Kepler Track, South Island, New Zealand +Doubtful Sound

One of the most special walks (tramps in NZ speak) I have done is the Kepler Track.  My sister and I did it in 4 days (March 2009), although there are some who run it in around 5 hours.  But hey, we were carrying 18kg packs! Here is a brief pictorial overview.

 

Beautiful beech forest

 

Then the climb begins to Luxmore Hut - 1000ish metres

Finally arrive at Luxmore Hut to unload our packs of some weight (Baileys).  Amazingly we met some German guys whose packs were well over 20kg, mainly due to beer and potatoes.

Helicopter rescue for a runner who had fallen off the track (in the Alpine section - day 2).  They found him, broken leg and pretty cold, but otherwise OK

 

Day 2 - windy and pouring rain for the trek across the mountains

Although some would say the weather was miserable, I think that it is one of the most beautiful, awe inspiring days of walking that I have done.  The sleet made it more amazing.  I really felt as if I was in Lord of the Rings.

Every now and then the clouds would clear, revealing an amazing vista down a different valley

 

A welcome hut on the ridge

After a long walk across the mountaintops, the steep descent starts (much harder on dodgy hips and knees)

Start of Day 3 after lots of chat around the campfire to a colourful Englishman (who seemed to walk at 3x our pace)

 

 

Day 4 - the final day.

After arriving back in Te Anu, going out to dinner, drinking too much wine (and seeing the most incredible mullet I have ever seen...apologies for the lack of photographic evidence), we got up at 5am (an incredible feat for me) to set out to Doubtful Sound for a day of kayaking.

Our first glimpse of Doubtful Sound

Despite dubious weather forecasts, it was magical

After being dared (by my sister and the guide) to jump into the 11 degree Celsius water, here I am.  It was a very brief swim.  And fairly unpleasant.  But at least I didn't have to put up with chicken noises on the way home.