Walking the Kepler Track

In January my partner and I walked the Kepler Track in Fordland, one of New Zealand's Great Walks. It did not disappoint. The alpine views are spectacular. The track is a 60km loop track that starts and finishes near Te Anau, and covers a range of landscapes including tussock-covered ridgelines, beech-forest, lakes, glacial valleys, wetland, fern glades. Highlights were amazing scenery, seeing cheeky keas and meeting people in the huts. 

This is Luxmore Hut, where we stayed the first night. You can see Lake Te Anau in the distance. It was a hard slog up to the hut. Steep ascent most of the day.

On the second day the track took us up to the ridgeline. We did a quick side trip up to the summit of Mount Luxmore (1472m), then along the tops before descending to Iris Buts Hut. From the ridgeline there are stunning views across the South Fiord of Lake Te Anau. Weather conditions were wet and cold up the top, so no mucking around up there. Plenty of wet gear to dry at the hut. 

 

From Iris Burn Hut the track follows the river through a glacial valley and forest to Moturau Hut, located on the shore of Lake Manapouri. A prefect spot to swim and relax in the sun on the beach. 

On the final day we had a reasonably short walk in forest and wetland, then along the Waiau River to Rainbow Reach where we caught a shuttle to Te Anau. A thoroughly enjoyable four days.