11 October 2026
Scattered showers, becoming confined south of Doubtful Sound in the afternoon.
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1 / 10Fiordland National Park
Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
To sample the Kepler Track (a Great Walk) or for an easy overnight tramp for kids, follow this track through beech forest to Moturau Hut and Shallow Bay on Lake Manapouri.
Distance
12 km
Walking time
3 - 3 hr 30 min return
Difficulty
Intermediate
Dogs
Not allowed
Wheelchair access
Not marked friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
Iris Burn Hut is closed until 27 October
Weather outlook
Fiordland National Park forecast
Issued 10 Oct 2026, 9:23 pm
12 October 2026
Partly cloudy, with one or two morning showers south of Secretary Island.
13 October 2026
Heavy rain developing, with snow to 2400 metres.
14 October 2026
Rain, with snow to 1900 metres, turning to showers.
15 October 2026
Showers, with snow to 800 metres, easing.
Regional guidance only; elevation and terrain can produce different conditions.
Explore the area
Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
Cross the swing bridge at Rainbow Reach and then take the turn off after 200m marked to Moturau Hut. The track starts with a climb for about 5 minutes to get up on the terraces above the Waiau River. From here the track is mostly flat all the way to Lake Manapouri with some views looking over the Waiau River. There was some Lord of the Rings filming on the river around the Balloon Loop area. Further on from here there are some nice views of a kettle lake and lookout over these wetlands which was formed as a chunk of the glacier was left here as it retreated during the last ice age creating this depression and lake. As the track gets closer to Lake Manapouri there is a junction that turns off to Shallow Bay Hut or continue straight ahead to Moturau Hut. Both huts have fantastic views looking out over Lake Manapouri.
Essential information for Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
There are long drop toilets at the Rainbow Reach Carpark as well as a water tank. No dogs allowed Use caution and pay attention to signage from storm damaged sections
Huts and campsites
Moturau Hut is a Great Walk Hut with 40 bunks and will need to be booked during the Great Walk season. This hut has gas for cooking, a fireplace and flush toilets during the Great Walk season. Shallow Bay Hut is a standard 6 bunk hut with a fireplace and longdrop toilet.
Getting there for Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
Rainbow Reach is about 12km from Te Anau on the road towards Manapouri, take the signposted turnoff to Rainbow Reach and follow the gravel road for about one kilometre to the carpark. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there. There are daily shuttles to Rainbow Reach with Tracknet during the Great Walk season.
Helpful resources
We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation River Safety Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .
Dog access for Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
No dogs.
Before you walk Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut
Track information, access and weather can change. Confirm current alerts and land-manager information close to departure, tell someone your plans, and carry equipment appropriate for the route and conditions.