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Fiordland · Hiking

Boyd Creek Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

This difficult tramping track leads from the Milford Road up the Boyd Creek onto the tops of the Countess Range, in the Snowdon Forest area.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

By Outdoor Next Editorial standards

On this page

Location & access

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.

Official location information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -45.14118, 167.98360. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.

DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.

Key facts

Distance
6.5 km one way
Walking time
2.5 - 3.5 hr to tops
Track grade
Advanced
Location
Milford Road/Milford Sound area / Snowdon Forest Conservation Area
Dog access
Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.

Route overview

This difficult tramping track leads from the Milford Road up the Boyd Creek onto the tops of the Countess Range, in the Snowdon Forest area.

This DOC directory entry covers Boyd Creek Track in Fiordland, within Milford Road/Milford Sound area / Snowdon Forest Conservation Area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

  • Distance: 6.5 km one way
  • Walking time: 2.5 - 3.5 hr to tops
  • DOC grade: Advanced

Access and alerts

Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.

Dog access

Dogs on a leash only. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

This is a difficult tramping track.

From the Milford Road, follow the shingle road for about 200 m to a car park and picnic area then a locked gate.

The Boyd Creek tops track cuts across the bog pine and manuka scrub then bypasses the Southland Boys High School Lodge.

The marked track continues to bush line then experienced trampers may explore further into the tops of the Countess Range and the Snowdon Forest area.

Getting there

The start of this track is reached from the Milford Road, Fiordland, about 44 km (35 minutes drive) north from Te Anau.

A track sign at the roadside says ‘Boyd Creek’.

Know before you go

This is a tramping track so you will need good fitness and moderate to high level backcountry (remote areas) skills and experience, including navigation and survival skills.

Sources and reuse

Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.

The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Boyd Creek Track: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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