Kepler Completion Day

Thursday 12 February

Chilly but glorious morning with the sun highlighting the tops of the mountains beside the camp. We packed up and hit the road at 10 with a busy logistical day ahead.

Gorgeous drive back to Te Anau and a very accommodating call with Tasman Holiday Parks who said ignore the 2pm check-in & just turn up whenever! 😊

So we did, then whizzed over to Manapouri NZMCA to collect the FernandiVan & Abby’s car. Found a lovely note on the windscreen from Lindsay & Duncan, the new custodians & our new Snowy friends, offering to help us drive everything back to Te Anau as they were heading into town with Beau to give him a swim in the lake! 😍 What absolute legends! They saved us an hour’s extra round trip as Louis drove RUSSF towing the FernandiVan, Duncan drove Abby’s car, I drove the Pajero and Lindsay & Beau brought up the rear of the convoy. Such lovely people!

We just had time to grab lunch then bead out to the the Control Gates to meet the intrepid walkers off the Kepler Track.

They had completed around 60km in 4 days, had 3 nights in huts, and crossed the Luxmore Saddle on the wettest & windiest day of all!

It was chill out time back at Tasman Holiday Park - unpacking, sorting, stretching, showering and finally soaking in a hot tub before a huge roast chicken dinner and a visit from Campsite Cat who adored Abby! The hot tubs had a lake view… but all the passers by could look in at us too which was bizarre!!!

Early bedtime all round - tired walkers and a prompt start the next day 😴

EXTRA - Last day on the Kepler Track for the Fernandi

From Motorua Hut, up to the forest, out to the tarn on a boardwalk and then back along Rainbow Reach to the control gates where it all started 4 days ago.