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Wilderness Mag, The Milford Track, (2021)

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Wilderness Mag, The Milford Track, (2021)

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Kepler Track: Carpark to Luxmore Hut - Imagery

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Kepler Track: Carpark to Luxmore Hut - Imagery

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The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand's 9 Great Walks. Great Walks are more maintained and clearly marked than other hiking trails in the country. They offer a diverse look into the stunning landscapes of New Zealand in an easy-to-access way.

Starting just outside Te Anau on the edge of the incredible Fiordland National Park, the Kepler Track is an intermediate-level tramp. The entire Kepler Track loop is 60km which typically takes 1-3 nights, or you can just head out for a day trip. The section from the carpark to Luxmore Hut will wind up through dense rainforest before coming out above the tree line to 360 degree mountain and sound views.

KEPLER TRACK TO LUXMORE HUT HIKE DETAILS

When: October-April unless you are well-prepared for winter tramping

Where: hike starts at the Kepler Track Car Park, a 5km walk or drive from Te Anau (this will make your hike 35km)

Difficulty: intermediate; the middle section is the steepest

Length: signs say give yourself 5-6 hours each way but that "fit trampers can cut this time in half". For reference, I completed the entire return-trip of 25km in 5 hours total.

Directions: from the Kepler Track Car Park, cross over to the Control Gates and follow the very clear trail with orange markers as it winds along the lake. About 1/3 of the way in to your hike, switch-backs start. 2/3 of the way, you will pass the tree line and the final stretch is a relatively flat path along the mountain top to Luxmore Hut.

Bathrooms: yes, at the carpark, at various points along the first 1/3 along the beach and at Luxmore Hut

Public Transit: no; you can either walk or drive to the car park from Te Anau

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Hiking the Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, New Zealand | Jana Meerman

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The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand's 9 Great Walks. Great Walks are more maintained and clearly marked than other hiking trails in the country. They offer a diverse look into the stunning landscapes of New Zealand in an easy-to-access way.

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Kepler Track: Carpark to Luxmore Hut Imagery

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Kepler Track: Carpark to Luxmore Hut Imagery

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Previous entry: Stewart Island, In Between Great Walks
Part of theNew Zealand Great Walks Journal
I usually sleep very well but every once in a while I get a horrible night of sleep, and the night before I started the Kepler Track was one of those. As I laid in bed around 8am after sleeping for only about one hour, I thought about delaying the start of this hike for another day, but after getting up and feeling not too bad, I walked to the nearby Department of Conservation office to get the latest update on the track conditions.

The plan was to do this track one week before, after the Milford Track, but sections of the Kepler was closed due to heavy snowfall. After hiking the Rakiura Track in Stewart Island, I had gotten back to Te Anau the previous day in a hurry, as there was a window of good weather starting this day. I went ahead and booked the hut tickets. Being close to the end of the season, there were plenty of spots left. I could see that the snow from nearby mountains had melted, and the DOC office confirmed that most of the trail was snow-free. I'd be doing it in four days and three nights, as suggested by the official brochure.

Kepler Track is one of the three Great Walks in this area, the other two being Milford and Routeburn Tracks. Being a loop, the Kepler is the most accessible one of the three, as it starts and ends only a 45-minute walk away from Te Anau. This means no expensive shuttle/ferry services.

After getting the hut tickets I went back to town and to finish packing and get lunch. I didn't start hiking until noon, and arrived at the trailhead after a 45-minute walk on the shores of Lake Te Anau. With only one day of rest after finishing the Rakiura Track, I was starting the Kepler Track.

The first section is through beautiful, peaceful, flat forest. Lots of big mushrooms everywhere.

The trail hugs Lake Te Anau until it hits Brod Bay Campsite, after which it starts an 800-meter ascent through long switchbacks

The grading of the trail during the ascent is such that it never felt too steep or demanding. As usual per Great Walk standards, the track was in great condition. I was feeling alright despite the lack of sleep. After passing through some beautiful limestone bluffs, the trail clears the treeline and reveals spectacular panoramic views. Mountain ranges everywhere. The sun was dropping and it shined directly into my face. A memorable moment.

The trail becomes a boardwalk before arriving at Luxmore Hut. With 54 beds, the hut is huge and modern and has great views of Lake Te Anau, especially during sunset.

I was feeling fine most of the day, but as soon as I stopped hiking I felt exhausted. There were many people in the hut but nobody had started a fire. I saw a guy trying to light up a huge log with cigarette lighter, so I offered my help. I quite enjoy starting fires and getting better at it. This one was a little difficult to start because of the lack of small pieces of food. After blowing into it and babying it for about half an hour, it finally got going. I ate dinner quickly and went to bed before 8pm. I was so tired that I felt asleep right away without wearing earplugs, and didn't get bothered by the usual noise of people in huts as they go to bed.

More info:
NZ Department of Conservation's brochure and video for this walk.
Next entry: Day 2 - Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut
Part of theNew Zealand Great Walks Journal

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Kepler Track Day 1: Te Anau to Luxmore Hut

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Show More Posts Round The World Trip Destination Wish #3: Great Walks in New Zealand Milford Track Booked For April 2015 New Zealand, On The Road Again After a 2 Month Break 8 New Zealand Great Walks in 8 Weeks Preparing for The Great Walks and Waiting Out Cyclone Pam

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This strenuous walk provides impressive views of Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri and Te Anau basin on one side, and the Murchison and Kepler Mountains on the other.

From the Kepler Track carpark, follow the lake shore around to Dock Bay then Brod Bay - two lovely swimming beaches.

From Brod Bay, the track climbs steeply through mountain and silver beech forest, passes under towering limestone bluffs (after about 2 hours) and heads for the bush line.

From here you have panoramic views and it takes about another 45 minutes to walk to Luxmore Hut (1085 m).

This track begins from the Kepler Track carpark, which is at the southern end of Lake Te Anau, about 5 km from Te Anau.

Private transport: Follow the Manapouri - Te Anau Highway for about 2 km, turn right onto Golf Course Road for another 1.8 km and the carpark is signposted on the right.

Transport providere: There are shuttle services to the car park.

Walkers: Follow the track from the Visitor Centre to Kepler Track carpark.

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This strenuous walk provides impressive views of Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri and Te Anau basin on one side, and the Murchison and Kepler Mountains on the other. From the Kepler Track carpark, follow the lake shore around to Dock Bay then Brod Bay - two lovely swimming beaches.

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Day 1: Kepler Track: Carpark to Luxmore Hut (approx 6 hr) - and short side trip to Luxmore Caves (10 min one way from Hut)

Views of Lake Te Anau, Te Anau Basin, Brod Bay beach,

Native beech forest

Limestone bluffs

Luxmore Caves

Day 2: Kepler Track: Luxmore Hut to Carpark, then Te Anau Downs for Milford Track - boat ride from Te Anau Downs to Glade Wharf (approx 50 mins) then Clinton Hut (approx 1.5 hours)

Scenic boat cruise through Lake Te Anau

Views of the Clinton Valley and River

Native beech forest

Day 3: Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut (approx 6 hours)

Views of Kakapo Point, Hirere Falls, Mirror Lake

Glance the Mackinnon Pass and Pompalona ice field

Day 4: Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut (approx 6-7 hours) - optional side trip to Sutherland Falls (approx 1.5 hours return)

Climb Mackinnon Pass and see Mackinnon Memorial on the way

Several waterfalls along the way (including Anderson Cascades, St Quintin Falls, Dudleigh Falls, Lindsay Falls)

Sutherland Falls side trip

Day 5: Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point (approx 5-6 hours) - end of track boat ride from Sandfly Point to Milford Sound (approx 10 mins)

Views of the Arthur River and historic Boatshed

Mackay Falls, Giant Gate Falls