PHOTO GALLERY: New Zealand’s Gorgeous Kepler Track

2015/01/19

PHOTO GALLERY:

New Zealand’s Gorgeous Kepler Track

New Zealand’s Deparment of Conservation (DOC) has designated, among hundreds of hikes around the country, nine ‘Great Walks’, which are considered to be premier hikes through especially spectacular scenery and habitats.

Three of those nine walks are located in South Island’s Fiordland National Park, including Milford Track, Routburn Track and Kepler Track. Of those, Kepler Track is by far the easiest to access.

photos of Kepler Track include these limestone cliffs

limestone cliffs along Kepler Track

Beginning just a few km outside the town of Te Anau, trekkers can literally start hiking from town by walking one hour along the shores of pretty Lake Te Anau to the Kepler Track head at the water control dam of Waiau River, 4 km from town.

The 60 km Kepler Track passes through many km of gorgeous native New Zealand beech forests, along the shores of Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, through gentle Iris Burn Valley and up switch-back trails onto long rugged alpine ridges well above treeline. Up there hikers are rewarded with spectacular, ever-changing panoramic views of the snow-capped peaks of Fiordland National Park stretching to the far western horizon.

I recently had the great pleasure of hiking the stunning Kepler Track and camping on beaches at Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. I was treated to a full moon rising up through a pink sunset at 10 pm on a summer night. I picnicked in beautiful shady forests, suntanned on sand, sweated up stiff climbs and was awed by amazing panoramic mountain views.

This photo gallery presents 30 photos of Kepler Track from my recent hike.

SEE Photos of Kepler Track

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Photos of Abel Tasman Track

Photos of South Island’s Dramatic West Coastlines

Photos of Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers

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