Very buggy once you hit the tree line. Beautiful, steep hike in the woods and shade! Gorgeous views up top. Please stay out of tussock!
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Very, very busy hike and area in general. Try to hike early!!! This hike is very hard!
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Best views for the effort. Flat and fairly easy with three swinging suspension bridges.
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Relatively flat and in trees the whole time. Two swing bridges. No bugs and just a few people.
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I completed the Kepler Track loop walk in February 2024. I am 76 years old and have completed more than a dozen multi-day walks over the years since I retired from full-time employment in 2012. The Kepler was the most challenging for me - perhaps because of my age now, but more probably because of the weather on the second day - across the alpine ridges. It was a spectacular walk. Wind gusts of 90km. per hour were just plain scary. Icy, wind driven sleet showers were unpleasant. But the views from that altitude were unforgettable. I was exhausted and near the limits of my physical ability by the time I reached Iris Burn Hut, but euphoric! The walk through the woods on days three and four was beautiful and peaceful. The company of like minded walkers was a pleasure. I will remember these four days with great satisfaction for the rest of my life.
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Stunning swing bridges, fun grippy rocks, some solid incline that’s manageable, and fantastic vistas throughout the hike. The reward of a view of the glacier at the end isn’t as impressive as the rest of the views throughout.
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Amazing hike. Relatively straightforward. Did get some what crowded so get there early. 3 suspension bridges on the hike. Spectacular views of the mountains and the glacial lake (Hooker Lake) at the end of the hike.
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Trail is well kept and a fairly easy walk if you are used to hiking. Very moderate elevation changes well spaced throughout the track. Visit was in March 2020 and was sparsely populated. We tried the side trip on the Lake Gault track - however at that time the trail was still being improved and was basically so sloppy it was impassible. We look forward to completing this side trip in the future.
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Ran/walked this easy trail to get a great view of Mt. Cook and the Hooker Glacier/Lake.
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