Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
linking Te Anau to Queenstown, Invercargill and Milford Sound (1½ hours).
Naked Bus
north to Queenstown and south to Invercargill, as well as servicing tramping trailheads
and Milford Sound.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Te Anau
Te Anau is the gateway to two Great Walks - the Kepler and Milford - and the less vis-
ited but equally worthy Hollyford. Detailed information can be found in Lonely Planet's
Hiking & Tramping New Zealand
guide, and from the helpful folk at the Fiordland Na-
tional Park Visitor Centre, where you can also register your intentions via the Adventure-
smart website (
www.adventuresmart.org.nz
).
Kepler Track
Opened in 1988 to relieve pressure on the Milford and Routeburn, the Kepler is one of
NZ's best-planned tracks and now one of its most popular: a moderately strenuous 60km
loop beginning and ending at the Waiau River control gates at southern end of Lake Te
Anau. It features an all-day tramp across the mountaintops taking in incredible panora-
mas of the lake, the Jackson Peaks and the Kepler Mountains. Along the way it traverses
rocky ridges, tussock lands and peaceful beech forest.
The route can be covered in four days, staying in the three huts, although it is possible
to reduce the tramp to three days by continuing past Moturau Hut and leaving the track at
Rainbow Reach swing bridge. However, spending a night at Moturau Hut on the shore of
Lake Manapouri is an ideal way to end this tramp. The track can also be walked in either
direction, although the most popular is Luxmore-Iris Burn-Moturau.
The alpine sections require a good level of fitness and may be closed in winter, al-
though this is a heavily weather-dependent track at any time of year.
Estimated walking times:
