Kepler Track

A 60 km loop from Te Anau: along the lake, up to Luxmore Hut on the tops, the alpine ridge to Iris Burn, and back by Lake Manapōuri and the Waiau River, with the Department of Conservation's huts and campsites.

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58kmMapped distance
2,096mMapped ascent
6Walking stages

Best season: 27 October to 30 April (the Great Walks season). The Department of Conservation's 2026/27 Great Walks season runs from 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027: the huts have rangers, gas and heating, and huts and campsites must be booked. Avalanche risk on the alpine section can last into December, when DOC may close it. From May to October the tops are an alpine route with avalanche paths, for well-equipped, experienced parties only. Iris Burn Hut is closed for renovations until mid-October 2026; the planner counts it closed until 27 October, and the Iris Burn campsite stays open. Before you go

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Plan your days

Your dates

Checking the seasons, closures and current conditions for today…

Three huts and two campsites on a 60 km loop. The four-day plan sleeps at each hut; the three-day plan ends at Rainbow Reach, where many walkers take the shuttle. Or pick your own nights below.

Hut seasons as published. 2026/27: the season at all 3 huts runs 27 October to 30 April; outside it they stay open with less.

4-day plan

Loading topographic map…
200m400m600m800m1,000m1,200m1,400m010 km20 km30 km40 km50 km58.1 km1,395m187m
Flat (<5%) Gentle (5–10%) Moderate (10–15%) Steep (15–25%)
Each day in its own colour, numbered where it starts; the rest of the Kepler Track in grey. Select a day for its elevation and 3D flyover.

Make your own plan

Changing the pace or where you stay suggests a new number of days: the fewest that keep each day under 8 h of walking and in daylight, where a place to stay allows.

Choose your nights (3 nights)

Days end where the route has a stay, a camp or a village.

Day by day

  1. Day 1

    Kepler Track car park to Luxmore Hut

    Stage 1, Stage 2

    Distance
    13.1 km
    Climb
    +898 / −53 m
    Walking
    5 h 30Department of Conservation time; our estimate 4 h 09

    Stage 1: Along the shore of Lake Te Anau to the Brod Bay campsite; a water taxi from Te Anau also lands here.

    Stage 2: The climb through the beech forest and past limestone bluffs to the tussock tops and Luxmore Hut (1,085 m).

    Overnight

    Luxmore Hut

    Staffed mountain hut · 1,085 m · Department of Conservation

    Pick a date to check the season.

    Season
    2026/27 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 The 2026/27 Great Walks season, with a ranger, gas cooking, heating and flush toilets: bookings required. Outside the season: From 1 May it still needs a booking, as Luxmore winter stays, at $35 adult: DOC's pages end the winter stays on 26 or 28 October. Backcountry Hut Passes can be used as payment online; Hut Tickets are not valid. There is no ranger or gas, pit toilets replace the flush ones and the indoor water is off. doc.govt.nz, read 27 September 2026
    Places
    54 places in total · Self-catering In the Great Walks season: 54 bunks, a ranger, heating and gas cooking (no utensils), solar lighting, flush toilets and cold water (no showers). Boil the tap water.
    Booking
    Book online Booked all year: in the Great Walks season on the Kepler Track booking, from 1 May as Luxmore winter stays (DOC's pages end them on 26 or 28 October). Great Walks season: adult NZ$132 (international), NZ$88 (NZ resident), child $66 / $44.
    Contact
    Official site

    OpenStreetMap

    On the tops at 1,085 m. Fill your bottles here: the alpine section to Iris Burn has no reliable water. The Luxmore summit (1,472 m) is a 30-minute return side trip; the Luxmore caves are close by.

    Day 1 GPX Open in Planner

  2. Day 2

    Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut

    Stage 3

    Distance
    14.1 km
    Climb
    +624 / −1,211 m
    Walking
    5 h 30Department of Conservation time 5 h–6 h; our estimate 4 h 45

    Not confirmed open on set days: km 0–14.1 of stage 3. From May to late October the alpine section between Luxmore and Iris Burn is unmarked and often under thick snow, with 9 avalanche paths, most of which can cross the track: DOC says to take it then only with an ice axe, crampons, avalanche gear and a distress beacon. In the season DOC may close it for avalanche danger, which can last into December.

    Stage 3: The alpine section: fill your bottles at Luxmore, there is no reliable water. The Luxmore summit (1,472 m) is a 30-minute return side trip. The Forest Burn and Hanging Valley shelters are for emergencies only: no camping or sleeping there.

    Overnight

    Iris Burn Hut

    Staffed mountain hut · Department of Conservation

    Pick a date to check the season.

    Season
    2026/27 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 The 2026/27 Great Walks season, with a ranger, gas cooking, heating and flush toilets: bookings required. Outside the season: From May to late October first come, first served, $30 adult, with no gas, ranger, indoor water or emergency radio. doc.govt.nz, read 27 September 2026
    Closed
    Until 26 October 2026. Iris Burn Hut is closed for major renovations until mid-October 2026 (DOC alert of 26 March 2026); TrailSplits counts it closed until the Great Walks season opens on 27 October. There is no hut between Luxmore and Moturau until then; the Iris Burn campsite stays open. doc.govt.nz, read 27 September 2026
    Places
    50 places in total · Self-catering In the Great Walks season: 50 bunks, a ranger, heating and gas cooking (no utensils), solar lighting, flush toilets and cold water (no showers). Boil the tap water.
    Booking
    Book online Book in the Great Walks season; first come, first served outside it. Great Walks season: adult NZ$132 (international), NZ$88 (NZ resident), child $66 / $44.
    Contact
    Official site

    OpenStreetMap

    In the Iris Burn valley below the alpine section, with a campsite beside it (15 sites; keas damage tents). A waterfall walk starts at the hut.

    Day 2 GPX Open in Planner

  3. Day 3

    Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut

    Stage 4

    Distance
    15.6 km
    Climb
    +136 / −434 m
    Walking
    5 h 30Department of Conservation time 5 h–6 h; our estimate 3 h 42

    Stage 4: Down the Iris Burn valley and on to Moturau Hut on Lake Manapōuri.

    Overnight

    Moturau Hut

    Staffed mountain hut · Department of Conservation

    Pick a date to check the season.

    Season
    2026/27 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027 The 2026/27 Great Walks season, with a ranger, gas cooking, heating and flush toilets: bookings required. Outside the season: From May to late October first come, first served, $30 adult, with no gas, ranger, indoor water or emergency radio. doc.govt.nz, read 27 September 2026
    Places
    40 places in total · Self-catering In the Great Walks season: 40 bunks, a ranger, heating and gas cooking (no utensils), solar lighting, flush toilets and cold water (no showers). Boil the tap water.
    Booking
    Book online Book in the Great Walks season; first come, first served outside it. Great Walks season: adult NZ$132 (international), NZ$88 (NZ resident), child $66 / $44.
    Contact
    Official site

    OpenStreetMap

    On the shore of Lake Manapōuri.

    Day 3 GPX Open in Planner

  4. Day 4

    Moturau Hut to the Kepler Track car park

    Stage 5, Stage 6

    Distance
    15.3 km
    Climb
    +341 / −316 m
    Walking
    4 h 45Department of Conservation time 4 h–5 h 30; our estimate 3 h 46

    Stage 5: Across the wetland and along the Waiau River to the swing bridge at Rainbow Reach, where you can leave by shuttle.

    Stage 6: Along the Waiau River back to the control gates and the car park.

    Day 4 GPX Open in Planner

Longest day: day 2, 5 h–6 h.

How these plans are made

Days end at a stage end with a refuge or a village, or in a village the route passes through. Walking times are the Department of Conservation's published times where it gives one, with our estimate beside it; a day that walks part of a stage gets a share of the stage's time by distance and climb. Running times use 7.5 km/h plus one hour per 700 m of climb: a steady reference, not a prediction. Daylight is sunrise to sunset where the day starts; the time left is for breaks, meals and delays.Refuge dates come from the operator's own pages; when they are not published, we say so. For villages we count the places to stay OpenStreetMap lists; we have not checked which are open. A plan is not a booking: reserve every night before you commit to these day lengths.

Huts and stays, stage by stage

Where each stage ends, the 2026/27 and 2027/28 seasons the operator publishes, and how to book. Read from the operators' pages on 27 September 2026; each stage page shows the sources and the grade profile.

StageNight at2026/272027/28Booking
1. Kepler Track car park to Brod BayBrod Bay 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027not publishedBook online
2. Brod Bay to Luxmore HutLuxmore Hut · 1085 m 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027not publishedBook online
3. Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn HutIris Burn Hut 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027not publishedBook online
4. Iris Burn Hut to Moturau HutMoturau Hut 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027not publishedBook online
5. Moturau Hut to Rainbow ReachRainbow Reach · no hut at this point
6. Rainbow Reach to the Kepler Track car parkKepler Track car park · no hut at this point

Weather this week

Loading the forecast for low point (182 m) and high point (1,401 m)…

Weather by month

Typical weather on this trail: at the lowest point (182 m) and the highest point (1,401 m). Select a month to see why it is rated as it is.

Monthly climate averages and daylight
Month
WeatherMixedGoodMixedGoodMixedMixedMixedMixedMixedMixedMixedMixed
Stages rated good on typical weather3/65/63/66/63/63/63/64/63/63/62/63/6
High point, day / night14°/5°14°/5°12°/4°9°/2°6°/0°3°/-2°2°/-2°4°/-2°6°/-1°8°/0°10°/1°13°/3°
Low point, day / night20°/10°20°/10°18°/9°15°/7°13°/5°10°/3°9°/3°10°/3°13°/5°14°/6°16°/7°18°/9°
Rain, mm286213216156212201187158211253272284
Snow at high point–––FrostPossiblePossiblePossiblePossiblePossiblePossibleFrost–
Daylight15 h 1713 h 5812 h 2910 h 529 h 308 h 449 h 0110 h 1011 h 4213 h 1714 h 4815 h 38

Source: TerraClimate 1991–2020 monthly averages. Averages for the area at each point’s elevation (4 km grid, corrected for height). Not a forecast or a report of current trail conditions. Snow at the high point is estimated with a simple snowpack model from these temperatures and precipitation, not observed; steep islands and high summits can hold more snow than it shows. Daylight is for the 15th of each month. Hut, transport and park seasons are separate: check them for your dates.

Before you go

Prepare for the Kepler Track

Arrange your stays, food and travel first, then check conditions again near departure.

Book the huts and campsites

In the Great Walks season every hut and campsite night is booked on DOC's booking system; campers may not use the huts. Luxmore Hut needs a booking all year; outside the season the other huts are first come, first served. Book the shuttle or water taxi with it. The planner's nights are the huts: campers choose Brod Bay or the Iris Burn campsite on DOC's booking.

Prices

Each hut night in the Great Walks season costs an international adult NZ$132 and a New Zealand resident NZ$88 (children $66 / $44); a campsite night $42 / $28. Off-season, Luxmore $35 and the valley huts $30 an adult night.

DOC: Great Walks pricing

The alpine section

Between Luxmore and Iris Burn the track runs along exposed tops with no reliable water. In winter it crosses nine avalanche paths, most of which can reach the track; DOC says to go then only with an ice axe, crampons, avalanche gear and a distress beacon. DOC's webcam looks toward Hanging Valley Shelter.

Kepler Track webcam

Signal and help

Phone coverage cannot be guaranteed: carry a distress beacon. The hut rangers have radios in the season. For search and rescue call 111. The Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre: +64 3 249 7924.

DOC: distress beacons

Getting there

Connect your journey

Choose a stage or journey above to narrow the travel searches.

Directions to this start Travel from this finish

Google Maps journey searches, not confirmed services. A mountain endpoint may need a booked transfer or an additional walk.

Te Anau and the car park

The Kepler Track car park is 5 km from Te Anau, a 50-minute walk from the visitor centre. In the season shuttles serve the car park and Rainbow Reach (12 km from Te Anau) daily, and a scheduled water taxi crosses to Brod Bay.

Tracknet: Kepler Track

Take your trip with you

Offline maps

Prepare every day while you still have a connection: DOC says phone coverage on the track cannot be guaranteed.

Keep your route and maps on your phone for places without a signal. For multi-day trips, prepare them in the installed TrailSplits app.

  1. Open this trail in the app. Install TrailSplits, then open this trail there. On iPhone, downloads in a browser may not be available in the installed app.
  2. Choose your route or stages. Choose Prepare offline above. Wait for the route and maps to finish downloading.
  3. Try it before leaving coverage. Switch offline, close and reopen the app, then use My Hikes to start navigation. Repeat for every part you will need.

Saving a bookmark is not a map download. Storage can be cleared by your device; keep a backup map for remote trips.

Route & sources

About this map

The Department of Conservation gives a 60 km loop from the Kepler Track car park, walkable either way; DOC lists it by Luxmore first, as here. The line here is the track's relation on OpenStreetMap (planet of 21 September 2026), 58.1 km, cut at DOC's stage ends; the times are DOC's.

Official guidance and mapped-source comparison checked 27 September 2026. Map data is a route reference, not confirmation of today's path, weather or accommodation availability.

Department of Conservation: Kepler Track

Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors · Source relation

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