Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
boat service across Lake Te Anau to Brod Bay ($25), slicing 1½ hours off the first day's
tramp. The service is offered daily at 8.30am and 9.30am.
The Tramp
Day 1: Lake Te Anau Control Gates to Luxmore Hut
5-6 HOURS, 13.8KM, 883M ASCENT
The track begins by skirting the lake to Dock Bay, staying on the fringe of a beech forest.
Within 30 minutes it begins to wind through an impressive growth of tree ferns, with crown
ferns carpeting the forest floor. The track continues to skirt the lake's western shore and
crosses a footbridge over
Coal Creek
.
After a further 3km the track crosses another stream and arrives at
Brod Bay
, a beautiful
sandy beach on the lake. There are toilets, a table and a barbecue here, and for those who
started late and have a tent it's a scenic campsite.
The track to Mt Luxmore is signposted near the beach and you now begin the steepest
climb of the tramp. The track ascends steadily and in 3km (two hours) reaches a set of
towering
limestone bluffs
, an ideal lunch spot. At the bluffs the track swings due west,
skirts the rock, then turns north and resumes climbing through stunted mountain beech.
Within 1km the track breaks out of the bush and you get the tramp's first glorious panor-
ama, of Lake Te Anau, Lake Manapouri and the Takitimu, Snowdon and Earl Mountains.
The track climbs a couple of small rises, and within one hour of leaving the bush skirts a
small bluff. On the other side, at a commanding elevation of 1085m, is
Luxmore Hut
(55
bunks), with its namesake peak behind it.
This hut, like all huts on the track, was built in 1987 and then quickly enlarged. It now
features two levels and has great views from the common room. The warden receives a
weather report every morning at around 8.30am.
Mt Luxmore
(1472m) can be easily climbed without backpacks (two to three hours re-
turn), although you can also save this mission for the following day and instead venture out
to
Luxmore Caves
. The short track leads to one of about 30 caves in the area, where you
can step inside and, with the aid of a torch, view stalactites and stalagmites.
