day one: kepier track
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
“Hi ho, hi ho, la-la la-la la,” I hear Bob yodel as we slowly hike the trail which
leads from Luxmoore Hut to the summit of Mt Prospect. It’s an ascent of around 400
metres but there’s no rush as we have all day. At 11am, after an incredibly scenic
helicopter ride over Fiordland’s snowcapped peaks, lakes, rivers and fiords, we
were dropped at Luxmoore Hut on the Kepler Track, well above the tree line. Bob
sets our pace and he’s doing well but as we reach the ridge below the summit of
Mt Luxmoore (1472 metres) he’s ready for a break.
“I’m glad we’re day hiking,” he says, nodding his head at an athletic-looking pair
hiking past with bursting backpacks, full of equipment and food. We’ve also come
well equipped, but on a smaller scale, with waterproof clothing, plenty of water,
food and high energy snacks in our daypacks. The weather may be near perfect, but
conditions can suddenly change in the mountains. Bob bites a snack bar and within
moments we have company. A cheeky kea emerges from behind a shaggy snow tussock.
“Don’t feed it,” I warn, as Bob breaks off a piece. Instead he pops it into his
mouth and takes a photo, then we continue on a sidetrack to the summit of Mt Luxmoore,
arriving breathlessly at the top 15 minutes later.
“Wow,” marvels Bob, “look at that view!” Lake Te Anau spreads before us and we have
panoramic 360-degree views of the South Arm, Te Anau Basin, Takitimu Mountains,
Jackson Peaks and the Snowden and Earl mountains. “There’s Mt Prospect,” says Bob,
pointing across the lake to a peak rising above the station where we’re staying
for the duration of our Fiordland experience. We find a sheltered nook and relax
in the sun absorbing the peace and watching skylarks suspended in the air above
wide open tussock slopes below. We lunch on cheese and crackers then, after taking
photos of mountain daisies, begin our descent to Brod Bay.
Soon after Luxmoore Hut we hit the stunted bushline where bonsai-like silver beech
trees dominate, becoming thicker and taller as we descend, then grudgingly make
space for silver and red beech, kamahi, miro and rimu wearing garlands of mosses,
and perching plants. We stop for a breather at the limestone bluffs, then continue
on through a forest alive with the song of bellbirds. Fantails, tomtits and grey
warblers flutter in the bushes nearby...
please click the link to download the full Fiordland to Milford scenic drive, courtesy of apex
car rentals new zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives