The Great Walk season officially started this month, and you know what that means – it’s time to be out and about hiking the best walking tracks our country has to offer! Down here in the Fiordland National Park, the Kepler Track is definitely one of the favourites.
Starting and ending near Te Anau, the Kepler Track is a 60-kilometre circular tramping circuit that most hikers complete in three or four days. It crosses alpine ridgelines and provides spectacular panoramic mountain and lake views, glacial valleys, native beech forests, and wetlands. Basically, it has a little bit of something for everyone! No wonder thousands of people take to this track every year.
We’re not going to bore you with Fiordland hiking tips you probably already know, but we will excite you with the best Kepler Track food to enjoy after you finally make your way back to the car park after days spent in nature.
Grilled Lamb Salad
Entering restaurants after hiking for days in the wilderness can feel a little disconcerting, so keep it simple but delicious with a grilled lamb salad. It can be tempting to order a heavy, substantial meal, but your body needs something a bit lighter after spending five-plus hours every day on your feet for four or five days.
A Moroccan-seasoned lamb rump salad with tomato, feta, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin seeds, mint yoghurt dressing, and pomegranate molasses can tick all the right boxes for your taste buds. The lamb provides high-quality protein and iron, while the pumpkin delivers excellent carbohydrates. Even the seeds are a worthwhile addition, offering unsaturated fats, fibre, and protein. The dressings, of course, turn this meal into a flavour sensation!
Wild Fiordland Venison
If seeing evidence of red deer in the forests and lower areas around the Kepler Track had you thinking about venison, you’ll be well catered to when you seek out dinner in Te Anau. Tuck into a meal of wild Fiordland venison. Pan-roasted wild venison fillet is the star of the show, but this dish is also paired with crushed kumara, sautéed greens, Otautau blueberry and cranberry relish, hazelnut dukkah, and red wine jus.
Venison is an excellent source of protein and iron, with the added bonus of containing less fat than many cuts of beef and lamb. Kumara is also a winner for supplying carbohydrates to restore muscle glycogen. For more fibre and micronutrients, don’t forget to eat the hazelnuts and greens!
Akaroa Smoked Salmon
Not had much luck catching your own fish at the Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic over Labour Weekend? Or maybe your body is screaming out for protein and vegetables after all that walking. Either way, it’s a great excuse to order a dish of Akaroa Smoked Salmon for dinner in Te Anau.
Smoked Akaroa salmon served with roasted vegetables, spinach, Southland hazelnuts, and beetroot hummus is…chef’s kiss. You’ve got the protein and omega-3 fatty acids from the salmon, the fibre and micronutrients from the spinach, beetroot hummus, and roasted vegetables, and some extra fibre and a sprinkling of healthy fats from the hazelnuts.
Seafood Chowder
Kepler Track food on the go is far from comforting. Beef jerky and scroggin don’t exactly warm the body and soul! But we’ll tell you what does – seafood chowder. Creamy chowder with salmon, market fish, prawns, and green-lipped mussels, to be exact. Oh, and don’t forget the garlic bread!
Fish and shellfish offer plenty of protein while also providing zinc, iron, and vitamin B12. The bread offers carbohydrates, which can be a real comforting choice after long or rainy days on the track!
Char-Grilled Ribeye Steak
You may not know where to eat after Kepler Track adventures, but you can at least know what to eat: char-grilled ribeye steak with duck fat potatoes, steamed broccolini, and roasted mushroom and red wine jus.
The beef provides protein, zinc, iron, and B12, while the potatoes help restore your carbohydrate stores. The broccolini and mushrooms add fibre and micronutrients. If you’re a hungry hiker who wants a substantial dinner, or you’re tired of seeing fish after spending all day at the Stabicraft Te Anau Manapouri Fishing Classic, a hearty steak dish is a great option.
Don’t Forget the Sides
A side dish can make all the difference between a protein-rich dinner and a complete recovery meal! And, let’s face it, you deserve to treat yourself after days of Kepler Track food like Cup-o-Soup, instant porridge packets, and crackers. Browse the sides menu of a Te Anau restaurant and see what goodies you can add to your main meal!
For example, you can add fibre, folate, vitamin C, vitamin K, and a small amount of protein with steamed broccolini with sesame dressing. Even mashed potato is a nice, simple addition when you’re trying to increase your carbohydrate intake after a particularly demanding day. For something a bit fancier and for colour, crunch, and freshness, opt for a salad of dressed leaves with pickled red cabbage, cranberries, celery, and pine nuts. These ingredients provide fibre and plant nutrients.
Where to Eat After Kepler Track Hiking: The Fat Duck in Te Anau, Fiordland
Well done; you’ve achieved something pretty incredible this October. You’ve walked an enormous distance through some pretty tricky terrain! Now, it’s time to treat yourself to dinner in Te Anau.
Tuck away your beef jerky and scroggin for another day, and book a table at The Fat Duck. Whether you fancy fresh seafood, a hearty steak, or something light and delicious like a lamb salad, you’re in luck. We look forward to helping you restore some much-needed energy!
