Te Anau Day Hikes: Kepler Track Itinerary

Kepler track is one of many walking tracks and hikes in Te Anau. It’s a perfect day walk as well as a multi day hike. The 60km circuit walking track in Te Anau takes you through dense bush and incredible landscape in New Zealands’ south island. Take a couple of hours walking from Rainbow Reach to Moturau Hut, or spend a few days walking the full circuit. Kepler track is popular among tourists and locals it’s easy to get lost in the plethora of beauty.

Best Time to Visit Te Anau

To begin your Kepler Track itinerary you must first find out when the best time to visit Te Anau is:

• Summer (Dec–Feb): Best for warm weather, long days, and hiking. Peak season so will be more expensive and more crowds.
• Autumn (Mar–May): Generally warm and considered one of the most stable times for weather. It offers lower prices and, in March, excellent hiking conditions.
• Winter (Jun–Aug): Cold, wet, and quiet, but offers dramatic scenery, fewer crowds, and skiing opportunities nearby.
• Spring (Sep–Nov): Lush landscapes and blooming, with peak waterfall activity, the weather can be windy and changeable.

Te Anau Accommodation

You will be able to find plenty of accommodation options in Te Anau through online booking sites like Booking.com, AirBnb and Wotif, these are pretty reliable when it comes to finding places to stay. A night in Te Anau can cost you anywhere between $200 to $400NZD a night depending if you want waterfront views along the river or don’t mind being further into the township or a little further out.

Planning Your Kepler Track Day Hike

If you are planning on doing the full 3 day hike there are plenty of amazing places to see along the way; Luxmore caves and Iris Burn falls just to name a few. The general view of the walk is nothing to take for granted either. However weather can change swiftly and you need to be prepared for the worse case scenario. Packet noodles just won’t cut it. Some DOC cabins need to be booked well in advance otherwise you might find yourself walking back down to the car park to sleep for the night.

The DOC Conservation website has all the information you need regarding weather changes and sudden events in any of their areas. They keep up to date with any weather warnings or slips that may have recently occurred.

Kepler Track Tips

Most of these Kepler Track tips are only relevant if you’re hiking the track overnight or completing the full 60km loop. Otherwise common sense should prevail when it comes to exploring native bush in New Zealand (like sticking to the designated tracks and not littering). For more Kepler Track tips check out the Department of Conservation website.

• Weather conditions can change rapidly in any season, bring suitable clothing for all conditions.
• Be aware of avalanche risks; DOC may close the alpine section if there is an avalanche hazard.
• Stick to the path at all times.
• Kea are present; native alpine parrots who love to tear rubber seals off cars so be aware of your gear so nothing gets lost or broken.

Kepler Track Packing List

A Kepler Track packing list is only crucial if you’re hiking for several hours or plan on doing the full 60km loop. If you’re exploring the bush for little over an hour then all I suggest you need is a warm layer, lunch and plenty of water. The following list has been taken from the Department of Conservation website; so listen to the experts in outdoor, remote, recreational activities!

• First aid kit
• Sunblock
• Waterproof jacket
• Sunhat and glasses
• Sleeping bag – 3–4 season
• Survival kit including survival blanket, whistle, paper, pencil, high energy snack food
• Safety equipment relevant to the track and time of year, for example, map, compass
• Torch/flashlight and spare batteries
• Rubbish bag
• Booking confirmation and ID
• An emergency shelter, for if you are trapped by flooded rivers or bad weather
• A distress beacon

For a more detailed Kepler track packing list, check out the Department of Conservation website.

Fiordland National Park

Fiordland National Park, established in 1952 is a place of incredible natural beauty, seemingly untouched by human destruction. Encompassing Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound, this area of New Zealands south island is one that shouldn’t be missed.

Fiordland National Park hikes are well worth the trip to the bottom of the south island; the glacier-carved fiords, surging waterfalls, thick forests and prospect of seeing wild moose are what brings hikers from around the world to Fiordland every year.

About Kepler Track

Situated 12 kilometers south of Te Anau, Kepler track is the perfect day trip for anyone wanting to experience a bit of South Island nature. The full track takes about 3 to 4 days to fully complete while staying at Department of Conservation cabins and campsites along the way.

Popular for its ‘Kepler Challenge’, Kepler track hosts a full circuit run every year where fitness enthusiasts take on the full circuit in an attempt to run it as fast as possible. The current record holder completed the track in less than 5 hours.

The track itself is mesmerizing with its natural beauty and dense forest, the trees create a canopy above sheltering you from the harsh midday sun, while the forest floor is covered in a thick green moss soft enough to lay on.

My husband and I didn’t do the whole trek, obviously it’s not something you do wearing a pair of Kmart shorts and carrying less than a litre of water each. Going only as far as Moturau hut we saw enough nature to be sneezing pollen. The walk to Moturau hut is 6-km long so it should take about an hour and a half to complete one way. The path is reasonably flat and is clearly marked so is easy to follow.

Getting to Kepler Track

We began our Te Anau bush walk at Rainbow Reach which is a 12 kilometer drive from Te Anau, this takes around 15 minutes to get there via car. Click here for Google Map directions. If leaving from Te Anau; follow the Manapouri – Te Anau Highway for 10 kilometers and follow the directional sign for Rainbow Reach carpark. This walk begins at a swing bridge and leads you initially into a steep climb, but evens out once you get deeper into the bush.

There is plenty of parking for Kepler Track but be sure to keep personal belongings out of sight.

Walking to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut

Walking from the swing bridge and further into the forest; the Kepler track path is clearly marked out so it would be difficult to stray and get lost. The walk to Moturau hut takes around an hour and a half, or a 3 hour return walk back to the swing bridge. Kepler track takes you not far from the edge of the cliff face following the river that feeds straight into Lake Manapouri. Getting views of the river isn’t a hard task however be careful of the cliff edge, a lot of the ground is mainly held up by dirt and tree roots so watch your footing.

Along the way you get to see a snippet of the beautiful untouched nature of New Zealand. A section of Lake Manapouri called Shallow Bay, which is halfway along the track, is a haven for any water based birds. You will hear the geese and ducks squabbling well before you will see it. Geese are popular on this lake and it’s not uncommon to hear their squawks from a mile away. Shallow Bay is also another spot to stop and smell the flowers. With amazing views to neighbouring mountains towering over the lakeside makes for great photo opportunities.

I spent a lot of my time trying to capture the beauty of Fiordland National Park. This section of Kepler track being one of the most gorgeous forests I have walked through. The floor so densely covered in moss it was easy to forget that you wern’t walking a fairy tale. We were lucky that we visited in low season as there weren’t many people on the track. Being able to take in the serenity without being disturbed by others footsteps was fantastic.

Other Things to do in Te Anau

Te Anau is full of wonderful experiences but of course I haven’t indulged in them all. The following list of things to do in Te Anau are worth adding to your Te Anau itinerary. But be sure to do your own research as I am not lucky enough to share my own personal experiences!

Te Anau Summer Hikes

The following best hikes in Fiordland are worth considering if you’re planning a holiday in Te Anau. These tracks are extremely popular and booking is required for Milford or Routeburn Tracks if you wish to stay at the huts and complete the full hikes.

Where as Lake Gunn Nature Walk is a great Te Anau day hike if you’re wanting a scenic walk without the strenuous exercise.

• Milford Track (4 Days)
• Routeburn Track (2-3 Days)
• Lake Gunn Nature Walk (45 Mins)

Te Anau Winter Activities

These Te Anau winter activities are great any time of the year or if you have young children that need entertaining. Explore the beautiful glowworm caves or see some of our native wildlife up close at the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary. If the weather takes a turn for the worst you can always get cosy at the Fiordland Cinema.

• Te Anau Glowworm Caves
• Te Anau Bird Sanctuary
• Fiordland Cinema

Te Anau to Milford Sound

Te Anau is the gateway to the wonders of beautiful Milford Sound, the drive from Te Anau to Milford Sound is just short of 2 hours when you take in to account any stops you make for photos and waiting for entry into Homer Tunnel.

Milford Sound is one of the wettest places on earth, a fiord set near the bottom of the south island and is the only fiord accessible by road. But due to its remote location, Milford Sound is still seemingly unspoiled by humans and the dense forests, surging waterfalls and pristine waters can be enjoyed by everyone.

My post about Milford Sound will take you through what to expect with a Milford Sound cruise and the possibility of getting from Queenstown to Milford Sound and back in a day.