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The Milford and Routeburn, along with the Heaphy and the Abel Tasman Coast Track, are the best known and most frequented walking tracks on the South Island. They are so popular that the number of trampers must be restricted. With hut reservations being booked months in advance, the cost of using these famous trails is rising.

Walkers looking for a quiet wilderness experience in peak walking seasons might want to look to the he Rees-Dart Track, a 70-kilometer (44-mile) tramp in the dramatic Queenstown area that crosses alpine saddles, meets the headwater of the Rees River, explores native bush, and straddles wild rivers. A side trip to the Cascade Saddle to view the Dart Glacier is also possible. Huts are uncrowded, camping places are secluded, and most of the track is well marked.