Mt Oxford

Information

According to D.O.C classifications Mt Oxford summit track is a six hour loop track. At 18.0 KM and an easy/medium rating you should have a great time. With open access and an altitude starting at 350 M and going to 1,364 M, a change of 1,014 M, you’ll be in for some great views and a nice walk. The track begins at Coopers Creek car park on Mountains Road west of Coopers Creek.

My Experience

I climbed Mt Oxford with my Dad and Brother. My experience of it was pretty good but we didn’t quite get to the top because of strong wind and my brother and I might have fallen and hurt ourselves. The terrain was a little muddy and rocky but mostly formed. You get good views and can see the farmland

around you from the height of the mountain. Overall I think this mountain can get quite windy sometimes so be prepared. Also good views and a fun walk.

Godly heads walk

According to DOC walking classifications, Godly heads is an easy to moderate three hour return track. It  has an exposed head land on top of sheer 100 meter high cliffs on a good day this walk can provide magnificent views. From the centre of Christchurch it's a 30 minute drive to the coastal suburb of Sumner. From Sumner, it's another 10 minutes to drive over to Taylors Mistake (The start of the Godly headsTrack). Godly heads is a well formed and has old gun ports that used to have cannons which shot at enemy ships in the war. There is a kiwi guardians post that you can collect and get a medal for it. At the end of the track there is a gate if you go past that gate you will be starting the Crater Rim Track.  

As some of you know I am a very keen walker. I was really looking ford to get up and start. We walked along a small foot path alongside the beach for a start. Then we climbed up so we got a good view of the sea. After a whiles treak  came round to the old gun points which we explored. Near the end of where we went to there is some old house foundations. It looked like they had been there for ages. We had lunch at the camping grounds and then came back down. Overall the track was sturdy and well worn the views were spectacular so I would do it again.

The Kepler track

Information

According to DOC classifications the Kepler track is a 60km loop. It will take you 3-4 days and is made for intermediate walkers. (Click here for more information.) The track goes across tussic and bush. It has great views of Lake Te Anau. You can go explore the Luxmore Caves at Luxmore hut and go to the Iris Burn Falls at Iris Burn Hut. If you feel up for it you can walk to rainbows reach from Moturau. The seasonal restrictions this year in the Great Walks season are 24th October 2017 - 30th April 2018. Outside the Great Walks season is 4th May 2017 - 23rd October 2017. Mt luxmore peak is the Kepler track’s highest point reaching 1,472 M. (Dogs are not allowed on the track.)

My experience

To Luxmore hut

It was a steady climb up to the Luxmore hut. At that point we were going through bush and tussic. Some places it was rocky but most of the track was well formed and easy to Walk on. I was very windy as we came up along the top and I was nearly blown over.

The hut at night creaked in the growing and dying wind. For me it was hard to get to sleep even though I had ear plugs. Eventually I got to sleep.

To Iris Burn hut

To the Iris Burn hut it is a journey along the ridges of Mt Luxmore when we went it was raining and sleeting and the wind was bringing it hard into my face. It stung! I was told by my parents not to go far ahead. Eventually we started going down the mountainside towards the hut.

Nice and peaceful night with good bunks and I slept well.

To Moturau hut

The trip to Moturoa is mostly flat but the are some up and down pieces. Well formed track. It is long but there are some good views along the way. Overall a nice trip.

In the afternoon we ate in a well sized kitchen and slept comfortably.

Trip Home

If you came through our way you could either go right out or come out at Rainbows Reach. We decided to go out Rainbows Reach which is shorter. Once we finished I thought about our walk. I thought that it was definitely worth it. It had great huts, well made tracks and excellent views.