Kepler Track

Information

Distance

60.0 km

Duration

3–4 days

Max elevation

1,472 m

Country

New Zealand (NZ)

Difficulty

Moderate — a high-standard Great Walk with bridges, boardwalks, and modern huts; some steep sections but no special climbing techniques required

Best Season

October–April (Great Walks season; June–August can be snowy on the ridges)

Permits & Fees

Hut reservations are mandatory in advance during the Great Walks season (October–April) through the DOC online booking system; the fee is about NZ$80 per night for NZ adults and NZ$120 for international visitors. Outside the season, huts operate without mandatory booking at lower rates.

Description

The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks, a 60 km loop track starting and finishing near Te Anau on the South Island and traversing the spectacular landscapes of Fiordland National Park in 3–4 days. Constructed by the Department of Conservation (DOC) in 1988 and built to the highest trail standards, the track passes through ancient podocarp and beech forest along the shores of Lake Te Anau, climbs to open alpine ridgelines above 1,400 m with sweeping views across Fiordland's mountains and fiords, descends through the dramatic Iris Burn gorge, and returns via Lake Manapouri's outlet. Three Great Walk huts — Luxmore (54 bunks, 1,085 m), Iris Burn (50 bunks), and Moturau (40 bunks) — are spaced along the route. Advance bookings are mandatory during the Great Walks season (late October to late April). The track is rated intermediate and well-suited to reasonably fit walkers with no technical climbing experience.

Trail Highlights

Panoramic views of Lake Te Anau and the Fiordland fjords from the Luxmore mountain ridge at 1,400 m, ancient podocarp forest on the lakeshore, the Luxmore limestone caves, alpine tussock grasslands, the dramatic Iris Burn River gorge, and the chance to see New Zealand's endemic birds such as the kiwi, kea, and weka