Grant 'Axe' Rawlinson

Kepler Track

The Keplar Track is a 60km walking track in the Fiordland National Park in the Southern part of the South Island, New Zealand. I walked this over three days with my wife Stephanie in December 2008.  We stayed in the beautiful little lakeshore town of Te Anau before and after the trip.  During the walk we stayed in two huts, Luxmore hut and Iris Burn hut.  The views are incredible from this trek, especially once you get up high on Mt Luxmore on day 2.  The first two days the weather was fine and it bucketed with rain on the third day.

The track is really well maintained and there is actually a running race here every year called the Keplar Challenge.  Apparently the fast guys run the entire 60km in 5 hours!

Camping in Wanaka before walking the Kepler Track
Camping in Wanaka before walking the Kepler Track
Fish and chips in Wanaka - greasy heaven!
Fish and chips in Wanaka – greasy heaven!
A warm-up walk around Diamond Lake, Wanaka New Zealand
A warm-up walk around Diamond Lake, Wanaka New Zealand
We stayed here the night before we walked the Kepler track in the small town of Te Anau
We stayed here the night before we walked the Kepler track in the small town of Te Anau
Working our way up the huge climb to Luxmore hut on day one.
Working our way up the huge climb to Luxmore hut on day 1
Overlooking Te Anau town and Lake Te Anau on day one
Overlooking Te Anau town and Lake Te Anau on day 1
About to arrive at Luxmore hut
About to arrive at Luxmore hut
Stephanie relaxing in Luxmore hut
Stephanie relaxing in Luxmore hut
View over Lake Te Anau from Luxmore hut
View over Lake Te Anau from Luxmore hut
This is the wise way to get your bags carried to Luxmore hut - some people had their packs flown up here by helicopter
This is the wise way to get your bags carried to Luxmore hut – some people had their packs flown up here by helicopter
Leaving Luxmore hut and heading up to summit Mt Luxmore on day 2
Leaving Luxmore hut and heading up to summit Mt Luxmore on day 2
Heading along the ridge line on day two
Heading along the ridge line on day 2
On the summit of Mt Luxmore with Stephanie
On the summit of Mt Luxmore with Stephanie
Day two walk along the ridge line was my favorite - I like high places with nice views
Day 2 walk along the ridge line was my favorite – I like high places with nice views
Day one was nice weather, here on day two it started to cloud over and day three it rained - very hard.
Day 1 was nice weather, here on day 2 it started to cloud over and day 3 it rained – very hard.
Descending down the ridge line to Iris Burn hut
Descending down the ridge line to Iris Burn hut
Stephanie on day two, getting a little tired but still smiling
Stephanie on day 2, getting a little tired but still smiling
On the second night we stayed with Janet Gray - family friend and DOC hut ranger for the Iris Burn Hut
Stephanie with family friend and DOC Ranger Janet Gray.  On the second night we stayed with her in here ranger hut at Iris Burn.
DOC ranger Janet Gray kindly let us stay with her in the Iris Burn hut, complete with our own bed, a hot shower, fireplace and a lovely meal, thanks Janet!
DOC ranger Janet Gray kindly let us stay with her in the Iris Burn ranger hut, complete with our own bed, a hot shower, fireplace and a lovely meal, thanks Janet!
The end of the Kepler track, day three, it rained all day but we had a blast.
The end of the Kepler track – day 3, it rained all day but we had a blast.