After breakfast the cheeky keas gave us a rousing send-off. Then it was 16kms of easy walking over 4 hours to reach the end of the track.
Bushwalking
Kepler Track – day 3
Day 3 of the Kepler Track is an easy day. The track is well maintained, passing through dappled forests and beside Iris Burn to the enticing Moturau Hut on the shores of Lake Manapouri. But watch out for the keas!
Kepler Track – day 2
I was looking forward to a day of spectacular views as the Kepler Track followed a ridge, sometimes a knife-edge, at elevations of around 1400m. Of course, the New Zealand weather had some influence on proceedings…
Kepler Track – day 1
Day 1 of the Kepler Track – a play in three parts. First, a pleasant ramble beside a lake. Second, a never ending climb through a forest. Third, a gale in an alpine meadow.
Routeburn Track – day 3
The landscape becomes moist and mossy as the track descends through Fiordland National Park to The Divide via Lake Howden and Key Summit.
Routeburn Track – day 2
Day 2 of the Routeburn Track is the best day of the walk, because on this day the track traverses over the higher, alpine areas.
Routeburn Track – day 1
The Routeburn Track is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. Rain didn’t dampen our spirits as we finally started something we began planning a year earlier.
Rees Dart Track – day 5
Over breakfast I spoke to people who had covered the route yesterday. It was all tales of woe: washouts, tree roots, track diversions, etc. It would be a slow walk, they said. But we had a bus to catch.
Rees Dart Track – day 4
At times I felt like Julie Andrews, arms outstretched and eyes to the sky, romping through an alpine meadow. But she wasn’t carrying a backpack.
Rees Dart Track – day 3
The log book in the hut said “Avalanche! You can’t get to Cascade Saddle.” So I thought I’d give it a go.