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Oceania · New Zealand

Kepler Track

Fiordland National Park, Southland, New Zealand

Distance
37.3 mi160.0 km
Days
3–4 days1
High point
4,829 ft11,472 m
Season
Oct–Apr1
Lodging
Huts and tent1
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Hikes / Oceania / Kepler Track

Where these numbers come from

Public sources, official ones first, each numbered and listed under Sources, checked Nov 2026. Anything they don't give is left out.

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Relief map

The route

A Great Walk loop starting near Te Anau, between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. It climbs from Brod Bay to Luxmore Hut, crosses a challenging alpine section to Iris Burn, then runs out through Moturau Hut and Rainbow Reach back to the car park.1

Relief map of Kepler Track: the route from OpenStreetMap drawn in red, labelled Mount Luxmore.

Route drawn from OpenStreetMap (GW - 08 Kepler Track, read Nov 2026). © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL. Terrain: Mapzen Terrain Tiles (LINZ, SRTM) on AWS. A sketch for planning, not for navigation.

Download GPX1.2 MB · free
Each day and variant (3 files)

Before you go

The basics

Start
Kepler Track car park, 5 km from Te Anau (a 50-minute lakefront walk from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre)1
Finish
Same car park (loop); Rainbow Reach car park, 12 km from Te Anau, is a common exit by shuttle1
Direction
Loop. DOC's notes run it from the car park via Brod Bay and Luxmore Hut, then Iris Burn and Moturau huts, to Rainbow Reach and back.1
Distance
60 km loop.1
Days
DOC lists 3-4 days; most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights.1
High point
Luxmore summit, 1,472 m (a side trip of about 30 min return).1
Usual difficulty
DOC grades it an Intermediate tramping track in the Great Walks season; Advanced to Expert outside it. The alpine section is challenging; not recommended for children under 10.1
Best time
Great Walks season 27 Oct 2026 to 30 Apr 2027; from May to late October the alpine section has snow and frequent avalanches and suits only fit, experienced, well-equipped parties.1
Permits
In the Great Walks season huts and campsites must be booked with DOC; per night adult fees are NZ$88 (NZ) or NZ$132 (international) for huts and NZ$28 or NZ$42 for campsites, children half. Off season only Luxmore Hut needs a booking. DOC says bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.1,2
Getting there
Starts on the outskirts of Te Anau: shuttles run daily to the car park and Rainbow Reach in the Great Walks season, and a scheduled boat goes to Brod Bay; otherwise walk about 50 minutes from town. Off season, transport must be arranged ahead and may not run daily.1
Lodging
Huts and tent
Three DOC huts (Luxmore, Iris Burn, Moturau) and two campsites (Brod Bay, Iris Burn); no camping at the Forest Burn or Hanging Valley shelters.1

Bookings and permits

When bookings open, from the sources named under each. Dates move: confirm on the official site.

DOC Great Walk hut and campsite bookings, Kepler Track (next season)

Opens in May for the season starting in late October: for 2026-27, 9:30 a.m. New Zealand time on May 19, 2026. DOC announces the 2027-28 dates early in 2027.

Next: about May 19, 2027 (a typical date: confirm on the official site)

Book on bookings.doc.govt.nz.

Source: Kraig Adams's Kepler Track guide: Booking the huts; Department of Conservation: Great Walks. Checked November 2026.

Alert me when bookings open

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From the sources

Safety

Rescue numbers

  • Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand)
  • Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)

Source 3

Phone signal

  • DOC advises a distress beacon; in winter huts have no emergency radio and no rangers. The page does not describe phone coverage.

Source 1

Insurance

  • The UK government says insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency

Source 4

Bail-out points

  • Rainbow Reach is an exit point with a shuttle to Te Anau.

Source 1

From the sources below, checked Nov 2026. For planning, not navigation: check before you go.

Their films and versions

Creators who've done it

1 creator so far: Kraig, 3 days, huts.

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Your time

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Typical: 3–4 days (the hike's facts).

Ask this hike

Planning questions about Kepler Track, answered only from this page's facts, the creators' versions and hikers' public tracks, with where each answer comes from. When the data doesn't say, the answer says "not given".

    From hikers

    Comments

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    Answered from the data

    Questions people ask

    How many days do you need for Kepler Track?

    3–4 days. DOC lists 3-4 days; most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How long is Kepler Track?

    37.3 mi (60 km). 60 km loop.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    When is the best time to hike Kepler Track?

    Oct–Apr. Great Walks season 27 Oct 2026 to 30 Apr 2027; from May to late October the alpine section has snow and frequent avalanches and suits only fit, experienced, well-equipped parties.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    Do you need a permit for Kepler Track?

    In the Great Walks season huts and campsites must be booked with DOC; per night adult fees are NZ$88 (NZ) or NZ$132 (international) for huts and NZ$28 or NZ$42 for campsites, children half. Off season only Luxmore Hut needs a booking. DOC says bookings are open for stays up to 30 June 2027.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official); Department of Conservation NZ, Great Walks (official), checked Nov 2026. [1] [2]

    How do you get to Kepler Track?

    Starts on the outskirts of Te Anau: shuttles run daily to the car park and Rainbow Reach in the Great Walks season, and a scheduled boat goes to Brod Bay; otherwise walk about 50 minutes from town. Off season, transport must be arranged ahead and may not run daily.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    Where do you sleep on Kepler Track?

    Huts and tent. Three DOC huts (Luxmore, Iris Burn, Moturau) and two campsites (Brod Bay, Iris Burn); no camping at the Forest Burn or Hanging Valley shelters.

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    How high does Kepler Track go?

    4,829 ft (1,472 m). Luxmore summit, 1,472 m (a side trip of about 30 min return).

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official), checked Nov 2026. [1]

    What's the emergency number on Kepler Track?

    Emergency: 111 (fire, search and rescue, threats to life in New Zealand). Other DOC emergencies: 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

    From Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official), checked Nov 2026. [3]

    Sources

    1. Department of Conservation NZ, Kepler Track (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    2. Department of Conservation NZ, Great Walks (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    3. Department of Conservation NZ, Contact us (official) · official · checked Nov 2026
    4. www.gov.uk · official · checked Nov 2026

    Facts are written in our own words from these pages; nothing is copied. Rules, fees and closures change: check the official page before you go.

    Plan this hikeBookings