This looks like a really great walk! I did a kayaking trip last year in the area and really enjoyed it. What time of year did you do it? - looked pretty chilly!
We went in June, so it was definitely chilly! Plenty of black ice which we had to be careful of. The good thing was the lack of people in general on the trail, our group was able to split into twos and have a sleeping cabin to ourselves which was nice. Kayaking around there must be spectacular! I'll have to think about doing that another time.
Not at all, I think the track has been well thought out with hikers in mind. The huts are quite spectacular, the way they are orientated for weather and the layout and comfort. I would just say this is a 'different' experience to other great walks such as the Milford track or Overland track, and perhaps saying polished is correct, but in a good way. I loved it, just because it offered something different to everything else I have done. It wasn't busy when we went as it was cold, so we had huts to ourselves, but I reckon it would be a different experience with full huts. The numbers on the track are limited per day so I doubt the track itself would get too overcrowded.
