Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Distance
60km (37 miles)
Track Standard
Great Walk
Difficulty
Moderate
Start/End
Lake Te Anau control gates
Nearest Town
Te Anau (
Click here
)
Transport
Shuttle bus, boat
Summary
Built in 1988 to reduce the pressure on the Milford and Routeburn Tracks, this
tramp rivals both in terms of alpine scenery.
The Kepler Track was first conceived in 1986 and opened in 1988, during NZ's centennial
celebration of its national park system. The Kepler is one of the best-planned tracks in NZ: a
loop beginning and ending near the control gates where the Waiau River empties into the
southern end of Lake Te Anau. DOC staff can actually show you the start of this Great Walk
from a window inside the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre.
Like the Routeburn, the Kepler is an alpine crossing and includes an all-day tramp across
the tops taking in incredible panoramas of Lake Te Anau, its South Fiord arm, the Jackson
Peaks and the Kepler Mountains. Along the way it traverses rocky ridges, tussock lands and
peaceful beech forest. It's no wonder the Kepler has become one of the most popular tracks
in NZ.
The route can be covered in four days, spending a night at each of three huts. It is also
possible to reduce the tramp to three days by continuing past Moturau Hut and leaving the
track at Rainbow Reach swing bridge. However, spending a night at Moturau Hut on the
shore of Lake Manapouri is an ideal way to end this tramp. The track can be walked in
either direction, although the most popular is the anticlockwise option described here.
