Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Great Walks > Te Anau - Kepler track
Te Anau - Kepler track
- Location
- The Kepler Track is accessed from the Lake Te Anau Control Gates, either by road or a 50 minute walk from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre in Te Anau, or over the swingbridge across the Waiau River at Rainbow Reach, a 10 minute (12km) drive from Te Anau. Shuttle buses also operate during the summer months to entry and exit points on the track and a scheduled boat service provides access to Brod Bay. View the transport page for detailed road distance and times and transport options.
- Description
Moderate day or multi-day tramping/hiking·
Track is generally well formed, may be steep, rough or muddy·
Track has signs, poles or markers.
Major stream and river crossings are bridged·
Light tramping/hiking boots required.PEAK SEASON: Late October to late April (bookings required)
The Kepler Track can be walked in either direction in four days/three nights, staying at all three huts or three days/two nights, staying at Luxmore and Iris Burn Huts and exiting the track at Rainbow Reach. Those with limited time, experience or fitness may choose to walk only part of the track, staying a night in a hut or do a day walk. The walk from Rainbow Reach to Moturau Hut on the shores of Lake Manapouri is particularly suitable for family groups. Bookings are essential and can be made online or by post, fax, email or phone. Bookings open on July 1 each year for coming season.
OFF PEAK/WINTER SEASON – May to mid October
During the winter months hut tickets are necessary but bookings are not required. High snow loadings and avalanche danger can affect the track, especially between Luxmore Hut and Hanging Valley Shelter and may make it impassable. Some facilities are removed from the huts during the winter.
TRACK GUIDE DAY BY DAY
Track times are approximate only and will vary according to fitness, pace of the group, weather and direction of travel. Most walkers spend the first night at Luxmore Hut as they are in the best place to assess the weather for the next day’s walk across the exposed alpine section of the track and also have the first day’s hard climb behind them.
Te Anau to Control Gates: 45 min
Control Gates to Brod Bay: 1 hr 30 min – 5.6km
Brod Bay to Luxmore Hut: 3 hr 30 min-4 hr 30 min – 8.2km
Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut: 5-6 hr – 14.6km
Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut: 5-6 hr – 16.2km
Moturau Hut to Rainbow Reach: 1 hr 30 min-2 hr – 6km
Rainbow Reach to Control Gates: 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min – 9.5km- Distance
- 60.0 km
- Level
- Medium
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Camping
- Fishing
- Historical
- Huts
- Plant Life
- Toilets
- Tramping
- Source
- www.doc.govt.nz
- Avg Rating
- 5 out of 5
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk