George Sound Trail (New Zealand)

The St. George Sound Track is one of the favourite routes for hikers. It is located in the Fiorland National Park. It is 36km long and takes a minimum of 4 days to complete, although the recommended duration is 6 days.

It is a route that is not usually marketed in abundance because it is difficult to access and has a high level of intensity. This route is surrounded by other trails that are much easier to complete and can be done very easily by all types of tourists.

The park is made up of 24 different fjords. One of them can be reached by car and others by hiking trails or boat. The rest of the fjords are untouched and are natural paradises. One of them is George Sound.

Practical guide for hikers

The start of the trail is at the northern end of Hankinson Lake. To get there you can either paddle a kayak for 4 hours or take a boat or seaplane trip. It takes two days to get there and two days to get back.

There are three cabins available along the route, although the journey between the second and third is a long one, so some people choose to spend a night in between.

The first day's ride is not very tough and the route is completed in just 3 hours. The final destination of the first stage is Thompson Hut and its surroundings are more than worth exploring. Spending the afternoon exploring the area is a highly recommended option.

The second day is undoubtedly the hardest of all. If the weather is good and there is no change in the weather, the walk takes 11 hours. If it is impossible to complete the route in a single day, it would be necessary to camp at the top of Henry's Pass. Along the way you will walk through rainforest, climb a mountain pass through waist-deep mud pools, cross 3 cable bridges and dive into lakes. The finish line is in George Sound.

The return journey is easier, as you know the way back; it is the same way you came to the finish line. You can do a single stage to Hankinson's hut or make more than one stop to reach the hut.

You may not come across any people along the way, which allows for a greater sense of closeness to nature. However, it is a route that forces people to challenge their own limits, so it is a route designed for the more adventurous and daring.

Advice for hikers

It is recommended to reach the fjord by seaplane or boat. The kayak trip can be quite tiring and can have an impact on the route. In addition, the pass to access the island has to be for a week in case of any kind of complication.

As the distance between the second and the third hut is very long, it is recommended to bring a tent for one night. This includes all the equipment necessary to sleep, have dinner and breakfast that day.

The weather in the fjord is very changeable so if you are not an expert it is advisable not to start a walk. Rain or wind can be extreme in George Sound so it is advisable to walk very carefully in case the weather changes while you are on the route.

It is recommended to take a rest of one or two days after finishing the second stage. It would be quite difficult to cope with the following stages if you have not had enough rest.

It is important to have a medical check-up before starting the tour to ensure that you are in good health. In addition, prior training to ensure that you are in good physical condition is practically obligatory. It is a tough route, so without a good preparation it would be impossible to finish it.

Taking into account all the complications that can occur along the way, it is advisable to make a detailed planning. It is important that the route includes all the details and that the route is followed. This will make it easier for the search and rescue team to rescue them in case they get lost. It would be even better if a family member had a copy of the planning. This should be accompanied by a TOPO map of the area and a GPS device so that in case they get lost (which is very likely to happen), they can resume their route.

Even if you plan ahead, it is recommended that you use a personal locator beacon, in case an injury occurs and a helicopter can come to your rescue. Helicopters are available for hire in Te Anau.

In case you do not manage to finish the walk, you should not give up. Many people do not manage to cope with this walk, it requires a lot of fitness and effort to be able to reach the finish line. Training beforehand will help to make the effort easier.