HomeTrailsGW - 05 Heaphy Track vs GW - 07 Milford Track

GW - 05 Heaphy Track vs GW - 07 Milford Track

A side-by-side look at distance, elevation, difficulty and the best time to hike each — so you can pick the right route.

Units
GW - 05 Heaphy Track GW - 07 Milford Track
Distance 49 mi78 km 32 mi52 km
Elevation gain 3,802 ft1,159 m 4,088 ft1,246 m
Typical duration 4 days 3 days
Difficulty
Route type Point-to-point Point-to-point
Network National National
Country New Zealand New Zealand
Best time to hike Best from January to March Best from December to February
map Route & GPX map Route & GPX

GW - 05 Heaphy Track vs GW - 07 Milford Track: which should you hike?

At 49 mi78 km, GW - 05 Heaphy Track is the longer route — roughly 16 mi26 km more than GW - 07 Milford Track (32 mi52 km). If you want the bigger challenge or a longer trip, that's the one; for a shorter or first multi-day hike, GW - 07 Milford Track is the gentler pick. Check the elevation and best-season rows above, then open each route for the full guide and a free GPX download.