Kepler Track Great Walk
Kepler Track Guided Day Heli Hike
Expansive Fiordland scenery
This is the challenging guided day walk, with a bit of everything to sample the best of a New Zealand Great Walk from Te Anau!
We begin your Kepler Track guided heli hike with a spectacular flight by helicopter from Te Anau, over the hidden lakes and beech forest of Mount Luxmore to arrive at Luxmore Hut. Landing in the alpine area, we explore the expansive alpine tussock fields, a botanists' delight with all the unique plant life! Panoramic views of the surrounding mountains, lake and National Park make an incredible backdrop for your Kepler experience.
- 4-6 hrs
- 8-16km
- 800-1200m (Descent)
- Moderate-high
- 7.5hr trip
- NZ$655
Fly to Luxmore Hut by helicopter
Start your experience with a short, but spectacular helicopter ride over Lake Te Anau, native beech forest and the hidden lakes to arrive at Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track Great Walk.
With your knowledgeable, local Trips & Tramps nature guide, learn about the fauna and flora in the surrounding alpine tussock fields, and enjoy the panoramic views of the Te Anau basin, scenic lakes and surrounding Fiordland Mountains.
From alpine area to magnificent forest
Descending through magnificent mountain and silver beech forest the effects of different altitude and weather conditions experienced in Fiordland are clear to see, as the trees and undergrowth quickly change, creating a varied backdrop for your hike. Half way is marked as we pass under magnificent, towering limestone bluffs allowing the guide to share the geology of Fiordland along with dramatic visual examples. The approach to Lake Te Anau is evident by the track meandering through native New Zealand ferns and other sub-tropical species.
Along the way your Trips & Tramps guide will share local conservation efforts on the Kepler Track (in which they take an active part in maintaining), and demonstrate a stoat trap, a tool used in controlling these introduced predators which can decimate our native bird population.
Finish on the sandy shore of Lake Te Anau
The guided walk is finished at the sandy beach of Brod Bay, the pick up point for the boat cruise back to Te Anau township. The boat ride offers an enjoyable way to complete this very beautiful guided walk on the Kepler Track, offering great viewing of the path you took, from alpine area to the clear water of Lake Te Anau.
NOTE
It is not necessary to go much higher than the hut to be rewarded with incredible views! From Luxmore Hut it is a minimum of 8km down hill walk, descending 800 metres with an estimated walking time 2-3 hours. The track is well maintained and mostly 1 metre wide, with no drop offs, but it does require a medium-high level of fitness due to the sustained descent. It is an option for guests to walk all the way to the summit, if conditions allow. This will provide a total walking distance of 16 km, of which 12 km is downhill. For most people over the age of 45 years, this puts a lot of stress on joints, especially knees, and it is not recommened.
Great views, exhilarating
This was an outstanding day. Thanks, Madeleine for your friendly guiding and patience with our slower pace! The heli ride up to Luxmore was great, and we were surprised with snow on the track. What an adventure!
Great views, exhilarating. We feel blessed.
What a day!
What a day! If you have time for only one this is the ONE! The guides are superb in trying to make each guest comfortable despite varying skill levels.
Great views, exhilarating
This was an outstanding day. Thanks, Madeleine for your friendly guiding and patience with our slower pace! The heli ride up to Luxmore was great, and we were surprised with snow on the track. What an adventure!
Great views, exhilarating. We feel blessed.
Thank you for our wonderful holiday.
"Thank you for our wonderful holiday. June and I LOVED the helicopter ride today and the walk down the Kepler was wonderful."
- Brod Bay
- Kepler Track Helicopter
- Lake Te Anau
- Limestone Bluffs
- Luxmore Hut, Kepler Track
- Mt Luxmore
- Te Anau
- Fiordland Helicopter Base
- Hidden Lakes
Difficulty
Medium - high level of fitness required, minimum 800 m descent, 8 km walk (from Luxmore Hut), walking time 3-6 hours. We will also explore above the hut in the alpine area, but no longer offer the summit of Mt Luxmore due to the effect it can have on guests walking downhill later.
The majority of this walk is downhill, so your joints (especially knees), will get a good work out! Do not underestimate the downhill, it is a long way. Generally anyone over 45 years will find this walk plesantly challenging and rewarding without the hike to the summit, and there are plenty of stunning views without going too far above the hut.
Please adhere to the guides' advice on the day, to ensure the best possible experience, they have knowledge of the weather and trail conditions.
On occasion, alpine weather may make conditions more challenging. We operate in most weather conditions, so you need to be suitably prepared. Not recommended for children under 8 years.
The track generally is well maintained with no drop offs.
Minimum number is 2 people for this guided walk to go ahead. If you are a single person please contact us for availability.
Schedule
9.30 am Te Anau accommodation pick up
10.00 am Fly to Luxmore Hut by Helicopter
10.15 am Arrive Luxmore Hut, Kepler Track
Walk on the Kepler Track.
4.30 pm Arrive Brod Bay, Lake Te Anau
4.50 pm Arrive Te Anau accommodation
Meals
Add a picnic lunch to take with you (additional charge). If you have any dietary requirements for the lunch please advise prior to the day so we can cater for these.
Alternatively bring your own lunch, note thee are no places to purchase food once we have left Te Anau.
What to bring
We recommend guests bring comfortable walking shoes (with good tread, boots with ankle support are best), day pack containing warm sweater/fleece top, waterproof jacket, warm hat and gloves (it is often cold in the alpine area), sunhat and glasses, camera, drinking water and lunch (if not pre-ordered). Note Jeans and street wear are not suitable clothing, please ensure you wear suitable outdoor, quick drying, active wear for the walks. Walking poles available if requested.
We provide
Pick up from your accommodation, helicopter flight to Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track, fully guided walk with local knowledgeable guide, plus safety gear, hot drinks, water taxi transfer from Brod Bay and transfer back to your accommodation.
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