Travel in an Ellipse on the Kepler Track New Zealand!

Looking for a great place to hike in the vicinity of Te Anau? Kepler Track New Zealand is one of the best tramping paths in NZ. It’s named after 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler - and with good reason, too. Kepler discovered that planets travel in elliptical orbits. You, too, will travel on an elliptical path, from Te Anau and back, if you hike the entire 60 kilometers (37 miles) of the Kepler Track.

The Kepler Track is one of the best-outfitted and most diligently maintained walking paths on New Zealand’s South Island. The New Zealand Department of Conservation takes diligent care of the track; there are boardwalks to enable hikers to cross boggy areas without a problem, and virtually all the streams have bridges over them. Hiking the entirety of Kepler Track New Zealand takes about three to four days, though some daring adventurers seek to complete it much faster.

Every year, distance runners from all over the world participate in the Kepler Challenge, where they attempt to run the entire Kepler Track circuit in under five hours. Such a feat requires endurance and willpower, but the rewards are great. You’ll run through some of New Zealand’s best scenery in Fiordland National Park. The race will take you atop the ridges of the Kepler Mountains, along the shores of Lake Te Anau, and through the sandy terrain of Brod Bay.

Camping huts are available at a variety of locations throughout Kepler Track New Zealand. The Brod Bay campground is just 1.5 hours from the start of the track. Here, a shuttle boat service is able to take you to and from the track at your convenience. About four hours later, you can stop at the Luxmore Hut atop the scenic Mt. Luxmore, where visitors can saunter through a nearby mysterious cave. Travelers will reach the next stop at Iris Burn Hut in about 5 to 6 hours.

After going through magnificent gorges and river flats, the Kepler Track takes tourists to the beautiful Lake Manapouri, renowned for fantastic panoramic views to be gained there. Here, you can rest at the Moturau Hut and then move on to the delightful Rainbow Reach Swing Bridge. About three hours later, you’ll reach the track’s control gates at Lake Te Anau.

The Kepler Track offers one of the most rejuvenating, inspiring, and fascinating New Zealand vacation adventures on the southern New Zealand island. For other hiking and tramping opportunities, consider exploring the nearby Milford, Routeburn, Heaphy, and Hollyford tracks - New Zealand’s top-notch walking paths for those who love a challenge and great scenery!

For great accommodations nearby, try Rosie’s Backpackers Homestay BBH Lake Te Anau New Zealand.