Lodging · Fiordland National Park
First hut on the Milford Track, set by river, forest and wetlands
Overview
Clinton Hut is the classic first-night stop on the Milford Track, tucked into the Clinton Valley beside the river and wetlands. It’s only reachable on foot after the boat to Glade Wharf, so you’re immersed in Fiordland from the moment you arrive.
Map
Local know-how
Book as early as possible—Great Walks season nights sell out fast.
Bring your own pot, utensils, and a water filter or plan to boil water.
Pack serious rain gear and sandfly repellent; conditions change fast.
Do the short wetland boardwalk and take a river dip before the sun disappears.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tour“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
The hut sits where lush forest meets open wetlands, backed by steep, glaciated walls. On wet days (there are many), waterfalls streak down the slopes and the place feels primeval. Short boardwalks and a chilly dip in the Clinton River round out the afternoon once you’ve settled in.
It’s the first hut northbound from Glade Wharf, roughly 1–1.5 hours’ walk in. Expect a social scene: most nights in season are fully booked, and the on-site ranger often runs a fun, informative nature talk.
You’re in rich bird country—keep an ear out for native songbirds in the forest and watch the wetlands at dawn or dusk. Kea sometimes pass through the valley.
Fiordland is famously wet. Come ready for heavy rain, mud, and sandflies. The upside: moody cliffs and spontaneous waterfalls make the valley unforgettable.
Book early through DOC—this hut fills months ahead in season. Access requires the Lake Te Anau boat to Glade Wharf, then an easy walk to the hut.
Wildlife
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Parkwolf’s Fiordland ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
