Kepler Track / Luxmore Summit and Hut

Sitem 5. Februar hani es auto woni die letschte täg vo dr reis no möcht gmüetlich und flexibel nä. I bis bim flughafe vo Queenstown go abhole und bi denn nacheme abstächer in Arrowtown richtig süde gfahre. I bi am Lake Manapouri glandet füre nacht und hamer dört überlegt wieni dr Fjordland Nationalpark am beste cha erläbe. Usserdäm hei d Neuseeländer e langs wucheänd wägem nationalfiirtig "Waitangi Day" (Unterzeichnig vode Abkomme zwüsche de Brite und Maoris), wases schwirig macht a däm wucheänd unterkünft z finde.

Ganz idr nöchi vo Manapouri startet dr Kepler Track - das isch e witere vo dr Great Walks. I ha nid welle dr ganz mache, aber i ha kört dases sehr schön isch ufe gipfel vom Mount Luxmore z go und wenns platz het idr Luxmore Hut z übernachte. I ha glück gha und es het no e platz gha zum bueche! I hami also am morge ufgmacht und bi für 2 täg go ichaufe und ha mi rucksack usgsortiert zum nume s nötigste mitznä.

Zerst isches öpe 1,5 stund em see entlang gange bis denn bim Brod Bay dr ufstiig gstartet het. Nach de TA wäg het sich dä ufstiig bitz wiene autobahn agfühlt (keini umgheite bäum, oder usgwäschene bächli und e schöne breite gmachte wäg). I bi guet vorwärts cho und schneller als dänkt bi dr hütte acho. Wills füre nöchste tag schlächts wätter gmäldet het, hani mi entschide dr ufstiig zum gipfel no a däm nomitag zmache. Obe ischme belohnt worde mitere unglaubliche 360° ussicht uf d bärge und seä vom nationalpark.

D hütteübernachtig isch sehr gmüetlich gsi. Die hütte hetmi bitz mehr ane sac hütte erinneret. Si isch mit über 50 plätz riisig gsi und het gas zum choche zur verfüegig gstellt und het wcs gha mit spüelig! Es het au e hüttewartin gha wo übere nationalpark und d vögel verzellt het.

Dr räge und wind het denn scho idr nacht agfange. Füre abstiig dure wald isch das aber nid so schlimm gsi. Usserdäm bini miteme dütsche woni idr hütte kenneglernt ha (i bi per zuefall zum znacht am dütschsprochige tisch glandet) go d Luxmore Cave uskundschafte. Die goht bis 3km i fels ihne. Nach e paar meter ischsi aber scho zimlich äng worde und mir hei eus nid traut vill witer ihne zgo.

-------

Since February 5, I’ve had a car so I can enjoy the final days of my trip at a slower, more flexible pace. I picked it up at Queenstown Airport and, after a short detour through Arrowtown, drove south. I ended up spending the night at Lake Manapouri, where I thought about the best way to experience Fiordland National Park. It was also a long weekend in New Zealand because of the national holiday Waitangi Day (commemorating the signing of the treaty between the British Crown and Māori), which made it harder to find accommodation.

Very close to Manapouri begins the Kepler Track — another one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. I didn’t plan to hike the entire track, but I had heard that the climb to the summit of Mount Luxmore was particularly beautiful, especially if you can stay overnight at Luxmore Hut. Luckily, there was still a spot available to book! So in the morning, I set off to buy supplies for two days and repacked my backpack to carry only the essentials.

The trail followed the lake for about an hour and a half before the climb began at Brod Bay. Compared to the Te Araroa, the ascent felt almost like a highway — no fallen trees, no washed-out stream crossings, just a wide and well-maintained path. I made good progress and reached the hut faster than expected. Since poor weather was forecast for the next day, I decided to continue up to the summit that same afternoon. At the top, I was rewarded with an incredible 360° view of the mountains and lakes of the national park.

The night in the hut was very cozy. It reminded me a bit of an SAC hut back home. It was large, with more than 50 bunks, gas for cooking, and even flushing toilets! There was also a hut warden who shared stories about the national park and its birdlife.

Rain and strong winds started overnight, but for the descent through the forest it wasn’t too bad. Together with a German hiker I had met at the hut (by chance, I ended up at the German-speaking dinner table), I also went to explore Luxmore Cave. The cave extends up to 3 km into the rock, but after just a short distance it became quite narrow, and we didn’t dare venture much further inside.Læs mere