Kepler track, 3-4 days. along Lake Te Anau through the Beech forest, then a steep 3 hour climb up and eventually beyond the tree line to Luxmore hut. A great next day following the high ridge lines with fantastic views, then a long, hard, steep descent back down Iris Burn hut, about 2/3rds up a glacial valley. An easier final day down the valley to Lake Manapouri, where the third night’s hut was. But got there at 2pm, and the sandflies were bad, so kept going for another 1.5 hours following the Waiau River, back to the Rainbow reach carpark, and managed to get a lift back to my car at the other starting point (see the map and you will understand).
-
- The start, or end.
-
- Through the Beech forest, easy walking.
-
- Beech forest
-
- Lake Te Anau views
-
- Brod Bay, the start of the ascent up from Lake Te Anau.
-
- Leaving the Beech forest.
-
- Approaching Luxmore hut.
-
- Almost there.
-
- View from inside
-
- Inside
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines, with great views.
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines.
-
- Views
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines. You can see the trail off to the middle right.
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines.
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines.
-
- Day 2, following the ridge lines.
-
- Day 2, steep down hill into the valley
-
- Tree slide
-
- Day 3: Looking back up the Valley.
-
- Day 3: Looking down the valley
-
- Day 3, following a creek down.
-
- Views
-
- Old landslide scar
-
- Lake Manapouri
-
- Waiau river
-
- Waiau river
-
- Almost back at the Rainbow reach carpark.
-
- Kepler track.
