Fiordland's Kepler Track Opened

Forest and Bird, Volume 19, Issue 2, 1 May 1988, Page 9

Fiordland's Kepler Track Opened

The Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park, near Te Anau was opened on 21 February. This 3-4 day, 65 kilometre round track runs through the Kepler Mountains. It is a high standard tramp with good huts suited for people of moderate fitness. In opening the track, Tourism Minister Phil Goff noted that more than $1 million for construction of the track came from his department in recognition of the tourism industry’s debt to New Zealand's natural heritage. More than 400,000 overseas visitors went to at least one national park last year and Fiordland National Park was the most frequently visited. Mr Goff said the Kepler Track was a much needed addition to the park's facilities and would relieve pressure on the Milford and the Routeburn tracks. Both tracks are now used nearly to capacity. 10,000 people walked the Milford track last year and 8,000 the Routeburn track. The Kepler track will be easier and cheaper for New Zealanders to walk than these other two tracks because of its common start-finish point and easy accessibility. At the 28 January launch of our South West book Mr Goff strongly supported the South West New Zealand World Heritage proposal. Tourist and Publicity also gave the concept its endorsement in its recent submission on the future of southern South Westland forests.