Kepler Track, 24 - 25 July 2010

Twelve years after I first walked the Kepler Track, I finally got to see the views from the tops. Ironically, there was less snow now than during Christmas '98! I took advantage of a bright full moon to walk in to Luxmore Hut on Friday night. A gorgeous sun-rise on Saturday morning made it a worthwhile effort. I took my time over the tops, and after a night at Iris Burn Hut, I trudged down the Iris Burn to Lake Manapouri and back to Te Anau along the Waiau River.

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
Sunrise over Jane Peak, Eyre Mountains, from Luxmore Hut
Eyre Mountains Fiordland Jane Peak Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Tramping
Sunrise over the Thomson Mountains, from Luxmore Hut
Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Thomson Mountains Tramping
Sunrise over the Thomson Mountains, from Luxmore Hut
Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Thomson Mountains Tramping
Sunrise over the Thomson Mountains, from Luxmore Hut
Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Thomson Mountains Tramping
Sunrise over Jane Peak, Eyre Mountains, from Luxmore Hut
Eyre Mountains Fiordland Jane Peak Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Tramping
Luxmore Hut
Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Tramping hut
Luxmore Hut and the Murchison Mountains
Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut Murchison Mountains New Zealand Tramping hut
Luxmore Hut. The Thomson and Eyre Mountains behind. HDR Photograph
Eyre Mountains Fiordland Kepler Track Luxmore Hut New Zealand Thomson Mountains Tramping hut
Looking north-west from Mount Luxmore. Forward Peak in the foreground.
Black Cone Fiordland Forward Peak Kepler Track Lake Te Anau Mount Irene Mount Luxmore Mount Lyall Mount Owen Murchison Mountains New Zealand Tramping
Mount Luxmore trig. It's starting to fall into bits!
Fiordland Kepler Track Mount Luxmore Mount Luxmore trig it's starting to fall into bits New Zealand Tramping
Kepler Track: Looking north from Mount Luxmore
Fiordland Jackson Peaks Kepler Mountains Kepler Track Mount Luxmore New Zealand Spire Peak Tramping
Looking north over Lake Te Anau from near the Forest Burn Shelter: Mount Irene and Mount Lyall
Fiordland Forward Peak Kepler Track Lake Te Anau Mount Irene Mount Lyall Murchison Mountains New Zealand Tramping
Jackson Peaks from the Kepler Track
Fiordland Jackson Peaks Kepler Track Mount Luxmore New Zealand Tramping
Forest Burn Shelter and Jackson Peaks
Fiordland Forest Burn Shelter Jackson Peaks Kepler Track New Zealand Tramping
Looking north-west over Lake Te Anau from Forest Burn Shelter: Mt Maury, Mt Irene, Mt Lyall, Mt Owen
Fiordland Forest Burn Shelter Kepler Track Lake Te Anau Mount Irene Mount Lyall Mount Maury Mount Owen Murchison Mountains New Zealand Tramping
The Kepler Mountains from the saddle west of pt 1528m, Kepler Track. The Cathedral Peaks on the left; Mount Axford and Spire Peak on the right
Kepler Track 109a Aotearoa Cathedral Peaks Fiordland Fiordland National Park Kepler Mountains Kepler Track Mount Axford New Zealand Spire Peak Tramping
The Kepler Mountains from the saddle west of pt 1528m, Kepler Track. Mount Axford is at centre image, Spire Peak on the right.
Kepler Track 110 Aotearoa Fiordland Fiordland National Park Kepler Mountains Kepler Track Mount Axford New Zealand Spire Peak Tramping
The western end of the Luxmore tops from the saddle under pt 1528m. Mt Lyall on the far right
Fiordland Kepler Track Mount Lyall New Zealand Tramping
Mt Lyall reflection in a very calm Lake Te Anau
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Te Anau Mount Lyall New Zealand Tramping
Hanging Valley Shelter, Kepler Track. Mount Axford, Spire Peak and Mount Tinsley are in the background.
Kepler Track 156 Aotearoa Fiordland Fiordland National Park Hanging Valley Shelter Kepler Mountains Kepler Track Mount Axford Mount Tinsley New Zealand Spire Peak Tramping
View into the Iris Burn and Lake Manapouri from lookout pt 1167m
Cathedral Peaks Fiordland Iris Burn Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Tramping
View into the upper Iris Burn from lookout point 1167m. Spire Peak is at centre image, Mount Axford (highest point in the Kepler Mountains) to the left.
Kepler Track 171 Aotearoa Fiordland Iris Burn Kepler Mountains Kepler Track Mount Axford New Zealand Spire Peak Tramping
Irsi Burn Hut
Fiordland Iris Burn Iris Burn Hut Kepler Track New Zealand Tramping hut
Iris Burn waterfall
Fiordland Iris Burn Kepler Track New Zealand Tramping Waterfall
Iris Burn waterfall
Fiordland Iris Burn Kepler Track New Zealand Tramping Waterfall
Iris Burn mouth, Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Iris Burn Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Tramping
Moturau Hut, Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri Moturau Hut New Zealand Tramping hut
View across Lake Manapouri from Moturau Hut. Rona Island and the Behive at centre image, in front of Precipice Peak. Leaning Peak and Steep Peak are on the right
Beehive Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri Leaning Peak Moturau Hut New Zealand Precipice Peak Rona Island Steep Peak Tramping
View from Moturau Hut, Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri Moturau Hut New Zealand Tramping
Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala), Moturau Hut. He sat on my knee and ate sand-flies while I was having my lunch. Nothing like sharing lunch with a friend!
Fiordland Kepler Track Moturau Hut New Zealand Petroica macrocephala Tomtit Tramping
Tomtit (Petroica macrocephala), Motirau Hut.
Fiordland Kepler Track New Zealand Petroica macrocephala Tomtit Tramping
High water mark on sedges, Shallow Bay, Lake Manapouri.
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Shallow Bay Tramping
High water mark on sedges, Shallow Bay, Lake Manapouri.
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Shallow Bay Tramping
Shallow Bay Hut, Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Shallow Bay Shallow Bay Hut Tramping hut
Shallow Bay Hut, Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Shallow Bay Shallow Bay Hut Tramping hut
Waiau River and Mount Titiroa
Fiordland Kepler Track Mount Titiroa New Zealand Tramping Waiau River
Waiau River
Fiordland Kepler Track New Zealand Tramping Waiau River
Last day-light on Lake Manapouri
Fiordland Kepler Track Lake Manapouri New Zealand Tramping