The Kepler Track, located in Fiordland National Park, is one of New Zealand's ten Great Walks, offering stunning views of mountains, forests, and lakes. This 60km loop track typically takes 3 to 4 days to complete and requires careful planning and preparation. Here’s your guide to making the most of this unforgettable experience, with gear suggestions from Intents Outdoors to ensure you're well-equipped.
Booking Your Adventure
- Bookings are essential, especially during the Great Walks season (late October to late April).
- Visit the Department of Conservation (DOC) website to secure your spot: DOC Great Walks Booking
- Bookings open in May for the following season and sell out quickly.
Preparing For The Track
- Fitness: The Kepler Track is suitable for those with moderate fitness. Prepare by walking with a weighted pack and training on varied terrain and make sure you wear in those new boots if you have some!
- Weather: Fiordland's weather is unpredictable. Pack for all conditions, including rain and cold.
- Safety: Inform someone of your plans and carry a personal locator beacon. Phones are becoming more capable off grid to communicate and for GPS purposes. We recommend downloading an App like New Zealand Topo Maps so you can use this if you go off track or in emergency for co-ordinates. It is useful to have a small power bank if you are relying on your phone. We recommend you still always carry a PLB.
Essential Gear List from Intents Outdoors
Backpack: A comfortable, well-fitted 50-60 litre backpack is crucial. Consider the Osprey pack range for ample space and support.
Tent: If you prefer camping, consider the Orson Hopper Pro which is a great two person tent that handles the Fiordland weather and if split between two people on 1kg each to carry. If you’re wanting to keep weight down then the Indie 2 is also a great option and only 1.4kg (as pictured)
Sleeping Bag: A 3-4 season sleeping bag is necessary for warmth. The Sea to Summit Range is a great option for the balance between lightweight and warmth ratio, the have men and Woman specific bags and different length to suit your height.
Hiking Boots: Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots are a must. This is a huge range and we recommend going in to a store and checking the fit before purchasing it will make or break your trip.
Clothing:
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- Base Layers: Merino wool or polypropylene for moisture-wicking.
- Mid-Layers: Fleece or down jacket for warmth.
- Outer Layers: Waterproof and windproof jacket and pants. For waterproofness Gore-Tex is one of better choices of fabric so look for this.
- Socks: Wool or synthetic hiking socks to prevent blisters, sometime two pairs of socks helps if you’re prone to blisters, one thin sock closest to skin and one thicker.
Cooking: Lightweight cooking utensils, a pot, and a stove. Most huts have some of these items but it pays not to rely on them. Having your own gives you the flexibility and the Sea To Summit cutlery range weighs very little and is compact and efficient.
Other Essentials
A headlamp with around 200 lumens is a good around the camp headlamp and is very efficient on battery life. The Astro or Rechargeable headlamp are great options
Telescopic Carbon Walking Poles like the Orson Pacer make walking a breeze and the added stability can make a huge difference on your leg muscles and joints over the length of the track. Only 175 grams and packs down to 64cm long, so they are a no brainer to take.
First-aid kit! Make sure you add in things like antihistamines or your own medication needs, customise the pack for you and your party. We also always carry Tenacious tape this fixes just about anything from waterproof jackets to tents
Sunscreen and insect repellent can be worth it's weight in gold.
A Fly/Tarp, although not on the usual list the light weight tarps offer emergency cover in a storm or make a rainy lunch time spot comfortable simply pitching with your hiking poles. Also, it can act as secondary cover around the hut.
Water bottles or a hydration pack and to be safe a filter system like a lifestraw
Rubbish bags (pack out everything you pack in). We recommend a 5L dry bag so the contents don’t spit in your bag.
On the Track
- The track is well-marked.
- Huts provide bunks, mattresses, and basic cooking facilities.
- Campsites offer basic facilities; bring all your camping gear.
Enjoy the Kepler
With the right preparation and gear, the Kepler Track promises an unforgettable adventure through some of New Zealand's most breathtaking landscapes. Intents Outdoors has everything you need to make your journey safe, comfortable, and truly remarkable. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team.