Routeburn Track

An early morning bus from Queenstown took me and other hikers to the beginning of the Routeburn Track. Here we are gathering our gear and getting organized for the walk.

Sign at the beginning of the hike for distances to the day’s destinations. I’m headed to the Routeburn Falls Hut.

Suspension bridge over a stream not far from the beginning of the trail.

The trail along Routeburn Flats before starting the climb to Routeburn Falls Hut.

The view from Routeburn Falls Hut. The sign said 2.5 hours to get to the hut so it was a relatively short hike.

Routeburn Falls Hut. Left, the sleeping quarters with bunk beds. Right, the dining room with gas stoves conveniently located next to sinks. Signs advised to boil the water to avoid giardia and the like, but I didn’t do that and had no problem on either the Routeburn or Kepler Trecks.

The next morning, it was off to the Harris Saddle and then MacKenzie Hut. Along the way were cliffs where you could hear but not see Kea parrots screeching in the fog.

This is the view from Conical Hill, located at Harris Saddle. Despite the fog, I decided to climb to the top. Fortunately the fog lifted as I arrived at the top. The views were spectacular so I’m glad I didn’t pass it up. It was steep but worth the effort.

This is a view of Harris Saddle coming down from Conical Hill. The building was a place for emergencies such as extreme weather and not for camping. There was also a toilet. :)

Not too long after the saddle, MacKenzie Hut comes into view but the Hut was still at least 1 1/2 - 2 hours away (if memory serves).

MacKenzie Hut. Left, the dining facilities with limited sleeping spaces above it. Middle, and adjacent sleeping facility. Right, the warden’s cabin. The lake is in the background behind the warden’s cabin. I decided to put on my bathing suit and went into the water. It was freezing cold. I dunked myself in the lake just enough to wash off the sweat and immediately got out. Brrrr! I will never become a member of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club.

This is the view of Hollyford Valley in the morning after leaving Mackenzie Hut. Today’s destination is going to the Divide to be picked up by a bus and taken to Te Anau where I will get ready for the Kepler Track that I start the next morning.

The Divide where hikers can wait on benches and out of the sun for the bus to Te Anau.

KEPLER TRACK

After the bus ride to Te Anau, I went to the Te Anau Lakefront Backpackers Hostel where I had a reservation was able to wash some clothes and walk to the town center to pick up food for the next few days of hiking Kepler. I also wanted to identify the spot where I would be meeting the water taxi early the next morning.

Lo and behold, the water taxi arrived the next morning. The ride would take hikers across the lower portion of lake Te Anau to the start of the Kepler Track. Even though the track was fairly steep, the track was largely a road as I recall. (I’m writing this a little over a year later.)

Luxmore Hut above the treeline and surrounded by long tussock, the grassy clumps found in higher elevations of New Zealand. There were also Kea parrots visiting the hut.

Interior views of Luxmore. Left, the dining area. Right, the sleeping quarters with bunk beds. Middle, gas stoves for preparing means and a view while doing so.

Despite the cloudy view out the window with the gas stoves, above, the sunset at Luxmore turned out to be a very vibrant red.

Leaving Luxmore (out of view and to the left) the next morning and looking back, the trail up from the lake is just barely visible in the middle of the photo. The tussock also takes over above the tree line.

Mt. Luxmore ahead, surrounded by tussock heading toward Iris Burn, the next hut.

Views along the trail toward Iris Burn.

More views on the right side of the trail to Iris Burn.