Track description

Track guide day by day

Track times are approximate only and will vary according to fitness, pace of the group, weather and direction of travel.

Most walkers spend the first night at Luxmore Hut as they are in the best place to assess the weather for the next day’s walk across the exposed alpine section of the track and also have the first day’s hard climb behind them.

Te Anau to Control Gates

Time: 45 min

Follow the path from the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre to the Te Anau Wildlife Centre and to the track at the far end through the willow trees. The track then follows the shores of Lake Te Anau to the Control Gates.

Control Gates to Brod Bay

Time: 1 hr 30 min
Distance: 5.6 km

The track follows the lakeshore through mountain and red beech, with kamahi and some scattered rimu and miro. After passing an attractive grove of hard tree ferns and crown fern, Dock Bay is reached. Continue across the Coal Creek bridge and follow the lakeshore to Brod Bay. Brod Bay is a delightful place to swim and to camp if you have had a late start. Drinking water is available from the lake.

Brod Bay to Luxmore Hut

Time: 3 hr 30 min - 4 hr 30 min
Distance: 8.2 km

Luxmore hut

The track to the bushline starts about halfway along the beach and climbs steadily for about two hours to limestone bluffs; an ideal lunch stop. After another hour’s climb the bushline is reached, providing panoramic views of the Te Anau Basin, Takitimu Mountains, and the Snowdon and Earl Mountains.

The Luxmore Hut is about a 45 minute walk from the bushline. This part of the track is marked by orange-topped snow poles which are helpful in poor weather conditions.

At Luxmore Hut there is an option of a trip to the nearby Luxmore Cave. Please indicate your intentions in the book provided in the hut when visiting the Cave. Each person must take a minimum of two light sources.

Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut

Time: 5 - 6 hr
Distance: 14.6 km

In heavy rain, strong winds or wintery weather, wait at the hut until the weather improves. From Luxmore Hut the track climbs gradually to a ridge just below the summit of Mount Luxmore (1472 metres).

A 10 minute side trip to the summit of Mount Luxmore provides excellent views. The track then descends to a shelter close to the Forest Burn Saddle. Beware of wind gusts when crossing the saddle. The track sidles, climbs and then follows a ridge system for about two hours to the Hanging Valley Shelter.

It then follows a long, open ridge toward the Iris Burn and descends via a series of zigzags into a Hanging Valley. The track descends through forest, and provides a view of a large natural landslide. The Iris Burn Hut (497 metres) is sited in a large tussock clearing. For a pleasant evening stroll head up the valley for 20 minutes to Iris Burn Waterfall.

Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut

Time: 5 - 6 hr
Distance: 16.2 km

A steady day’s tramp down through beech forest, riverside clearings and a gorge. The track climbs over a low saddle and wanders through mixed forest to the large slip formed during heavy rain in January 1984. About two and a half hours from the Iris Burn Hut the track reaches Rocky Point, a work camp for track maintenance and a good place for a lunch stop.

Below Rocky Point the track sidles through a gorge to come out on river flats near the mouth of the Iris Burn. Nearing Lake Manapouri the track turns left through lowland beech and podocarp forest. It follows the lakeshore around Shallow Bay to Moturau Hut, situated beside a beautiful beach with panoramic views of Lake Manapouri.

Moturau Hut to Rainbow Reach

Time: 1 hr 30 min - 2 hr
Distance: 6 km

The last day is a gentle stroll through beech forest to Rainbow Reach. The track crosses a wetland and then the meandering Forest Burn just above its outlet into Balloon Loop, an old part of the Upper Waiau River.

It then follows the Waiau River terrace to the swingbridge at Rainbow Reach. Trampers can catch a shuttle bus service from Rainbow Reach to Te Anau over the summer. Reservations are essential in winter.

Rainbow Reach to Control Gates

Time: 2 hr 30 min – 3 hr 30 min
Distance: 9.5 km

The track up river from Rainbow Reach is well worth walking for the variety of forest and river views. This section provides good opportunities for trout fishing.

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