A Guide To Hiking the Lake Marian Track in Milford Sound

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The Lake Marian Track is a spectacular short hike along the road to Milford Sound worth making time for. 

Lake Marian is a stunning alpine lake in a hanging valley that was formed by glacial movement many years ago. The walk to get there is one of the most picturesque landscapes in Fiordland that takes only 3 hours to complete. 

The Lake Marian Track is my personal favourite and one of the best hikes in Milford Sound. The road to Milford Sound is a beautiful drive with lots of scenic stops, lookout points and numerous hiking trails along the way. 

lake marian track
Lake Marian

You could easily spend days exploring all the stops and various trails along Milford Sound Highway, but if you only have time for one hike while in Milford Sound, this is it!

This complete guide to the Lake Marian Track will tell you everything you need to know including how to get there, what to bring, details about the track, and what to expect along the way from our own personal experience!


About Lake Marian Track

After crossing a swingbridge and passing a series of spectacular waterfalls, the track ascends through a beautiful rainforest of moss covered trees on a rugged rocky, and sometimes muddy, path.

As you reach the end of the treeline, you’ll be greeted by blue-green glacial water surrounded by the impressive Darren Mountains reflecting on its surface when the weather is calm.

Key Info

Lake Marian FallsLake Marian Track
Difficulty: EasyModerate to Hard
Distance:720 meters (0.44 miles) return3.1 km (1.9 miles) each way
Elevation gain:Relatively flat to the falls409 meters (1342 feet)
Trail type:Out and backOut and back
Time needed:30 min (20 mins walking + time to enjoy)4 hours (3 hours walking, 1 hour to enjoy)
When to go:Suitable all year Check conditions before you go.
Lake Marian Track

Best Time to Hike the Lake Marian Track: The hike to Lake Marian can be done all year round, however low hanging cloud or fog may obstruct the views, so best to check the weather before heading out. Avoid walking around the lake’s edge in winter and spring due to risk of avalanche. Also, the track can be extremely muddy and slippery after heavy rainfall.


FAQs

How long is Lake Marian walk?

The hike to Lake Marian is 3.1km (1.9 miles) each way, 6.2km (3.8 miles) in total. 

How long does Lake Marian hike take?

The hike to Lake Marian will take approximately 3 hours to complete, plus extra time for photos and enjoying the views at the lake (maybe even a swim!). It takes approximately 10 minutes to walk to the Lake Marian Falls and a further 1.5 to 2 hours walking time from the falls to Lake Marian. We recommend allocating 4-5 hours all up.

What is the elevation gain of Lake Marian hike?

Overall elevation gain is about 400 meters (1300 feet). It’s a relatively flat walk to the falls and then a steady climb to Lake Marian. 

Can you swim in Lake Marian?

You can swim at Lake Marian but it will be incredibly cold. Be sure to have warm clothes to put on after.

Blue Lake Marian surrounded by mountains

How hard is Lake Marian track?

It’s rated as difficult and a decent level of fitness is required. However, it is manageable if you take your time and watch your footing. We’ve covered the track difficulty in more detail below.

Is Lake Marian worth it?

Lake Marian is absolutely worth the effort to get there. The scenery is like a fairytale setting with bright green-coloured moss covering the landscape. Once you reach the lake and emerge from the forest the scenery will take your breath away. 

Can you camp at Lake Marian?

Yes, although there are no formal camping facilities. The shore is quite rocky so you may need to hunt around to find a suitable spot. Avoid camping near the lakes edge during winter and spring due to the avalanche risk. There is a long drop toilet just before you arrive at the lake. Be sure to take everything out with you and leave no trace.


Lake Marian Track Difficulty

Generally considered a challenging route, the track has an advanced rating by DOC and rated as hard by AllTrails. Although not a massive elevation gain, the track climbs steadily over rocky and uneven terrain that can be especially slippery after rainfall.

There are a couple of sections, one that was particularly challenging, where you will need both hands and feet to climb up steep tree roots. Additionally, you will be in a remote alpine environment where conditions can change quickly. You will also need to keep sight of the orange trail markers to avoid going off track. 

girl walking up a stone path on the Lake marian track
Once past the falls the track becomes trickier

That said, I personally found the hike to be moderately difficult and we saw a range of ages hiking the trail with us. We had hiked Roy’s Peak the day before so my quads were pretty tired and I had blisters on my feet, which didn’t make it easy by any means. It took us the full 1.5 hours from the falls to reach Lake Marian and just over 1 hour to get back. 

Although a good level of fitness is required, the track is manageable if you take it slow, watch your footing and are prepared for the conditions. Once you reach the lake, you are rewarded with stunning views that are well worth the effort!

Related Read: If you enjoy hiking, you may like to check out these other great hiking trails in Milford Sound as well as our guide to the best hikes in Queenstown. And, if you’re staying in Te Anau (which we highly recommend), you’ll want to check out these awesome day walks around Te Anau and Manapouri.


What to Bring

  • Wear sturdy waterproof hiking boots with a good grip
  • Bug spray, there may be sandflies around the waterfalls and the lake
  • Walking poles would be useful for this hike, there is a lot of stepping up and down
  • Warm layers and a raincoat, it’s an alpine environment and the weather can be changeable 
  • Swimsuit and towel if you plan to take a dip in the lake (and something warm and dry to put on after)
  • Plenty of water and snacks
  • A head torch if returning toward the end of the day
  • Toilet paper, there is a non-flushing toilet near the lake
  • Extra bag for any rubbish, be sure to take everything with you when you leave
girl walking over a swingbridge on the lake marian track in Fiordland New Zealand.
The swingbridge marks the start of the track to the falls

How to Get There

The trail starts from the Lake Marian carpark, located 1 kilometer (0.62 miles) down Hollyford Road, an unsealed road just off the Milford Sound Highway.

You’ll find the turnoff for Hollyford Road at Marion Corner, around 40 minutes from Milford Sound. If you’re travelling from Te Anau, the turn off for Marian Corner is about 87km along the Milford Sound Highway, a few minutes past The Divide. 

Hollyford Road is unsealed but in good condition. You’ll see a medium sized carpark on the left which is well signposted. There is a toilet here and the trailhead starts directly from the carpark.

girl in orange coat walking down path through forest on the lake marian track
It’s an easy walk to Marian Falls

Lake Marian Falls

From the carpark, cross the swingbridge over the Hollyford River at the start of the track and continue down the well-formed path through the forest for about 10 minutes to reach a series of waterfalls. 

You’ll come to a wooden platform along the side of a steep bank to admire the falls from. There are two sets of falls with rapids in between. The scenery is just beautiful so make sure the camera batteries are charged. 

From the falls, you can return via the same path back to the car park for a short walk or continue for another 1.5 hours for a more difficult hike to Lake Marian.

girls standing on wooden platform looking at the lake marian falls
Lake Marian Falls

Lake Marian Track Review & What To Expect

Once past the falls, the track quickly becomes a steep climb up a rocky path through the Fiordland rainforest. The trail was muddy in sections and there were a couple of tricky parts that required a climb over fallen trees and up tree roots. 

We had a dry and sunny day in late March but sections of the track were still very muddy and had streams of water running down it. Be aware that after heavy rainfall, there may be a couple of stream crossings in addition to the mud. 

It randomly started hailing for a spell despite the good weather. A testament to how changeable the weather can be here. It was a dry hail, almost like rock salt and not like any kind of hail I’d experienced before. I found it intriguing, and having worked up a sweat by this point, refreshing even though it was dry.

Girl in orange jacket climbing up tree root
Keep an eye on the orange trail markers

The track is obvious in most parts and marked by orange arrows and trail markers, but there are a few spots where you could go off course if not paying attention.

Being the trail is covered by large stones and tree roots, which can be extremely slippery when wet, you’ll be looking down at your footing a lot of the time. Be sure to look up every now and again to ensure you continue to follow the orange trail markers.

There is one spot in particular that looks like you should carry on straight but the trail actually veers off to the left. It’s the first tricky bit about 30 minutes in, where you’ll need to use your hands and feet to scramble up tree roots. If you find yourself walking along the bank of a river you’ve gone off the track. 

Shortly after you’ll come to some large boulders in a small clearing on your left where you can see views over the valley on a clear day. 

couple climbing up tree roots in the forest
The hardest bit with a climb up some tree roots

The second tricky bit is around the 1-hour mark where you’ll need to climb up a wall of tree roots for a couple of meters using your hands and feet to hoist yourself up.

I don’t have particularly long legs so I had a get my bearings at first to find a good foothold. I was dreading the climb down on the way back but it was actually easier going down. Just take your time.

After navigating another muddy section, the trail opens up out of the forest and you’re on the home stretch. Once you reach Lake Marian and emerge from the bush line the views will take your breath away. 

I wasn’t brave enough to jump in the cold water for a swim but we enjoyed having a rest and taking some photos before heading back. 

A decent level of fitness is required and it’s a scramble on uneven terrain much of the way, but it’s absolutely worth the effort.

Girl sitting on rock in front of big lake
Stunning views at Lake Marian

Related Read: Heading to Milford Sound? Check out our complete guide to visiting Milford Sound including all the best things to see and do there!


Final Thoughts

The Lake Marian Track is a challenging but rewarding hike. The rough and varied terrain kept it interesting the whole way and the views at the end were just spectacular! When time is limited and there are so many things to see along the road to Milford Sound it can be difficult to decide where to spend your time. Overall, we were really impressed with this hike and are so glad we did it. 

We recommend spending a night or two in Te Anau so you can check out these incredible day walks and all the other fun things to do there.

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Complete guide to hiking the Lake Marian Track

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