SUMMER WALKING GUIDE ONLY

Descending from Hanging Valley Shelter. Photo: John Strother (www.panafoot.com)

Welcome to the Kepler Track,
one of ten unforgettable journeys.
Kepler Set out on a wilderness adventure above the clouds, high in

TRACK GUIDE the mountains above Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri in

Te Wāhipounamu – South West New Zealand World Heritage
Duration: 3 – 4 days Area. The drama of these vast tussock-covered ridgelines
Distance: 60 km (loop) and spectacular alpine vistas contrasts with the peaceful
lakes and beech forest of the Iris Burn valley.

Plants and wildlife

Cool temperatures, high rainfall and shallow

Photo: Sara Redwood

nutrient-poor soils mean that Fiordland’s
forests are mostly beech. Beech trees flower
in spring and are wind-pollinated. In a heavy-
flowering year, the forest canopy turns red and
clouds of yellow pollen rise over the forest.

Fiordland kiwi/tokoeka can be heard,

Photo: James T Reardon

and occasionally seen, on the Kepler Track.
The kiwi is an unusual bird – it cannot fly, has
loose, hair-like feathers and long whiskers.
Largely nocturnal, it lives in burrows in the
ground and is the only bird known to have
For in-depth local knowledge, visit: nostrils at the end of its very long bill.

Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre

Tussock grasslands are a spectacular
Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9600
feature of the alpine areas of the Kepler Track,
Phone: +64 3 249 7924 providing a flowing foreground to expansive
Email: [email protected] views. These hardy grasses thrive in the harsh

Photo: DOC
www.doc.govt.nz/great-walks alpine environment and originally provided
shelter, nesting cover and food for takahē,
which were once widespread in the area.
Share your experience – facebook.com/docgovtnz
This information was accurate at the time of printing. For the latest information
on DOC’s policies and facilities, visit www.doc.govt.nz. Capable of flying at speeds over 100 km/h
and catching prey larger than itself, the
Photo: Barry Harcourt
Published by: Department of Conservation, Customer and Brand Team falcon/kārearea is one of New Zealand’s most
PO Box 10420, Wellington 6143, New Zealand | December 2021 | R214045
spectacular birds. Often nesting in small rimu
This publication is produced using paper sourced from well-managed, renewable and legally logged forests. along the Waiau River, the birds will fearlessly
defend their patch and it is not uncommon for

Care for the Kepler Track

walkers to be dive-bombed.

Bats/pekapeka are New Zealand’s only

Photo: James T Reardon

Protect nature Keep New Zealand clean

Keep your distance and don’t native land mammals and are now critically
Take all rubbish with you.
feed wildlife. Feeding wildlife Use toilets where provided. endangered because of introduced predators.
is harmful to them. Follow You can find them at all huts, A small colony of the rare long-tailed bat was
any rules restricting fires, campsites and shelters. discovered in the Iris Burn valley in 2011 with
vehicles or boats. No dogs or some roosting trees just 500 m from the
unpermitted drones allowed. Kepler Track.

Be prepared Show respect

Takahē, once thought to be extinct, were
Stay safe in the outdoors by Respect others, respect culture.
rediscovered in 1948 just one mountain range
Photo: Helen Dodson

planning and preparing for Minimise noise when others

your trip. Share your plans are sleeping. away from the Kepler Track. This unique
and take a distress beacon. flightless bird is a conservation icon. While
you're very unlikely to see takahē on the
Kepler Track, you can see them at Punanga
Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau Bird Sanctuary.
 454m 312m
454m 312m
Forward Peak 1354m
1284m
m
Forward Peak 1354m Hanging Valley
Luxmore Hut
Shelter
1537m
Mount
Tinsley " Hut 3
Luxmore
B
" Lake Te Anau
4
" Forest Burn
" 1472m

Mount
Luxmore Luxmore Cave
Lake Te Anau
2
Brod Bay Shelter
A and Campsite 94
Forest Burn
" Iris Burn
Waterfall
C Mount
Luxmore 5 Luxmore Cave
Shelter
Brod Bay Shelter
1
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9 Views of the Waiau River. 421m

Wa
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Side trips – details overleaf Buncrana
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" Moturau Hut ENTRY/EXIT ! !

Tramping track
Walking track
Buncrana
Island

A548mLuxmore Cave
527m
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"" Rainbow Reach
Shelter and car park
Boat Transport
State Highway
B Luxmore Summit Bay Rona Island
8 Other road
"" Rainbow Reach 7
Rona Island
C Iris Burn Waterfall
Lake Manapouri

587m Lake Manapouri

The map in this brochure is a guide only and
should not be used for navigational purposes.

Shelter and car park SH95 to Manapouri 0 1 Km

¯
SH95 to Manapouri
Pomona
 SUMMER WALKING GUIDE ONLY Brod Bay to Luxmore Hut C Side trip – Iris Burn Waterfall
3 hr 30 min – 4 hr 30 min, 8.2 km
The track climbs steadily for about 2 hr to 40 min return
TRACK GUIDE limestone bluffs. Another hour’s climb reaches From Iris Burn Hut a side track leads to the
the bushline providing panoramic views of the beautiful falls and swimming hole for the brave.
This 60 km circular track is easily Te Anau basin, Takitimu Mountains and the Keep a look out for the rare blue duck/whio.
accessed on foot, or via short Snowdon and Earl Mountains. Luxmore Hut
transport options from Te Anau. (1085 m) is about a 45 min walk from the bushline.
This part of the track is marked by orange-topped
It can be hiked in either direction. snow poles, which are helpful in poor weather
The following notes describe the track conditions. Before settling in you can visit
and what you can expect to see on Luxmore Cave.

your journey. B Side trip – Luxmore Summit

The times are approximate and will vary according
30 min return
to your fitness, direction of travel and the weather.
In fine weather you’ll be rewarded for your
effort by stunning panoramic views from
Te Anau to Kepler Track car park the highest point on the track (1472 m).
50 min, 3 km Photo: Keri Moyle (signsoflife.co.nz)

Start your journey on the lakeside path outside

the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre. Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut
Passing the Punanga Manu o Te Anau/Te Anau 5 – 6 hr, 16.2 km
Bird Sanctuary, continue around the shores of Today is a steady tramp through beech forest
Lake Te Anau to the Kepler Track car park near and a gorge, generally following the Iris Burn.
the Lake Te Anau control structure, where there The track climbs over a low saddle and wanders
are toilets and picnic facilities. through mixed species forest to a large slip,
formed during heavy rain in January 1984. About
2 hr 30 min from Iris Burn Hut is a work camp for
Kepler Track car park to Brod Bay track maintenance. Rocky Point Shelter is located
1 hr 30 min, 5.6 km just around the corner and is a good place for
The track follows the lakeshore through a forest a lunch stop.
of mountain and red beech, with kāmahi and
Below Rocky Point the track climbs around a
some scattered rimu and miro. After passing an
Photo: Lyn Trewella gorge, coming out on river flats near the mouth of
attractive grove of hard tree ferns and crown fern,
the Iris Burn. Nearing Lake Manapouri, the track
you reach Dock Bay. Cross Coal Creek Bridge and
follow the lakeshore to Brod Bay, a delightful place Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut turns left through lowland beech and podocarp
forest. Follow the lakeshore to Moturau Hut,
to swim and camp if you have had a late start. 5 – 6 hr, 14.6 km
situated beside a beautiful beach, with panoramic
There is a toilet and shelter here. In heavy rain, strong winds or wintery
views of Lake Manapouri.
weather, wait at Luxmore Hut until the
A Side trip – Luxmore Cave weather improves. Moturau Hut to Rainbow Reach
The track climbs gradually from the hut to a ridge 1 hr 30 min – 2 hr, 6 km
20 min return
just below the summit of Mount Luxmore – you The last day is a moderate stroll through beech
The track from the hut is clearly signposted. forest to Rainbow Reach. The track crosses a
can head up to the summit before continuing.
Please indicate your intention to visit the wetland and the meandering Forest Burn, just
cave in the visitors’ book in the hut. Take a The track then descends to a shelter close to
Forest Burn saddle. Watch out for the cheeky kea, above its outlet into Balloon Loop, an old part of
minimum of two light sources per person. the Upper Waiau River. It then follows the Waiau
our alpine parrot.
River terrace to the swing bridge at Rainbow
Beware of wind gusts when crossing Reach. Walkers can catch a shuttle bus service to
the saddle. Te Anau from here.
The track sidles, climbs and follows a ridge system
for about 2 hours to Hanging Valley Shelter. It then Rainbow Reach to Kepler Track
follows a long, open ridge toward the Iris Burn car park
and descends through a series of zigzags into a 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min, 9.5 km
hanging valley. The track winds its way through The track up river from Rainbow Reach is well
beautiful forest, with good views of a large worth walking for the variety of forest and river
natural landslide. Iris Burn Hut (497 m) is in a views. This section provides good opportunities
large tussock clearing. You can go for a dip at for trout fishing and leads back to the Kepler Track
Photo: Stokedforsaturday.com
Iris Burn Waterfall. car park.

Hanging

Elevation profile Valley

Emergency
Shelter
hut campsite
shelter
and toilet
car
park
Forest Burn
Emergency
Shelter
Luxmore Hut
1500 54 bunks 5000
Iris Burn Hut
Brod Bay and Campsite
Shelter and 50 bunks 4000
Altitude (metres)

Campsite 30 campers
Altitude (feet)

1000 30 campers
3000
Kepler Track Rocky Point Rainbow Reach Kepler Track
Shelter and Shelter Moturau Hut Shelter and Shelter and 2000
500 car park 40 bunks car park car park

1000

0
1 hr 30 min /  3 hr 30 min –  5 – 6 hr / 14.6 km 5 – 6 hr / 16.2 km 1 hr 30 min  2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min /
5.6 km 4 hr 30 min / 8.2 km – 2 hr / 6 km  9.5 km
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4
 Track geology
The foundations of the Kepler
Mountains are metamorphic and
plutonic rocks, formed deep in the
earth’s crust. Resting on this basement
material are younger sediments like
limestone, which formed when the area
subsided below sea level before being
raised again. Impressive limestone bluffs
can be seen on the Kepler Track just
below the bushline on Mount Luxmore.
Glacial deposits dating from the last Ice
Age cover the lowlands around lakes
Te Anau and Manapouri.
Glaciers scoured the Fiordland
landscape for tens of thousands of
years, carving the fiords, lakes and deep
U-shaped valleys so typical of the area.

Hanging Valley Shelter. Photo: DOC

Staying safe on the Kepler Track Strong winds

Strong winds, which can blow walkers off their feet, can occur in the
STAY ON THE MARKED TRACKS section of track between Luxmore Hut and the descent to the Iris
The track is well marked but if you become lost you should stop, find Burn valley.
shelter and stay calm. Put on extra clothing to keep warm and assist Avalanches
rescuers should you hear them searching for you. The Kepler Track contains complex avalanche terrain and the risk of
Cellphone coverage on the track cannot be guaranteed. avalanche can extend into December. Whenever snow rests on the
slope there is an avalanche risk. There are 9 avalanche paths, some
BE PREPARED FOR ALL CONDITIONS of which may bring avalanche debris to the valley floor and have the
Fiordland National Park experiences very high rainfall and changeable potential to cross the Kepler Track – their start zones cannot be seen
weather. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can from the track. During the Great Walks season DOC manages this risk
occur at any time of the year. The alpine section of the Kepler is prone to a low level and may close the alpine section of the track between
to very high winds and up to 3 m of rain per year. You must be well Luxmore Hut and Iris Burn Hut if avalanche conditions exist.
equipped and prepared for all weather conditions.
Hypothermia (too cold)
During cold, wet and windy conditions, hypothermia (a drop in core
body temperature) can become a serious problem. From initial stages Tracks are sometimes closed for safety reasons
to unconsciousness can take as little as 30 minutes. Sometimes Great Walks tracks need to be closed for
h Prevention: wear warm and weatherproof gear. Eat and drink safety reasons (e.g. avalanche danger, flooding or high winds).
regularly during your walk. If walkers are not able to proceed, options are available.
You may be eligible for a refund, spend an extra night at a hut,
h Watch for symptoms: people may shiver, be clumsy, confused, have
change direction on the track or be transferred by helicopter
slurred speech, and deny they have a problem.
across hazard areas. DOC staff will keep you informed of all issues
h Treatment: immediately make or find shelter; get the person into and options. Please refer to the ‘terms and conditions’ for any extra
warm, dry clothing, put them into a sleeping bag, give them warm, transport and accommodation costs this may involve. Hut rangers
sweet drinks, monitor them and seek immediate medical help. are stationed at each hut along the track during the
Heat exhaustion Great Walks season and have radio contact in case of emergency.
This can be serious and is usually caused by physical activity in a hot
environment and not drinking enough water.
h Prevention: carry and drink water regularly throughout your walk.
h Watch for symptoms: headaches, thirst, weakness, dizziness, YOU can help to stop the spread of didymo in the Iris Burn
nausea or vomiting. Didymo (sometimes called rock snot) is an invasive alga that
h Treatment: move to a cool shaded area to rest, remove excess chokes our waterways. It is present in Lakes Te Anau, Manapouri
clothing and give water to drink. and the lower Iris Burn. It only takes ONE drop of contaminated
water on your shoes or equipment to transfer it into a new area.
River safety and track flooding If you have had any contact with lake water –
During and after rain, flooding can occur in the Iris Burn valley. Stream Check your shoes for obvious pieces, Clean
and river levels will rise and become dangerous. Water levels will drop anything which has been in contact with the water
once the rain stops. If caught between streams in flood, do not attempt or ensure it has been thoroughly Dry for 48 hours
to cross. Seek higher ground and wait for water levels to drop. before walking the track. For more information,
visit www.doc.govt.nz/didymo.