Kepler Track NZ Great Walk
Contents
- 1 Kepler Track NZ Great Walk
- 1.1 Day One - Kepler Track Car Park to Brod Bay Campsite (5.6 km)
- 1.2 Day Two – Brod Bay Campsite to Luxmore Hut (8.2 km)
- 1.3 Luxmore Cave
- 1.4 Iris Burn Campsite
- 1.5 Day Four – Iris Burn Hut Iris Burn Campsite to Moturau Hut ( 16.2 km)
- 1.6 Day Five – Motorau Hut – Rainbow Reach Car park or Kepler Track Car park (6 – 15.5 km)
- 1.7 Kepler Track Huts
- 1.8 Iris Burn Hut Kepler Track Huts
The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand’s most well known Great Walks because of it’s breathtaking Alpine views. This track is located near Te Anau which the hub of three of New Zealand’s Great Walks. The Routeburn Track and the Milford Track are located close by. This close proximity of Great Walks making this area a hiker’s paradise.
Day One - Kepler Track Car Park to Brod Bay Campsite (5.6 km)
Start at Kepler Track car park and hike through bush along side Lake Te Anau. This is an easy hike across mostly flat terrain which leads to Brod Bay campsite. At night you can fall asleep to the sound of Morepork and Kiwi if you are lucky. The campsite has toilets, a cooking shelter and some park benches. Plenty of water is available from the Lake however it should be boiled first for at least 3 minutes before use.
Brod Bay Campsite
Brod Bay Campsite is a basic DOC campsite with 15 non-power sites. It has a small cooking shelter with running water and sinks. The water must be boiled before use. There are contained areas for open fires although there is no mention of open fires been allowed or not been allowed on the DOC website.
Brod Bay campsite is a popular spot for taking families camping as it is only a 5.6 km flat walk from the Kepler Track car Park. Alternatively you can get dropped off to the Brod Bay campsite by water taxi. This is also a good way to shorten the length of the Kepler Track.
Brod Bay Campsite must be booked in advance, To do so and for more information on Brod Bay campsite visit DOC NZ.
Day Two – Brod Bay Campsite to Luxmore Hut (8.2 km)
Slightly more challenging day, only 8.2 km to get to Luxmore Hut. However this is a hard slog of 800 m elevation zigzagging up hill through the bush with little reward.
Until you break through the bush and are rewarded with views like these before heading onto the Luxmore hut. This hut features views of Lake Te Anau and the Kepler Mountains. It is well equipped with running tap water, flushing toilets (during great walk session) and gas stoves making this hut a great place for cooking those more elaborate meals.
Luxmore Cave
About 10 minutes from the Luxmore hut you will find the Luxmore cave. This an amazing cave with multiple passage ways and caverns. You can spend an hour here exploring and taking photos or just cooling off after a long days hike. The Luxmore cave is a true bonus to the amazing views of this epic NZ Great Walk.
The highlight of the Kepler Track and the longest day but most rewarding. Experience breathtaking alpine views across the south fiord of Te Anau to Murchison mountains. If you are lucky you will come across some Kea who have made the mountains their home.
The elevation profile for this part of the track look’s soft in the guide for the Kepler Track. However don’t be fooled by this because on this day it is a case of what goes up must come down. All the way to Iris Burn Campsite.
Iris Burn Campsite
The Iris Burn Campsite is a 15 site non-power campsite on the Kepler Track. It is a 14.6 km walk from the Luxmore Hut and 16.2 km to the Moturau Hut. Iris Burn campsite has running water with wash basins inside a large cooking shelter.
The Iris Burn campsite is one of the most impressive campsites in the Fiordland National park. Be sure to bring mosquito repellent and keep your tent closed. Iris Burn Hut facilities are not permitted to be used by campers staying at Iris Burn campsite.
Iris Burn campsite must be booked in advance. To book Iris Burn campsite and for more information visit DOC NZ.
Day Four – Iris Burn Hut Iris Burn Campsite to Moturau Hut ( 16.2 km)
Another easy day hiking through the bush on mostly flat terrain. During this section you will meet a variety of small birds which have made the Kepler Track their home. Some of which may follow you along on you journey. At the end of your day you will be rewarded with an overnight stay at the Moturau Hut. While there, you can experience an amazing sunset. If you are lucky you may even get to see kiwi in their natural habitat.
Day Five – Motorau Hut – Rainbow Reach Car park or Kepler Track Car park (6 – 15.5 km)
More time in the bush and across wooden paved wetland, again with easy flat terrain. This time however walking next to the beautiful Waiau River. The amazing Great Walk can finish at either the Rainbow Reach car park or the Kepler Track Car park.
Kepler Track Huts
There are 3 Kepler Track huts available along this amazing Great Walk. The Luxmore hut, Iris Burn Hut and the Moturau Hut. During the Great Walks season these huts are well equipped with the following:
- Bunks.
- Mattresses.
- Heating.
- Toilets.
- Basic cooking facilities.
- Solar powered lighting.
- Cold running water.
During the Great Walk season there is a DOC ranger in residence. Kepler track huts do not provide food, cooking utensils or showers. All of the Kepler track huts must be booked in advance for the Great Walk season.
Luxmore Hut Kepler Track Huts
The Luxmore Hut is the first of the Kepler Track huts. It is a 13.8 km hike from the Kepler Track car park or just 8.2 km from the Brod Bay campsite. Most of the walk is in the bush however a good 6 km of this is zigzagging up about 800 metres.
It is a 54 bunk hut with all of the facilities listed above but also has a wash basin inside which can be used to wash up. It also has flushing toilets which is a nice delicacy when doing multi-day hikes. During the Great Walk season gas is provided for the cookers and the flushing toilets can be used.
The Luxmore Hut must be booked in advance.
For more information on the Luxmore hut and to book visit DOC.
This highlights of this hut are the breathtaking views and the local Kea who frequent the Luxmore hut. While at the Luxmore Hut take some time to explore the Luxmore caves. The Luxmore caves are just a 10 miinute walk from the Luxmore hut. Definitely worth a visit.
From the Luxmore Hut it is a tough 14.6 km walk hiking up and down the ridges to the Iris Burn Hut.
Iris Burn Hut Kepler Track Huts
This Iris Burn Hut is a 50 bunk Great Walk Hut which also has 15 tent sites close by for camping. Campers are not permitted to use the facilities of the Iris burn hut. Iris Burn Hut has the same facilities as the Luxmore hut however doesn’t have wash basins inside. There are wash basins outside you can use instead.
This Iris Burn Hut must be booked in advance.
After a tough day hiking up and down the ridges all day Iris Burn hut is a good hut to sit down and play a few rounds of cards.
From the Iris Burn Hut it is a relatively easy walk, mostly flat and down hill to the Moturau hut (16.2 km).
Iris Burn Hut must be booked in advance. For more information on the Iris Burn hut visit DOC NZ.
Moturau Hut Kepler Track Huts
The Moturau Hut is a 40 bunk hut and is the last of the Kepler Track Huts on the Kepler Track. Moturau hut has the same facilities as the Iris Burn hut but also has a massive swimming pool out front, Lake Manapouri.
The Moturau Hut is the best hut of the Kepler Track huts for taking some time and relaxing. It makes for a great hut for your last night on the Kepler Track NZ with just a short walk out. Moturau hut is set next to the beautiful Lake Manapouri which can be used to take a swim. From Moturau hut you can take a beautiful photo of the sun as it sets down below the lake.
From the Motutau hut it is an easy flat walk out to Rainbow Reach car park (6 km) or 15.5 km to Kepler Track carpark.
The Moturau hut must be booked in advance, To do so and for more information on the Moturau hut visit DOC.
For more information on Kepler Track NZ Great Walk visit the New Zealand Department of Conservation
