Kepler Track Huts and Campsites: Which Nights to Book

Where you sleep, in order

Most walkers take 4 days and 3 nights. Walked from the Kepler Track car park, DOC's stages run like this. Camping, or staying the night in the Forest Burn and Hanging Valley shelters, is not allowed.

The huts have bunks, mattresses, heating, flush toilets, basic cooking facilities and cold running water, with a DOC ranger in residence in the season. They have no food, cooking utensils or showers. Campers cannot use the hut facilities.

• Car park to Brod Bay Campsite: 5.6 km (3.5 mi), 1 hr 30 min
• Brod Bay to Luxmore Hut: 8.2 km (5.1 mi), 3 hr 30 min to 4 hr 30 min
• Luxmore Hut to Iris Burn Hut and Campsite: 14.6 km (9.1 mi), 5 to 6 hr, over the alpine section
• Iris Burn Hut to Moturau Hut: 16.2 km (10.1 mi), 5 to 6 hr
• Moturau Hut to Rainbow Reach: 6 km (3.7 mi), then 9.5 km (5.9 mi) on to the car park

Which nights need a booking

From 27 October 2026 to 30 April 2027, every hut and campsite night needs a booking. Without one you can be charged a penalty, or turned away if the hut or campsite is full.

From 1 May to 26 October, only Luxmore Hut is booked, at NZ$35 a night for any adult. Iris Burn Hut, Moturau Hut and both campsites are first come, first served then, paid with Backcountry Hut Tickets or a pass (NZ$30 a hut night, NZ$10 a campsite night). DOC does not run the track as a Great Walk in that period: the alpine section is often under snow and you need avalanche gear and skills.

Getting a bed

DOC's March 2026 release says Kepler Track huts were about 91% full last summer, and that across the Great Walks there was still good availability at many campsites. If the huts are gone, Brod Bay and Iris Burn campsites are worth a look.

In 2026 Great Walk bookings opened at 9:30 am NZ time on DOC's booking service, bookings.doc.govt.nz, with a virtual queue. DOC's 2026 tips: make an account and test your login before the day, and be online by about 9:15 am. Our guide on how to book a Great Walk covers the rest of the system.

DOC has not announced the 2027/28 opening day. Going by past seasons, booking for the Kepler Track usually opens around 6 May to 6 June. Last year's opening, for stays from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, was Tuesday 19 May 2026 at 9:30 am NZ time.

The Kepler Challenge race runs on the first Saturday in December, and DOC suggests picking a different date if you want a quiet track.

Changing or cancelling

Date changes stay inside the 1 July to 30 June booking season, and DOC does not move a booking to a different hut or campsite. Cancelling costs nothing on the day you book or the day after (if your first night is more than 2 days away). After that DOC keeps 10% of a Great Walk booking from 15 or more days out, 50% from 14 to 4 days out, 75% from 3 days out, and all of it on the day you arrive.

DOC may close the alpine section between Luxmore and Iris Burn huts for avalanche risk, which can last into December.

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