The sun shone for us all round the 60 km of the Kepler track. Up through forest to the hut for the first night overlooking Lake Te Anau. On to the open ridges, over the tops and then back down into forest to the second hut in a hanging valley by the Iris Burn river. Here kiwis call in the night and keas (alpine parrots) enjoy eating tents, boots, even passports and wallets if left unguarded.
Yesterday morning's path took us along the valley floor as the sun came up over the mountain ridge, creating rainbows on the morning mist.
On down gently to Lake Manapouri. The 3rd hut sits by the lake, beautiful but beset by biting sandflies. Rather than a 3rd night in a roomful of 40 others some of whom may snore, we continued on to the finish on easy soft flat track in the beautiful green mossy and ferny forest.