Kepler Track Heli Hike: Scenic Helicopter Flight and Guided Alpine Hike
5.0
21 Ratings
Te Anau
Experience the breathtaking Kepler Track with a scenic helicopter flight to Luxmore Hut, followed by a guided alpine hike. Descend through native beech forest and enjoy a water taxi ride back to Te Anau.
Duration:
7 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Luxmore Hut - Begin your experience with a spectacular helicopter flight to Luxmore Hut over Lake Te Anau. Explore the alpine tussock field and enjoy the expansive mountain views, with the option to hike to the summit (as conditions allow). Then hike down the mountain on a well-formed track, descending through native beech forest and passing under towering limestone bluffs to reach the sandy lake shore for a water taxi ride back to Te Anau.
What's Included
- Helicopter flight to Luxmore Hut on the Kepler Track
- Local, experienced, nature guide
- Te Anau accommodation pick up and drop off
- Water taxi across Lake Te Anau
- Walking poles and rain jackets provided
- Safety and communication equipment carried by guide
- Tea and coffee
What's Not Included
- Lunch
- Bottled water
Additional Information
Embark on a breathtaking day’s journey along the Kepler Track, starting off with an enjoyable helicopter ride to Luxmore Hut. Once there, revel in the vastness of tussock fields and admire wide-ranging views from the mountains, as we set off on a hike through the alpine terrain. Next, make your way down the mountain following a well-marked trail amidst native beech woodlands, and under impressive limestone cliffs, leading to the sandy banks of a lake. Conclude your day with a refreshing water taxi ride back to Te Anau.
- Recommended minimum age 8 years, maximum age 70 years
- Track is well maintained and well formed, however can be uneven and rocky in places.
- Operates in all weather conditions (including rain) unless the operator deems it to be unsafe. Please carry a good, waterproof rain jacket, drinking water, any medication that you may require and wear practical, sturdy shoes for walking in (heels, slip on shoes, jandals/flip flops/thongs are not suitable). Do not wear jeans as they become cold and heavy when wet. The operator can provide a good rain coat and walking poles, please contact them in advance to have this arranged.
- The operator may refuse participation if clients are not dressed suitably.
- Medium - high level of fitness required, minimum 800 m descent, 8 km walk (from Luxmore Hut), walking time 3-6 hours. We will also explore above the hut in the alpine area, but do not go to the summit.
- The fitter you are the more you will enjoy the trip, note the sustained down hill can be tough on knees.
Location
Fiordland Community Events Centre
Luxmore Drive
If you have not selected your accommodation please meet us at the Event Center, there is plenty of free all day parking here for any vehicle. Please wait on the steps of the facility, or where we can see you, thank you.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(21 Ratings)
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Rubberdog818
Apr 8, 2024
Fabulous team and experience - The guides are excellent- friendly, helpful and very knowledgeable about the trail, location, history and nature. We learnt lots and had a great time. We felt safe while still having freedom to move at our own pace and stop for photos. I would like to particularly mention Jacob, Yoshi, Michelle and Maddie who looked after us over the 3 day trekking multi route package.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Karen
Apr 6, 2024
Wonderful day trip - Amazing. Tamora (hope I’ve spelled your name correctly) was such a lovely guide. She picked us up at our hotel. We drove to the helipad. The helicopter ride was under 10 minutes. The pilot, Mark, pointed out a few sites and gave a very smooth ride over to Luxemore hut. We got out and hiked toward the summit and came back to Hut to eat lunch. Beautiful views. Flushing toilet and clean facilities at Luxemore hut. Then we started the descent. The tracks in New Zealand are so well kept it is amazing. I wish we could have gone further!! Tamora was informative, shared a lot of knowledge and good stories. Would highly recommend her, Trips and Tramps and this walk. It was fabulous.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
D7546xjgregm
Feb 28, 2024
A pleasant stroll on Kepler Track - First hike of three with Trips and Tramps. The helicopter ride was amazing and provided great views and a very easy ascent to Luxmore Hut. Geoff our guide was amazing and knowledgeable and very entertaining. The walk down the hill was a challenge and was definitely the more challenging of the hikes we did. Views are spectacular. Lunch was great. Just loved the whole package
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carolyn_c
Jan 19, 2024
Great Day! - It was great to see a DOC hut, and the hike down to the lake was easy and beautiful! A good way to see the landscape without having to hike up the mountain!
Review provided by Viator
Drswest
Dec 18, 2023
3 Day Great Walks Tour was exceptional - We did the three day Great Walks Tour Package. Incredible. Guides were exceptional. Everything was perfectly coordinated and well-planned. Spectacular scenery. Wildlife. Challenging but fun hikes and each was very different.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Mandy
Feb 11, 2023
A magical, authentic day! Highly recommend - Loved this experience. I normally do hikes on my own but all the huts and places were booked and heard about this group from a friend. I'm so glad I did it through Trips and Trams. I didn't have to plan anything, just show up and still felt like I had a beautiful day of hiking, plus my guide was so kind and showed me so many things about the landscape that I wouldn't have known. Highly recommend if you want to experience the area, learn about the history and landscape and without needing to pack in and out on your own. The team is kind, responsive and has thought through every detail but it doesn't feel over done. Can't say enough good things about them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Burdett
Dec 17, 2022
Amazing experience in Fiordland - We few blessed to have experienced this amazing excursion. We had a short break in the weather that allowed the very competent pilot to fly us from Manapouri to the Lux hut. After a nourishing lunch at the hut we began our descent on the Kepler track. Gary, our guide, kept us safe with an excellent briefing before departing. The hike begins in alpine conditions with tussocks along the trail. We eventually hit the tree line and entered into a bush environment with beach trees and ferns. The hike concluded at the base of the mountain on the shore of Lake Te Anau. We then rode the water taxi back across the lake where a van took us to our lodge for the night. Gary provided excellent insights about the surrounding geology and vegetation. A wind kicked up when we arrived at the lake so the water taxi ride became memorable as well! Great excursion.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Taijihawaii
Dec 12, 2022
Outstanding hike! - Yoshi and Madeleine were friendly, knowledgeable and great guides. Due to cloud cover we altered our hike to through the forest to Shallow Bay in hopes that the cloud cover would lift. Hooray --it cleared. We were picked up by the helicopter on the beach at Shallow Bay and taken up to Luxmore hut. The helicopter ride was so exciting with great views. At Luxmore hut we were able to hike a little to a scenic area with outstanding views. Thereafter, we hiked down Kepler track to the beach where the boat picked us up and took us back to Te Anau.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Thehillfamilytravel
Dec 9, 2022
A great day trip on Kepler Track - perfect if you want to get the views and only do a day trip. - Our guides Michelle and Gary were fabulous. Knowledgeable and helpful.
A change to the itinerary was made at the beginning of the day due to weather. Instead of going straight to Luxmore hut, we started with a beautiful rainforest walk from Rainbow Reach through Spirit Lake. We were picked up by the helicopter on the beach at Shallow Bay and taken up to Luxmore hut. The helicopter ride was so enjoyable and exciting.
Due to the delayed start we couldn't walk to the peak but Michelle offered a small walk up to a great lookout spot, which was really worth it.
We then proceeded the long downhill trek on Kepler track to the beach where the boat picked us up and took us back to Te Anau - it was a long walk but there were many stops with lots of information, great views and of course the friendly Kea birds.
In all, a great day and we were blessed with fine weather!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ingrid
Dec 6, 2022
Diversity of landscapes - great hike - Great experience of a section of the Kepler Track doing the helicopter flight to Luxmore Hut and then return hike. Moderate effort required. Great constraints of landscapes and our guide was very informative and helpful. Trips and Tramps are super organised and efficient. We loved our hike and the Kea birds!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
