Image: Nicola Ponsonby | Creative Commons
Bridge at Rainbow Reach
Kepler Track: Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay or Moturau Hut

Located in Fiordland National Park and Lake Manapouri area and Lake Te Anau area in the Fiordland region

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.

From the Rainbow Reach carpark, cross the swing bridge and follow the track to the Control Gates for 200 m before turning left towards a short steep ascent. After that the track is gently undulating and wanders through mountain beech forest with some great river views. Some scenes in the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed near this part of the river.

Further along, cross a kettle bog then continue to the shores of Lake Manapouri.

The Moturau and Shallow Bay Huts are near the lake shore.

The track begins from Rainbow Reach, about 12 km south from Te Anau.

Private transport: Follow the Manapouri - Te Anau Highway for about 10.6 km, then turn right at the signposted road to the Rainbow Reach carpark.

Transport providers: There are shuttles service to the car park.

Amoeboid Mire

Worth visiting just for its name, this multi-lobed mire (bog) is a easily accessed from this section of the Kepler Track (45–60 min from the car park). A 200 m boardwalk has information panels and a lookout over the tarn and mire.

Located on a terrace that formed as the Manapouri glacier melted, the vegetation is dominated by sphagnum moss, other mosses and wire rush with a range of herbs, shrubs and other plants.

A feature is the large tarn in the central part of the mire system. The wetter south-east portion along the Kepler Track is dominated by sedges. Plants of interest are the yellow-silver pine and pygmy pine - both uncommon at low altitudes.