Not everyone has the time to do the entire Kepler Track, and visiting the Luxmore Hut overnight give you the opportunity to experience some of the best parts of the Kepler over two days. Climb up from the shores of Lake Te Anau and move up and over the enticing forest floors to reach your bunk for the night overlooking Lake Te Anau and the surrounding mountain ranges
Time to complete
2 Days
Accommodation style
Back-country hut, Camping
Track type
Loop Track
Distance
27-35km
Difficulty
Easy-Medium
Bookings required
All Huts and campsites (seasonal)
Spend the night at the Alpine Luxmore Hut
Explore the Luxmore Caves
Climb to the top of Mt Luxmore (1472m) for 360 degree views
Walk along part of the Kepler Track ridges
Some of the best forest tracks New Zealand has to offer
This walk is one of the three great walks located in Fiordland National park. This are of New Zealand is special due to the amount of rainfall received every year and subsequently the forests are lush and the water pristine. The Kepler track starts about 5km out of the small town Te Anau and makes it’s way up from the shores of Lake Te Anau - the largest freshwater lake in Australasia by water volume - up over a portion of the Kepler Mountain Ranges and then down alongside a river through increasingly impressive forests until it meets Lake Manapouri and then heads back to Te Anau. The Huts are well equipped, the scenery is exceptional and the tracks are to a very high standard making it one of our premier trails. It’s got a fantastic taste of most of what the South Island of New Zealand has to offer with a great set of side trips along the way. This guide is for just the first hut on the Kepler trail, because not everyone has the time for the full thing!
Read the full Kepler Track guide here
Track condition
-Excellent condition all around however expect to get wet feet if it’s raining
-The second day involves walking along exposed ridge-lines which are impassable during strong winds
Optionals
-The Luxmore caves are a short walk from Luxmore Hut and are explorable if there hasn’t been any heavy rainfall. Take your torch and you can go 100m in quite comfortably and further if desired.
-Climb up to the peak of Mt Luxmore on the morning of the second day
The trail starts and finishes at the Kepler Track Carpark which can be reached by a short and cheap shuttle trip from Te Anau town or walked to as it’s only about 5km away.
Trail start and finish location: Kepler Track Trailhead
-Huts:
Well equipped high quality great walk hut with Gas Provided, flushing toilets (great walk season only), comfortable bunk rooms
-Camping:
There is no camping at Luxmore Hut
-Booking:
Note that the hut needs to be pre-booked during the great walk season
-Back-country hut pass:
Cannot be used in the great walk season
All the alpine areas in New Zealand are extremely unpredictable. There can be snow storms in the middle of summer (I’ve experienced this first hand on the Kepler track) and the Alpine areas of this track are very exposed making hikers vulnerable to any inclement weather. Safety locator beacons aren’t required outside of winter as the trail is popular and well formed but we recommend you take one outside of great walk season.
Summer Alpine | Example packing list
Spring / Autumn Alpine | Example packing list
Being an alpine crossing, the ridge lines are not recommended for winter hiking unless adequate safety gear is carried (crampons, ice axe, etc) however getting to Luxmore Hut and back should prove relatively safe. Ask the nearest Department of Conservation Visitor Centre if crampons and an ice axe are recommended
Department of conservation website | Fiordland National Park Weather
13.8km | 4.5-6 hours
1-1.5hr | 5.6km
The track starts off with an easy stroll through the beach forest near the shore of Lake Te Anau. Brod Bay campsite and shelter is met and is a good spot for a quick rest before the climb to Luxmore Hut.
3-4.5hr | 8.2km
From here the track becomes increasingly steep, passing some limestone bluffs, then as higher elevations are met, the trees start to become shrouded in moss before finally emerging above the tree line. It’s a challenging climb but very rewarding. Once above the tree line the track flattens out and Luxmore Hut is soon reached.
Side trips:
-Visit the Luxmore limestone caves. They’re close to the hut and access is easy via some stairs that have been built to reach the entrance. The first 50-100m of the cave are easy to explore but be sure to take a good torch and a backup.
Luxmore Hut really is one of the most scenic in the country
13.8km | 5-6 hours
2-2.5hr return | Mt Luxmore (Optional)
Leave your main bags at the hut and set off on this side trip. Continuing over the tops, the track heads toward Iris Burn Hut. About 2/3 of the way to the Forest Burn Shelter there will be a turnoff to Mt Luxmore. It’s a short climb to the top where you will have 360 degree views of the area.
3hr | 8.2km | Kepler Track Carpark
Continue back down the way you came on the first day.
Day 2 is full of epic vistas like the one above
Mossy forest floors after getting above about 800m elevation
South Island Robin - Always curious
Cheeky Kea birds hanging out at Luxmore Hut
En-route to Mt Luxmore
En-route to Mt Luxmore
Instagram spot between Luxmore Hut and Iris Burn Hut
