Milford Track first, Routeburn second, five days total against a stated 5–6, and the difference between them is the whole story of Fiordland: Milford is rainforest and waterfalls in a trench between peaks; Routeburn is up on the tops, with Harris Saddle giving the kind of 360-degree alpine view that the Milford valley floor never quite offers.
Fiordland earns its name — we had rain on three of five days, which is normal here, not bad luck. The Department of Conservation huts are warm and well-run regardless, and Mackinnon Pass on a clearing morning after two days of rain was worth the wait.
Book early
Both tracks are quota-controlled by DOC and the popular October to April season books out well in advance. If your dates are not flexible, book the huts the day reservations open — we know two parties who had to shift their whole trip by a month because they waited.