Best foot Fiord

There are a multitude of ways to savour the splendour and solitude of Fiordland. For the full-tilt, multi-sensory experience, stretching your legs under God's great canopy is supremely rewarding.
Between Te Anau and Milford Sound, a plethora of well-signposted walks jut off Milford Road, spanning the endurance range from five-minute walks to full-day hikes. The short walk into Mirror Lakes is a family favourite, as is the Monument Track down the road in Manapouri.
But for seasoned walkers who don't suffer from stamina anxiety, Fiordland's magnetic appeal is powered by its three "Great Walks" - the Milford, Kepler and Routeburn tracks. Universally acclaimed as premier walks, these traverse much of New Zealand's showpiece scenery.
All hikers are responsible for their own safety and a reasonable standard of fitness is required. Independent walkers must be totally self-sufficient, while guided walkers can book a range of add-on services. All three walks fall under the Department of Conservation's jurisdiction, and bookings are required during late-October and late-April. Unlike the Kepler and Routeburn tracks, camping is strictly prohibited on the Milford Track, compounding the need to book well ahead in the summer months to secure hut accommodation.
The Routeburn is the shortest of the Great Walks, 33km in length and undertaken over three days. Highlights include stunning alpine panoramas, beech forest and the track's highest point, Harris Saddle. Avalanche danger ramps up in winter. The extra-intrepid can combine the Routeburn with the neighbouring Caples and Greenstone tracks to form a loop.
The Kepler Track is a 60km hike over three to four days, shadowing the Lake Te Anau shoreline before ascending through beech forest to the tip of the Kepler Mountains. The sweeping views above the bush-line are a highlight. Gale-force winds are a frequent hazard.
Rudyard Kipling called the Milford Track "the finest walk in the world". The 54km trek over four days starts at Lake Te Anau and takes in the Clinton River, glacier-carved valleys, Mackinnon Pass, Sutherland Falls (the fourth-highest in the world), ancient rainforest and alpine lakes, before climaxing with a boat ride from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound.
I'm looking forward to doing this walk for the first time in March, and will file a blow-by-blow report ...

TOP TIPS

* The Department of Conservation oversees Fiordland's Great Walks and all national park tracks. Be sure to book well ahead to secure access and accommodation on the Milford Track.
* The Fiordland National Park Visitors Centre in Te Anau is a fantastic facility, loaded with helpful advice and more maps than you can shake a toasted marshmallow at. www.doc.govt.nz
* For full details on  excursions and services offered by Southern Lakes Helicopters, check out  www.southernlakeshelicopters.co.nz