The circular Kepler Track Great Walk (60km, 3–4 days) is the closest major track to Te Anau. It is an increasingly popular track and around 8500 people walk it every year.
The track combines breathtaking views of Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau with an exposed alpine crossing.
Kepler Track carpark to Luxmore Hut (13.5km, 6 hours)
The first 1½-hour is an easy walk to Brod Bay alongside Lake Te Anau. After passing Brod Bay, the track climbs for three hours to reach the tree line and continues up to Luxmore Hut.
Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut (14.6km, 5–6 hours)
The most exposed and weather-beaten section of the track crosses mountain ridges before descending back below the tree line to Iris Burn Hut.
Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut (16.2km, 5–6 hours)
This section of the track passes beech forest as it follows Iris Burn to reach Moturau Hut on the shore of Lake Manapouri.
Moturau Hut to Kepler Track carpark (15.5km, 4–5 hours)
The last day is an easy flat walk past wetlands to the car park at Rainbow Reach and onwards to the finish point at the Kepler Track carpark on Lake Te Anau. During summer you can finish the walk 9.5km early by picking up the shuttle bus to Te Anau at the Rainbow Reach carpark.