Kepler Track Voyage Tips and guide

The Kepler Track is a circular tramping track in the South Island of New Zealand, contains the Mt Luxmore, Luxmore Cave and Forest, river and alpine track above the tree line. It is one of the Department of Conservation (DOC) Great Walks.

See also: Tramping in New Zealand

The 60 km (37 mi) circular Kepler tramping track travels through spectacular scenery of the Fiordland National Park area of the South Island of New Zealand and starts and ends near the town of Te Anau. The track passes through many diverse landscapes starting on the shores of Lake Te Anau, passing through tall verdant forests, along rocky mountain ledges, deep gorges, and rivers. The track is named after the adjacent mountain range which in turn is named after Johannes Kepler, the 17th Century astronomer.

If walking the track in three or four days is not challenging enough, you could try running in the Kepler Challenge, an event in early December to run the track, with the fastest times being around 5 hours, although some take 12 hours.

The track is classed as a Great Walk for late October to end April.

Kea are high-altitude alpine parrots that forage in groups. They have powerful beaks for prying food from hard ground, are highly intelligent, work cooperatively, and are very inquisitive, which can make them destructive. Groups may distract you while another bird rips open a backpack; they can also destroy boots and clothing left out overnight.

Kea are spectacular to watch, but they are a threatened species and human food harms them. Help protect them by not feeding them and by securing your pack and food.

The nearest town to the track is Te Anau and is easily accessible from Queenstown or Invercargill, 2 hours by road, or Dunedin, four hours by Road. There is also a local airport.

The start of the track near the lakes's control gates is within walking distance of the town, about ¾ hour. Many walkers also take a boat across lake Te Anau to Brod Bay. This cuts a couple of hours off the walk.

Bring all your own food and cooking utensils. Gas stoves are provided in the main huts during the summer season (but not at standard huts or campsites). As you will be carrying 3 or 4 days food and doing strenuous exercise, light nutritious meals and nibbles are recommended.

The water is excellent, however if unsure, you may wish to sterilise it. Remember to consume sufficient each day so that you do not become dehydrated from the walk.

The Kepler Track has three excellent Great Walks huts with resident wardens, two camping areas, and two emergency shelters in the alpine section. The huts sleep between 40 and 54 people and provide gas for cooking, running water, and toilets, though in winter the gas, flushing toilets, indoor water supply, and fuel for the fire are removed. Hut and camping fees must be paid to DOC before travel, and bookings are essential as space is limited.

While the track is popular, it is not the busiest Great Walk, so beds can often be secured about three months in advance, though it is best to book when reservations open in June for the following summer. Bunks are comfortable, but noise from snoring, late-night activity, or early departures can disturb sleep, so earplugs are useful. A good sleeping bag is necessary as the weather can be cold even in summer.

Map of Kepler Track

If you need to collect your pre-booked hut tickets, call into the -45.4238167.718921 Te Anau DOC Visitor Centre. The start of the track is pleasant lakeside walk from Te Anau. This passes the -45.43302167.713241 Te Anau Wildlife Centre, where you can see takahe and kaka.

Distance

5.6 km

Duration

1½-2 hr

The track starts (and finishes) at the -45.44238167.68912 Kepler Track Car Park, where there is a small shelter and some display boards. The shelter has a couple of benches to sit on. Follow the track for about 200 m to the -45.4405167.68623 Control Gates. These control the flow of water out of Lake Te Anau, not the number of walkers on the track!

The track is easy and stays fairly close to Lake Te Anau until you reach -45.40417167.674181 Brod Bay Campsite. The campsite has some pitches among the trees and an open shelter for cooking in. You can arrange a water taxi to take you to Te Anau from here.

Distance

8.2 km

Duration

3-4 hr

After Brod Bay the track heads inland and starts to climb, becoming a hard slog. -45.38528167.619192 Luxmore Hut has 54 beds.

Duration

short return trip

From -45.38528167.619193 Luxmore Hut, there is a short side trip to -45.3898167.61542 Luxmore Cave.

Distance

14.6 km

Duration

5-6 hr

Shortly after leaving the hut, and making a small diversion, you come to -45.3863167.59053 Mount Luxmore Summit, at 1472 m, the highest point on the track. If you get a clear day there are great views.

You then pass the -45.38956167.571884 Shelter and Toilet, -45.38295167.536275 Hanging Valley Emergency Shelter, and a -45.39583167.528154 Viewpoint, which sits at 1167 m, before descending to -45.3991167.50954 Iris Burn Hut. This hut has 50 beds and there is a nearby campsite for 15. The track then follows the Iris Burn (river) down to Lake Manapouri.

Distance

16.2 km

Duration

5-6 hr

From -45.3991167.50955 Iris Burn Hut, the track passes -45.44852167.567316 Rocky Point Shelter before reaching -45.48173167.610646 Moturau Hut, which has 40 beds.

Just off the track is the -45.4936167.61317 Shallow Bay Hut, which is a standard 6-bed hut, with no bookings.

Distance

6 km

Duration

1½-2 hr

From -45.48173167.610648 Moturau Hut, the track passes the -45.49367167.654375 Viewpoint. If you want to have an early finish, there is a bridge across the Waiau River at -45.49037167.662939 Rainbow Beach, to a car park. Otherwise follow the river back to the -45.4405167.68627 Control Gates, and back to the -45.44238167.68918 Kepler Track Car Park or on to Te Anau.

The weather in the Fiordland National Park can change very quickly and the exposed alpine areas can experience high winds and dense cloud. Don't take any weather warnings lightly From May to late October each year the track is only for more experienced parties who are fit and well equipped. Rangers are not in attendance during this period.

The NZ Met Service publishes regular weather updates for Mt Luxmore on their website.

• Other Great Walks - see Tramping in New Zealand
  • Milford Track
  • Routeburn Track
  • Heaphy Track
  • Rakiura Track on Stewart Island
• Nearby places
  • Te Anau
  • Queenstown
  • Milford Sound
  • Glenorchy