basin boat ramp in Milford Sound.
From the Milford Sound Highway (SH 94), turn left onto Deepwater Basin Road, about 600 meters after the Milford Sound Lodge. There is plenty of free parking available at the end of the road.
It’s near the kayaking operators so you may see lots of kayaks lined up near the shore. Walk towards the water until you see the boat ramp. Here, you’ll be met by your skipper for the day and after a quick safety briefing you’ll be on your way.
You’ll be transported by water taxi across the basin for less than 10 minutes to Sandfly Point and the start of the famous Milford Track.
The water taxi runs about every hour in the morning starting from 8.30am and every half hour throughout the afternoon, with the last pickup around 4.30pm.
These times are a guide only and can change depending on weather conditions and demand. You’ll need to book your departure and pickup times when you book, but you can change your pickup time on the day, just let the skipper know.
Track Difficulty
The Milford Track from Sandfly Point to Giant Gate Falls is an easy well-formed track with very little elevation gain. It’s suitable for a range a fitness levels and a track the whole family can enjoy.
The track is mostly flat on even ground with a couple of small sections that had rocks on the path and a tree trunk to navigate around but nothing major. There are a few steps up onto a metal platform that stretches through a rocky valley. The platform is in sections, with gaps less than a meter wide between each section that you’ll need to hop over.
Having hiked Roy’s Peak two days prior and the Lake Marian track the previous afternoon, the easy walk to Giant Gate Falls was a welcome respite for our tired muscles and sore feet.
Overall, it was a thoroughly enjoyable walk through beautiful scenery. Definitely a big reward for little effort on this one.
About the Walk & Track Highlights
Water Taxi to Sandfly Point
We booked in for one of the early morning departures and had a great experience with the water taxi. It ran efficiently and we didn’t need to wait long. We finished our walk ahead of schedule and had no problem taking the earlier water taxi back to Deepwater Basin.
We recommend catching an early morning water taxi so you have a half day to explore the track at your own pace before catching an afternoon water taxi back to Deepwater Basin. You’ll then have the afternoon to explore Milford Sound, which is exactly what we did.
The 3-hour return walk to Giant Gate Falls is a good spot to aim for before turning around and returning via the same track back to Sandfly Point.
Milford Track
Once you pass through Sandfly Point, you’ll follow a well-formed track and a couple of boardwalks through shaded beech forest for about 45 minutes. The track follows the Arthur River so keep your eye out for breaks in the trees offering perfectly framed views of the stunning river.
You’ll come to a rocky open clearing with platforms to walk along and waterfalls streaming down around you. Unless it is very dry, then the waterfalls will be a trickle that you’ll have to squint to see. Don’t worry, considering Milford Sound is one of the wettest places in the world the dry sunny days are rare.
Enjoy the foliage of the rainforest along the way and keep your eye open for the native bird species known to inhabit the area, including the incredibly rare blue duck. We were fortunate enough to see a Weka, a native New Zealand flightless bird, and her two babies feeding alongside the track.
Lake Ada
After about 45 minutes, look out for a turn-off on your left to Lake Ada. There is a small clearing and a short path that leads down to the lake’s edge. The views here are beautiful and we could hear the birdsong all around us. Such a lovely spot!
Once you’ve soaked up the views at Lake Ada, follow the same path back to re-connect to the main track.
Giant Gate Falls
From here, the track carries on alongside Lake Ada for about 40 minutes before reaching the spectacular 30-meter-high (98-foot), Giant Gate Falls.
The waterfall plunges from the hillside into a small pool with a swingbridge crossing in the front of it. The water runs through a shallow rocky section from the falls and under the swingbridge to a shallow river. It’s a great spot for a refreshing swim on hot day.
There are plenty of spots near the falls to sit and enjoy a packed lunch before heading back to Sandfly Point.
We enjoyed taking photos of the waterfall from all angles, behind and in front of the swingbridge as well as from the swingbridge. We weren’t leaving this time until we got all the shots! The best views of the waterfall are from the swingbridge.
Related Read: If you enjoy hiking you may like to check out these top hikes to do in Milford Sound.
Helpful Tips for the Milford Track Day Walk
Here are few helpful tips to ensure you have an enjoyable walk to Giant Gate Falls.
- Start early to enjoy the track at the least busy time of the day.
- There are toilets at Sandfly Point and also at Giant Gate Falls, across the other side of the swingbridge.
- Bring a raincoat and warm layers, the weather can be very changeable in Fiordland and it’s not uncommon to experience four seasons in one day.
- Bring insect repellent, there are likely to be sandflies at the waterfall and almost guaranteed at Sandfly Point!
- Wear comfortable walking shoes, hiking boots aren’t necessary but if it’s raining you may want something that’s waterproof.
- Bring plenty of water, snacks and a perhaps a packed lunch to enjoy at the waterfall.
- If you plan on going for a swim, don’t forget a towel to dry off with after. The water will be very cold!
- If you’ll be taking photos, a soft cloth for wiping the water spray from lenses will come in handy.
- Be sure to leave plenty of time to get back to Sandfly Point before the last water taxi for the day, usually 4.30pm but do check current schedules on the day.
Related Read: If you want to discover even more of this beautiful area be sure to check out our full guide to Milford Sound including all the best things to do.
Final Thoughts
The Milford Track day walk to Giant Gate Falls was a great find. From dramatic landscapes to unique flora and fauna and adorable birdlife, it’s easy to understand why the Milford Track is one of the most popular choices of all the New Zealand Great Walks. The Milford Track day walk is a great way for anyone visiting Milford Sound to experience a part of this world famous track and to see the stunning Giant Gate Falls.
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Heather is a travel enthusiast living in New Zealand with her family. She writes about living in and enjoying travel to New Zealand.