Trips and Tramps Te Anau Kepler Track/Key Summit, Routeburn Track/Milford Sound Coach, Cruise & Walk

Kepler Track Half Day Guided Walk

Wanting to get out and explore the landscapes surrounding Te Anau for half a day?  Enjoy a fully-guided half-day walk to get a feel for the picturesque Kepler Track, a New Zealand Great Walk. This easy hike on a well graded trail is great value and takes you around the South end of beautiful Lake Te Anau. Suitable for all abilities and a great introduction for family groups to Fiordland National Park and hiking.

Marvel at the sheer size of the trees you encounter: We begin by traveling across Lake Te Anau by water taxi to Brod Bay with its clear water and white sands. From here, enjoy a superb walk following the lake edge through ancient beech forest. The track has a gentle gradient and is well maintained, suitable for all abilities. All ages will delight as we explore the area and listen for the call native birds in the lush forest. Your knowledgeable, local Trips & Tramps guide will show you the native fauna and flora, explain the unique ecological cycle and share conservation efforts made on the Kepler track and surrounding Fiordland. This half day guided walk is a great introduction to the area and an awesome opportunity to learn more about Fiordland's World Heritage Area.

Take in the sights of Lake Te Anau and Dock Bay: We stop for a beak on a pretty beach where tea, coffee and biscuits are enjoyed while you soak up the awesome view. Half way through the guided walk we emerge from the bush to cross the Control Gates, this concrete structure provides a dam to control the flow of water out of Lake Te Anau. From here the track opens out and travels through open grass land to the Wildlife Park. The park offers opportunities to view the rare flightless Takahē, now restricted to the tussock grasslands of the Murchison Mountains of Fiordland, native waterfowl, weka, parakeets, tui, kea, and pigeons. We finish the walk at the Department of Conservation visitor center, a short walk from our start point or your Te Anau accommodation.

Key Summit, Routeburn Track Guided Walk

Enjoy a guided day walk from Te Anau to Key Summit on the renowned Routeburn Track, a New Zealand Great Walk. Ascending through lush forest and into a unique alpine herb field offering panoramic views of mountains, alpine lakes and bush clad valleys far below. This guided walk offers an incredible day out in the heart of New Zealand South Island main mountain divide.

A one-of-a-kind guided day walk: This spectacular walk ascends through lush, temperate rainforest and onto a unique alpine herb field. On the summit, hikers experience panoramic views of mountains, alpine lakes, and deep, glacial carved bush clad valleys. The Routeburn Track is an inspiring place to be and enjoy natural beauty. Walking in a small group, your Trips & Tramps guide provides an excellent opportunity to learn about this stunning natural environment. If time allows, a visit is made to the tramping hut at Lake Howden before retracing our steps to the Divide.

The Trip: Join Trips & Tramps from Te Anau, and travel to Fiordland’s mountain divide. This 8km return Routeburn Track walk begins at the Divide Shelter with a steady climb on a well maintained track. Gaining an elevation of 400 metres, the ascent takes approximately 2 hours at a leisurely pace. On a fine day lunch is on the summit, and in unfavorable conditions in the shelter of a nearby tramping hut. After lunch we descend back to the Divide Shelter.

Milford Sound Coach, Cruise & Walk

Enjoy a leisurely, small group day trip to Milford Sound from October to April, including a boat cruise along the full length of the fiord to the Tasman Sea. Then choose from either a series of short walks and exploration with a friendly, local nature guide or 2 1/2 hours hiking (unguided) on the renowned Routeburn Great Walk to Key Summit.

Milford Sound Coach: Departing from Te Anau, travel along the spectacular Milford Road. Your local, experienced nature driver/guide, eager to share their stories, knowledge and passion for the area, will bring the mysteries of Fiordland to life. With a maximum of 14 people and travelling in a modern touring coach, your experience of the Fiordland will be second to none.

Milford Boat Cruise: On reaching Milford Sound, join a Nature Boat Cruise for a leisurely cruise of Milford Sound to the Tasman Sea. The cruise provides excellent viewing opportunities, with plenty of time available to enjoy the waterfalls, rainforest, mountains and wildlife (seals, penguins and dolphins) around the fiord.

Walks: Exploring on foot with a walk in Fiordland is a must, even if it is only a few hundred meters. At the end of the cruise we begin our overland tour. Depending on your preferences, choose a series of short guided walks with your nature guide or 2.5 hours walking on the Routeburn Track to Key Summit.

Short Walks and Photo Option: Enjoy a series of short, guided walks, with your local guide. Our National Park concession allows us to access the Gertrude Valley, Lake Gunn, and Hollyford Valley, so you can get off the beaten track and explore a range of different environments in this World Heritage Area. Plentiful opportunities are made for you to experience the natural fauna and flora with all your senses and capture it on camera. Catering for all ages and abilities, stops are made to suit people's interests and weather on the day.

Routeburn Track Key Summit Option: For the more active this is walking, hiking or in New Zealand we say 'tramping' at it's best. Ascend up the Routeburn Track en route to Key Summit through lush beech rainforest and into the alpine environment with panoramic views of the surrounding Fiordland Mountains, alpine lakes and deep bush clad valleys. This option is unguided unless the whole group on the day takes this option.