Stayed in Te Annau for 2 nights before setting out on the Kepler Trek. Cheated a bit ( about 10 kilometres off the total trek of 60km to be precise)and took the water taxi speedboat to Brod Bay and started walking from there, more fun that taking the shuttle bus. The first day was spent climbing about 850 metres uphill through rainforest, which I completed in 2 hours. The first hut took three and a half hours and I was joined by 3 fellow YHA trekkers, Mike, Luke and Nathan who persuaded me to climb Mount Luxmore, a further 250 metres, as it was still only mid afternoon amd perfect weather.
The effort was well worthwhile, the views over the lakes and mountains fantastic. Though very tired we played the usual card games (!) before collapsing into the bunks. The next day was even better, and we all made an effort to be up and see the sunrise. The remaining incline of 300 m brought us to the Jackson Peaks, walking across the peaks, with narrow ridges and steep drops either side for about 2 km required much concentration, people had been known to cross on their hands and knees in windy conditions! The first 4 hours of the 6 hour trek were above the treeline in the sub-alpine region, and the panoramic views awesome(sic). The final 2 hours were a steep descent through the rainforest to the Iris Burn hut at the base of the long decline, situated near a waterfall and deep bathing pool on the river. This was one of the few times were I declined the opportunity to swim since leaving England, but was completely without any energy at the end of 6 hours trekking.
The next day was a 6 hour tramp to the Moturua Hut, mainly through rainforest with some clearings where I ate lunch perched on rocks. The flat terrain was easy walking and I arrived at the hut before the others to be greeted by a scene of chaos and kids. Apparently as the hut was nearest to the Rainbow Reach exit, by 2 hours, and had been booked out by about 8 families with a total of 16 children - all under 8. The families made the trampers, 6 in total, feel very welcome and plied us with food and joined us for a new card game patiently explained to us all by an Israeli couple. Before the evenings games we swam in the lake and retreated to the beach to light a fire and read our books in relative peace! Needless to say the nights sleep was disturbed by bumps and bangs from the large bunkroom upstairs and the sound of heavy rain on the corrugated roof, not the best nights sleep ever.
Two of us set off for the last 2 hours of the trek in heavy rain, the other two went on ahead. We had a lift from one of the families at Rainbow Reach the 12 km into Te Annau. Signing in at the YHA again Mike and I went to view the 1/2 hour movie of the Fjiordland area filmed by a local helicopter pilot and his friends, so good that I bought the DVD. We met the others for dinner at the local pizza hut (buying in BYO wine) and celebrated a superb walk before we all went our separate ways.
I stayed in Te Annau for a further day, partly to sort out my credit card which had been stopped as it had been fraudulently used (in the UK!. Fortunately MINT were very quick to pick this up. Also I needed some time to relax and recoup after the trek. The next move was to Dunedin via a night in Queenstown, with the aim of ringing the bells at the 8 bell tower in the city with luck for Easter Sunday.

Photo 1. Atop Mount Luxmore
Photo 2. Sunrise from near the Luxmore Hut
Photo 3. First view of Lake Te Annau on from the Kepler Track
Photo 4. View of the Murchison Mountains from the beginning of the Jackson Peaks
Photo 5. Another kilometre or so along the Kepler looking at the the Murchison Mountains
Photo 6. Nearing the end of the Jackson Peaks and the view of the Kepler Mountains
Photo 7. The first sight of the rainforest on the decline to Iris Burn Hut. NB the tree line is clearly defined.
Photo 8. Moving down through the forest and glimpses of the mountain peaks where we climbed down.
Photo 9. The beginning of the rainforest at the treeline.
Photo 10. The great density of the rainforest and the presence of mosses and lichens is an indicator of the lack of pollution here.
Photo 11. The waterfall near Iris Burn Hut.
Photo 12. Iris Burn Hut as with all the huts had cold running water, flushing loos and gas for cooking. Food for 3 days and utensils were in our backpacks.
Photo 13. First views of Lake Motorua and beach.
Photo 14. Repeat of photo 9!!
Photo 15. The forest between Moturua and Rainbow Reach, where the forest is less dense.
Photo 16. Luke and me grabbing some peace and quiet from the noise and crowds in Motorua Hut
Photo 17. The river from Lake Moturoa to Lake Te Annau. This river was used in the Lord of the Rings, and named the Anduin River.
Photo 18. The farewell dinner at the Pizza restaurant in Te Annau. Left: Mike and me, Right: Luke and Nathan. A blindingly funny evening!