[ Links in this article last checked December 16th, 2011 ]

If you’re looking for links to the best English-language content on the ‘net about the Kepler Track, this post should see you right.

No more waffle thanks — take me straight to the links!

The Kepler Track and “The Great Walks”

I trekked the Kepler Track in 2003 (see this post) and thoroughly enjoyed this, one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”. The Great Walk label is applied by the NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) to eight tramping tracks, and one paddling trip. In NZ, the Great Walks are the tracks DoC has identified as offering a particularly fine trekking “experience”, and are heavily promoted, very well maintained, and, in some cases, booked up well in advance.

On the alpine section of the Kepler Track.

It would be all too easy to come away with the impression that trekking in New Zealand begins and ends with the Great Walks. That would, in fact, be akin to deciding that The West Highland Way, and the tourist route up Ben Nevis, constituted the sum of Scotland’s hillwalking and backpacking opportunities. That said, one needs to start somewhere, and the Kepler Track fits the bill in many ways.

If you don’t have long in New Zealand, have little experience of multi-day backpacking trips, or if trekking is just one among many activities you’ve got planned, than a 3- to 4-day track like the Kepler is ideal. In season (roughly late October to late April), the conveniently spaced and comfortable huts are provided with gas burners for cooking, reducing the weight you have to carry yourself. The trail itself is impeccably maintained, and takes you through magnificent country.

On the other hand, if you’re a seasoned trekker with the skills to look after yourself in the back country, but have never visited New Zealand before, the Kepler Track is a good warm-up — not so much in terms of physical exertion, but as a way to get a feel for the form and structure of the mountains, their flora and fauna, the weather — before moving on to bigger and more challenging tracks.

More importantly, whether you’re coming at it as a novice, or with years of trekking in remote parts of the world under your belt, accept the Kepler Track for what it is — a made pathway through a magnificent landscape. You won’t be alone (by any means), and you’ll probably have to book at least a couple of days in advance, whether you’re camping or staying in the huts.

Hardcore tramping it ain’t. But a magical journey on the bounds of one of the most pristine and beautiful landscapes to be found on the planet? Absolutely…

Kepler Track Resources — quality links to help you plan your trip

• NZ Department of Conservation (DoC) page on the Kepler Track: This should be your first port of call for current information on the Kepler Track, including track conditions, and online booking. Masses of useful information to help you plan your trip.
• Wikipedia Kepler Track article: It must be true, it’s on Wikipedia! To be fair, this is a well-structured article — to the point, and a good overview. If the DoC page (linked to above) has brought on information overload, this Wikipedia page should prove more palatable.
• Kepler Track description by Mark Moxon: Mark’s personal account of his Kepler Track walk is engaging and well written, and also includes lots of useful information. Be sure to check out the other articles on Mark’s site too. Inspiring stuff!
• Destination Fiordland (the regional tourism organisation) provides a page of useful information and links relating to the Kepler Track.
• Tracknet — Kepler Track Shuttle: One of the big plus points for the Kepler Track, is that it follows a circular route, starting and finishing very close to the town of Te Anau. So, unlike many other trekking routes in New Zealand, you don’t actually need additional transport to get you to and from the trailhead. That said, if you’re short on time, these guys can shuttle you between Te Anau and the Control Gates/Rainbow Reach. Their web page includes a timetable, and pricing information.
• Intensive Share — a personal account of the Kepler Track: A nice account of the Kepler Track by a first-timer (first NZ multi-day trek that is). Lots of pics to give you a good feel for the route; and a recommendation to stay at Moturau Hut rather than walk all the way out to Rainbow Reach! As well as the introduction (linked above), there are separate entries for day 1, day 2 and day 3.
• Blue Gum Pictures — Kepler Track Gallery: High quality photographs taken from the Kepler Track. This sort of weather can’t be guaranteed, unfortunately!
• Exploring New Zealand — Kepler Track page: A useful overview of the track, including wildlife notes. I’d recommend exploring this site further. There’s extensive coverage of the other Great Walks, and a good overview of what to expect from a Great Walk, here.
• Tramping the land of the long white cloud – Kepler Track photo-diary: A really nice write-up of a 4-day Kepler Track trip, with a broad variety of photos. Pray that you get weather like this! An intriguing 3D-Maps page too.
• NZ Wanderings – Another Kepler Track blog post: Short and sweet this one, but well worth a read — gives you a good idea of the sort of weather you can get in midsummer!
• Don’t shake the Koala tree! – Ridge walking in Fiordland: Another personal account — mixed weather for this trip. Some great photos too.
• The Kepler Challenge: Something a little different for these links. 3 to 4 days for the Kepler Track? More like 10½ hours in John Lindsay’s case. Or a little over five hours as described in Galen’s entertaining report (which includes this impressive 3D map of the route). The Kepler Challenge mountain race event is held annually (official website here).
• [PDF link - 1MB download] Keeping Track of the Kepler, by Rob Greenaway: An illustrated article that presents some of the interesting history behind the Kepler Track, as well as commentary on the impact of events like the Kepler Challenge.
• Stunning image from day one of the Kepler Track: One day, if I’m really lucky, I might capture such a moment half as well as this. The rest of Eric Hemphill’s New Zealand Gallery includes further images from the Kepler Track, as well as from many other areas.
• Kepler Track page from New Zealand Tramper: This is an extensive, community-driven site, with masses of information regarding tramping all over New Zealand. If you’re planning trips that are rather more adventurous after you’ve completed the Kepler, a while spent exploring New Zealand Tramper should provide plenty of inspiration.