Treading on the Milford track at last!

Well, just did about 30mins on it! Went with Ultimate Hikes to do a day walk on the Milford track and was surprised and pleased that the company did not cancel just because I was the only one who signed up for that day! So Hunter, the guide, gave me a private tour...how cool!
It was literally cool too, but I had three layers of Merino on (top and bottom) not to mention fleece vest and rain jacket. So I was armed against the wind as I sat on the boat deck on the 1 hour trip from Te Anau Downs (about in the middle of Lake Te Anau) to the northern end of the lake, where the track begins.
In this gear I also felt protected in the rain that fell incessantly after lunch till the time we reboarded the boat at 5pm. During the walk, Hunter pointed out the native plants and trees as well as the birds. So, it wasn't a brisk walk by any means, but it was also pleasant because of the interesting conversation we had.
Hunter is definitely an outdoors person and has lived in the township of Manapouri for most of his life, sailing,hunting as a business. He then worked for the dept of Conservation (conservation of natural habitat) till he retired. Now he does ad hoc guiding. One amazing story is of going hunting with the owner(?) of Vodka in Russia. The guy flew into Queenstown, helicoptered to Te anau, spent a night in Doubtful Sound, spent a day hunting deer (which he did not shoot because he couldn't see it!) and then flew back to Moscow. (after drinking vodka with Hunter, of course!).
We had lunch at the Glade House, which belongs to Ultimate Hikes. Non-guided walkers have to walk to Clinton Hut on the first day. Lunch was yummy! The accommodation is also is in pristine condition.
The track is very well-maintained, almost manicured compared to other tracks I've been on in NZ and elsewhere. So it was an easy stroll except for the last part where we went part way up to Glade Burn on a stream bed. So that was a rocky clamber.
Being back in Te Anau was a pleasure. I did not get to stay in any of the usual lakeside accommodation that I've stayed in, as I booked rather late. After Christmas, everything gets booked out fast. I took the usual walk on the lakeside. It was nice to see that this has also been up-graded. I haven't exhausted the walks in this area by any means, so I will definitely be back!