Dusky Track Transport

• Transport per person ^NZ$299

A remote Fiordland hiking experience

Transport connection to the Dusky Track from Te Anau and Manapouri. This 84 km tramp is one of New Zealand's more challenging and remote tramps, for experienced groups only. Trips & Tramps offers the complete Dusky Track Transport Package to access this track, working in conjunction with Lake Hauroko Tours and West Arm boats to co-ordinate the transport logistics - so you can focus on surviving the trail!

To get off the track at West Arm there are departures everyday across Lake Manapouri with Real Journeys.  They do not take bookings (so they do not have to worry about missing, delayed or otherwise trampers), you just turn up and catch the next available boat. The scheduled boats are currently at 11.00 am, and 4.15 pm. We issue an open dated ticket for this portion of travel as part of the package. If you need to travel back to Te Anau we will collect you off the boat (please make contact so we know you are waiting at West Arm) by vehicle.

Schedule

Departures in summer every Thursday from 04 November 2021 to 21 April 2022, plus Mondays between 20 December 2021 and 17 January 2022.

Pick up 7.30 am Te Anau Accommodation

8.00 am View Street Car Park Manapouri (or Manapouri accommodation)

8.45 am Arrive Clifden Corner to connect with Lake Hauroko Tours

11.00 am Hauroko Burn Hut, start of the southern end of Dusky Track

Return from West Arm available any day, no bookings taken in advance you just turn up.
Departures daily at 11.00 am, or 4.15 pm Boat West Arm to Manapouri (there may be other departures available on the day).  Just turn up and check in at the West Arm Visitor Centre or down at the boats. The skippers there will let you know the next available departure. This service is with Real Journeys.

If you need the bus from Manapouri to Te Anau you will need to contact us (as we won't know when you are there). 021 cell phone numbers work well, however if you do not have any battery, or cannot get a connection, have a chat to the boat skipper and ask them to ring Trips & Tramps.

Costs

Package Cost: NZD$299 per person.

Trampers package includes transport from Manapouri or Te Anau, water taxi on Lake Hauroko to Dusky Track start plus Real Journeys ferry West Arm to Manapouri.

This service can be run on alternative days for a minimum charge of 5 people, please enquire. 

Personal Locator beacon essential Equipment

Please have a location beacon to walk this track, it can save your life. Beacons can be hired at www.locatorbeacons.co.nz.

Track Conditions Update

20 March 2021 - DOC Track update

• The river crossings near Halfway Hut are knee deep water in dry conditions, they will become impassable after rain.

02 Dec 2020 - From Tramper

Lots of trees down, lots of dead ends from other people taking wrong turns and a lack of trail markers. On the climb between Kintail and Upper Spay a tree hanging upside down blocking a very steep part. have to rock climb up and mantle on top of the root-ball. A tree fallen on one of the walk wires going to supper cove. Not hard to cross the stream though.

Nov 2020 - From Tramper

It was a great experience. A lot, I mean a lot of wind fallen small and large trees. We did not keep to track times at all, you would have to be extremely fit if you do. River crossing at Lock Maree will be challenging if been raining, we caught the river at a very low level, I waded across with water at chest height.

Dusky Track Information

The Dusky Track offers experienced hikers a true New Zealand tramping experience with lush forest, wild rivers, and unrivaled scenery. The Dusky Track is a challenging but rewarding 84 km tramping track through Fiordland National Park. It takes eight to ten days to complete and links stunning Lake Hauroko with Lake Manapouri. It also offers a two day optional detour to Supper Cove in Dusky Sound.

Note: There are 21 3-wire bridges on this track, and you can expect to encounter tree falls, deep mud, tree roots and river crossings. Flooding of parts of the track is not unusual and can cause delays for several days. This is not for inexperienced or poorly equipped groups and the best strategy is to take time out to enjoy the track and do one hut a day!

Note This is a transport only service, and is a non-guided activity.

Keep Safe

The Dusky Track is only recommended for experienced, well equipped groups with high fitness level.

Plan properly for your trip and ensure your party has a capable, experienced leader.

• Please ensure you carry a Personal Locator Beacon or a Mountain Radio, and topographical maps for navigation.
• Topo50 series maps covering the Dusky Track are: CE05 Cooper Island, CE06 Lake Roe and CD06 Deep Cove.
• Take enough food, clothing and equipment, portable stoves and fuel. Allow extra food and time for possible delays.
• Take care with river crossings. Sections of the Dusky Track flood easily. If in doubt, sit it out. Common flood areas are just before Loch Maree (an emergency shelter exists on track from Lake Roe), and along the route to Supper Cove and from Loch Maree Hut to Kintail Hut.
• Check at the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre for conditions before you go.

Before you go into the outdoors, tell someone your plans and leave a date to raise the alarm if you haven't returned. To do this, use the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website. It is endorsed by New Zealand's search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone you trust the details about your trip.

Thanks to Nick Kowalski for this amazing footage!

For more travel inspiration from Nick Kowalski, please visit his website.