The Kepler Track Great Walk – 4 Days 70kms, Including Side Trips. South Island New Zealand
Kepler Track Great Walk
it usually takes 3-4 days to complete, starting and ending near Te Anau.
Details for Hiking the Kepler Track:
* Location: Fiordland National Park, South Island, New Zealand.
* Length & Type: 60.1 km (37.3 miles) circular/loop track.
* Duration: Typically 3-4 days, with 3-night options.
* Highest Point: Luxmore Summit (1472m) Side Trip
472m) Side Trip
- Difficulty: Moderate to high. It is a well-formed trail but requires good fitness for steep ascents and sustained walking.
- Best Time to Hike: The Great Walks season is late October to April, when weather is warmer and huts are fully serviced.
- Highlights: Panoramic alpine ridge views, walking above the treeline, Beech forest, Luxmore Cave, and Iris Burn Falls.
- Huts & Campsites: The track has three main Department of Conservation (DOC) huts— Luxmore, Iris Burn, and Moturau—and two campsites (Broad Bay and Iris Burn).
- Booking Needed: Bookings through the DOC website are essential, especially during the Great Walks season, as spots fill up fast.
- Costs: Fees vary for NZ residents and international visitors.
Advice and Preperation of the Kepler Track:
- Direction: While it is a loop, many walkers choose an anti-clockwise direction for a more gradual ascent to the high points, starting with the climb to Luxmore Hut.
- Weather: Alpine conditions change quickly, even in summer. Be prepared for rain, wind, and cold.
- Sandflies: Sandflies are prevalent, especially in the Iris Burn area; bring repellent.
- Transport: The track is easily accessible by walking from Te Anau or using a water taxi/shuttle to shorten the walk.
- Luxmore Hut: Located at the edge of the alpine area, usually the first or last night for hikers.
- Iris Burn Hut: Situated in a large valley with a popular picnic area.
- Moturau Hut: Located by the shores of Lake Manapouri.
Expect changeable weather as you will be in an alpine region , Pack light weight layers, You should have a base weight of 10kg, excluding your consumables, water and fuel ect.
Kepler Track Great Walk –
New Zealand is “Pure LA Vida”
Day 1 – 22/2/26 , Kepler Track Control Gates – Luxmore Hut Via Brod Bay – 14kms / 1000m ascent, 6hrs
Ascend through beech forest and above the bush line to panoramic views of the Te Anau basin and the surrounding mountains. Luxmore Hut is a 45 min walk from the bush line.
Side Trip – once you have settled in at the hut. Explore the fascinating Luxmore Caves, a 10-minute walk from Luxmore Hut. A must to bring a head torch.
Enjoy an amazing evening on the deck as the sun sets to the west of the Murchison Mountains.
Luxmore Hut
Day 2 – 23/2/26 , Luxmore Hut – Iris Burn Hut 15kms / 500m ascent / 1000m descent, 6hrs
Sunrise above the hut was absolutely amazing , a late departure of 09:00.
Start your day on top of the world. From the hut, after 45mins you will arrive at a ridge line and a intersetion. And a 10 minute (one way) side trip up Mt Luxmore , Presents stunning views across the south fiord of Lake Te Anau to the Murchison Mountains.
It was externally windy along with a wind chill. 5 of us decided to climb Mt Luxmore, two stayed at the intersection safe guarding our packs from the KEA. They are the world’s only alpine parrot, thats extremely curious, Olive green plumage and orange underwings.
Sunrise Over Lake Te Anau from Luxmore Hut
Kepler Ridge line
Spans between Luxmore Hut and Iris Burn hut , reaching its highest point at the 1,400m Luxmore Saddle (near Mount Luxmore). These tussock covered narrow ridge lines are formed by glaciers carving deep valleys into the mountains
Hanging Valley : A glacial feature featuring a small tarn and a shelter near the ridge
Iris Burn Valley: A deep valley formed by ice, now covered in beech forest, into which the ridge descends.
There are two “day use” shelters along this section, Forrest burn Shelter , which was a break from the wind for us. We continued with amazing views views of the rather dramatic landscape towering down to the steep valleys below.
Hanging Valley Shelter was to be out lunch stop before we continued our very narrow ridge line descent with extremely high winds.
We reached the tree line and a sad good bye to the landscape we had been enjoying. From this point it was a 1000m descent to Iris Burn Hut,
The group made the hut around 15:30 and just after we settled in, so did the rain. Not heavy but no exploring to the river or iris Burn Falls.
The sandflies were also at large here , full length clothes meant protection from these bitting little pests. Inside , enjoying these wonderful environment.
Kepler Ridge line looking towards the Murchison’s Mountains
Kepler Track Ridge Line heading towards Hanging Valley Shelter
Kea at Hanging Valley Shelter – Kepler Track New Zealand
Day 3 – 24/2/26 , Iris Burn Hut – Moturau Hut 16kms / 6hrs
Today the weather cleared up perfectly. Our walk was relatively flat/ a gentle descent along the Iris Burn River.
Experience ever changing scenery as the track takes you over a low saddle, then down to Rocky Point, past a large slip caused by heavy rain. You’ll then wind through a gorge and lowland beech and podocarp forest, before reaching the shore of beautiful Lake Manapouri. The beach side of Moturau Hut has stunning views of the lake.
It was an absolutely stunning afternoon. Arriving just after 1pm meant we had plenty of time for a swim and relaxation in this majestic landscape. That evening after the Hut Ranger Talk we had a fire on the beach in a metal drum.
Lake Manapouri – In a Absolutely Stunning Day , from Moturau Hut.
Sunset over lake Manapouri at Moturau Hut Kepler Track
Day 4 25/2/26 , Moturau Hut to TeAnau Control Gates 15kms / 5hrs
The last day starts in the forest, then the track emerges into a wetland area. The track through the wetland is on a boardwalk, to protect the unique and fragile ecosystem. The track then returns to the forest to follow the Waiau River terrace to the swing bridge at Rainbow Reach. You can leave the track here and catch a shuttle bus to Te Anau, or continue alongside the Waiau River to the Kepler Track car park.
Walking onto the control gates/ Kepler car park felt we more achieved something. We arrived at the car park with at least 45mins to spare before our shuttle bus pick up.
The end of a brilliant walk in Nature “Pure La Vida” Nature is Medicine –
Kepler Track Great Walk
Transfers to Te Anau for a 2 night stay in a amazing holiday home.
Luxmore Hut – Kepler Track New Zealand
Kepler Track Ridge Line Traverse to Hanging Valley Shelter
Te Anau – 2 night Holiday Home Stay
Te Anau – 2 night Holiday Home Stay
Kepler Track Great Walk
Norman Herfurth
“This Blog is of the Opinion of my own Personal Experiences and are not necessarily Fact.. and is written to the best of my knowledge, but there may be omissions, errors or mistakes. This blog is for entertainment and/or informational purposes only and shouldn’t be seen as any kind of advice.”
