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kepler track
Stroll on into Te Anau, ‘The
Walking Capital of New Zealand’, and set out on our
best-planned Great Walk, which starts right on the edge of town.
The 67 km Kepler Track is the perfect complement to its near
neighbours, the Milford and Routeburn tracks. It combines all the
best archetypal Fiordland features such as moss-draped beech
forest, rich bird life, alpine tussock, mountain ranges,
cascading waterfalls, glacial valleys, river flats and limestone
formations. Bookings are essential in the October-April walking season. From May the track reverts to the Backcountry Hut ticket system. Camping is only permitted at Brod Bay and near the Iris Burn Hut.
This 3 to 4 day tramp starts by hugging the southern shore of
Lake Te Anau as far as the Waiau River Control Gates. From there
it is an easy walk to Brod Bay before tackling the 4 hour ascent
to Mt Luxmore Hut. On Day 2 there is an option to explore the
limestone caves on Mt Luxmore, and climb to the summit (1,471
metres) for a 360° panorama of Lake Te Anau and the Murchison
Range. The native takahe bird was found in this range in 1948
after years of presumed extinction. From Mt Luxmore the track
crosses an exposed alpine ridge for 12 km before descending
through beech forest to the Iris Burn Hut.
On Day 3 the track winds down an ancient glacial valley to
Moturau Hut on the shores of Lake Manapouri, from where it is a 2
hour tramp to the Rainbow Reach exit. A regular shuttle service
operates here in summer. Alternatively you can continue up the
Waiau River to the Control Gates and back to Te Anau.
The Kepler Track is unique in its recent custom-made design as a
round trip route. Other New Zealand tracks evolved from Maori
trails or pioneer exploration routes.
This is the perfect place to have a hassle-free great outdoors
experience at high altitude. The immensity and mountain splendour
is simply breathtaking.
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