11 October 2026
Scattered showers, becoming confined south of Doubtful Sound in the afternoon.
Loading outdoor place details…
KiwiTools
Search KiwiToolsFind tools, guides and categories in one place.
Loading photo
1 / 1Fiordland National Park
Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk
This is an easy walking track along Te Anau lake edge to the start of the Kepler Track, with picnic, swimming and photo spots.
Distance
3.5 km
Walking time
50 min
Difficulty
Easy
Dogs
Allowed — check local rules
Wheelchair access
Friendly
Current status
Alerts and track conditions
No active alerts found. Conditions can still change, so check again before leaving.
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
Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk on the map
See the full route on the map
Explore the track route and surrounding area before you set out.
About Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk
Follow the track around the lake past the Marakura Yacht Club and Jetty to the Bird Sanctuary. If you have time it’s nice to have a look at the native birds here. From here continue on past Tui Bay, this is a great picnic area on the lakefront. Head past the golf course with some fantastic views of the mountains and lake. The Kepler Track carpark is further round from here with toilets and a shelter. This is the start and finish for the 60km Kepler Track, a 3-4 day Great Walk that is a loop track. Just past the carpark on the track are the control gates, from which you'll have great views of the lake and river outlet. From the other side of these are options to walk along the Kepler Track either towards Brod Bay or Rainbow Reach.
Essential information for Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk
There are toilets at the DOC Visitor Centre that are open when the Centre is open and there is a long drop toilet at the bird park. There are toilets at the Kepler Track carpark as well as water tanks There is a spring water tap at the bird park in the carpark Dogs are allowed up until the Control Gates and on the Lake2Lake Trail between Manapouri an Te Anau. They are not allowed within Fiordland National Park. Suitable for bikes, wheelchairs and buggies
Getting there for Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk
This walk starts from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre on Lakefront Drive in Te Anau. Use this location in Google Maps to find your way there. There is plenty of carparking here opposite the Lakeview Holiday Park or at the Kepler Track Carpark at the Control Gates. There are daily buses from the Control Gates back to Te Anau over the Great Walks season if you are wanting to do this walk one way. Check at the Visitor Centre for scheduled times.
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 .
Before you walk Visitor Centre to Kepler Track Carpark Walk
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.