Forest Burn Shelter (day shelter)
- Other
Small day shelter on the alpine ridge about 5 km past Luxmore Hut. Camping or staying the night is not allowed; use it only to rest or in bad weather.
Kepler Track · Stage 2 of 4
Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut
Stage 2 of the Kepler Track covers 14.1 km from Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut, with 748 m of ascent and 1,324 m of descent. The highest point is 1,402 m. Allow about 5.5 hours of walking, plus breaks.
14.1 kmdistance
748 mascent
1,324 mdescent
~5.5 hwalking time
harddifficulty
1,402 mhighest point
≈ 2.75 L
≈ 1,780 kcal
Distance, climb and elevation come from the Outest route data. Difficulty and time are estimates from distance and climb; your pace will vary with heat, pack weight and photo stops.
Where to sleep and eat on this stage
Forest Burn
Hanging Valley
Hanging Valley Emergency Shelter
- Other
Emergency shelter on the tops before the steep descent to the Iris Burn, about 9 km past Luxmore Hut. Camping or staying the night is not allowed except in a real emergency.
Iris Burn
Iris Burn Campsite (DOC)
- Camping
Great Walk campsite with 15 tent sites next to Iris Burn Hut, with a cooking shelter, toilets and tap water; campers cannot use the hut. Kea often damage tents and packs here. Book in the Great Walks season ($28 NZ adult / $42 international).
Iris Burn Hut (DOC Great Walk hut)
- Rooms
Great Walk hut with 50 bunks in a tussock clearing in the Iris Burn valley, with heating, gas cookers, flush toilets, cold water and a ranger in season; Iris Burn Falls is a 20-minute walk away. Book for the Great Walks season ($88 NZ adult / $132 international); first come, first served in winter.
Checked online in October 2026. Places marked "not confirmed by the operator" are listed on OpenStreetMap or in guides but could not be checked on an official page. In the Great Walks season (27 October 2026 – 30 April 2027) every hut and campsite night must be booked in advance with DOC; without a booking you can be fined or turned away. Outside the season only Luxmore Hut needs a booking.
Help and services on this stage
Emergency: call 111 (112 from a mobile). Carry a PLB. Emergency & health guide
Nearest hospital
- Southland Hospital – Emergency Department · Invercargill · 24/7 emergency
+6432181949 · Map - Lakes District Hospital – Emergency Department · Queenstown · 24/7 emergency
+6434410015 · Map
Health centres
- Fiordland Medical Practice · Te Anau · opening hours only
+6432497007 · Map
Pharmacies, ATMs, shops and stops: © OpenStreetMap contributors. Hospitals and health centres checked online.
Walk Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut with Outest
The full stage works offline in Outest, with the route, elevation, water and village points, and a trail guide you can ask about conditions and the next place to sleep.