Kepler Track Car Park to Rainbow Reach
A one-way forest and river walk along the Waiau River section of the Kepler Track.
Route overview
Kepler car park; Waiau River terraces; forest and fishing viewpoints; Rainbow Reach swingbridge.
The track follows red and mountain-beech terraces beside the Waiau River before crossing the swingbridge at Rainbow Reach. It is technically moderate rather than alpine, but point-to-point transport needs to be arranged and river conditions and weather still require attention.
Trail facts
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Southland / Fiordland, with Routeburn Track also crossing Otago
- Distance
- 9.5 km one way
- Typical duration
- 2.5 hr one way
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation gain
- Mostly river terraces with modest undulation
- Best season
- Year-round when river, track and transport conditions permit
- Trail type
- Point-to-point
Access and logistics
- Permits and access
- No permit or booking for day walking.
Safety context
Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure. Check current official conditions, closures, weather and access rules before departure.
Point-to-point logistics, wet track, river-edge hazards, sandflies and limited communication.
Highlights
Waiau River, beech forest, swingbridge and trout-water scenery.
Why find a buddy
A partner simplifies the car shuttle and provides support on a relatively quiet corridor.
Primary source
Explore and prepare
Discover hikes by intent, read the hiking guides, review hiking safety, prepare a BuddyPack, or browse hiking plans.
Route conditions, access, services and transport can change. Verify time-sensitive information before departure.