Suche
Mein Konto
Camping at Luxmore Hut – Where to Freedom Camp and how
Camping at Luxmore Hut is possible if you know where to go and if you are prepared. Remember that this guide is only suitable for those prepared with alpine equipment and experience and is only suitable when the weather is appropriate. New Zealand's Great Walks are among the best in the world. Among them, the Kepler Track is considered one of the best in New Zealand. However, if you're a budget traveler, the $130 hut fee will deter many from venturing out. So can you hike Kepler without staying overnight in a hut? The answer is yes. …
Camping at Luxmore Hut – Where to Freedom Camp and how
Camping at Luxmore Hut is possible if you know where to go and if you are prepared. Remember that this guide is only suitable for those prepared with alpine equipment and experience and is only suitable when the weather is appropriate.
New Zealand's Great Walks are among the best in the world. Among them, the Kepler Track is considered one of the best in New Zealand. However, if you're a budget traveler, the $130 hut fee will deter many from venturing out.
So can you hike Kepler without staying overnight in a hut? The answer is yes. This guide describes one of the most popular ways to avoid the exorbitant cottage costs; Camping at Luxmore Cabin.
About the Kepler trail
The Kepler Track is one of my favorite hikes in New Zealand. What makes it so fascinating is that you can experience New Zealand's best natural wonders in a single hike.
The route passes through lakeside beech forests and climbs into vast tussock plains, follows alpine ridgelines and even offers opportunities to climb the nearby Luxmore Summit.
If you're on the fence about climbing Kepler, then I hope this article will convince you to get out there and get going!
For a complete guide to the Kepler Track, including camping tips and a route itinerary, read the full Kepler Guide here. Alternatively, if you would like to visit Luxmore Hut and even climb Mount Luxmore, it is possible to do this hike in one day.
alt=“KEPLER TRACK LAKE TE ANAU”>View of Lake Te Anau near Luxmore Hut
RELATED: Guide to hiking the Routeburn Track in a day
Can I camp for free on the Kepler Track?
Here's the $130 question. Can I camp for free on the Kepler Track? Technically the answer is no. However, you can camp “near” the route. Let me break it down.
While there are several overlapping and confusing laws regarding freedom camping, the DOC's general consensus is that you CAN freedom camp in any of New Zealand's national parks as long as you are within 200 meters of all trails and 500 meters of all Great Walks Tracks.
So regarding the Kepler Track, you can camp near Luxmore Hut as long as you are 500 meters away from the track. This applies to the main track AND the Luxmore Caves track.
So if you have your own alpine tent you can hike the entire Kepler Track for $20 (Kiwis) or $40 (foreigners). That's because you have to pay for a place at the Iris Burn campsite, there's no getting around that.
Plus, your money goes to the DOC, who do great work protecting New Zealand's natural biodiversity and maintaining trails for all. If you can afford $40 for the entire 3-4 day Kepler hike, pay the fee.
Sources: Freedom Camping Bill, Freedom Camping Act, Fiordland National Parks Bylaws 1981.
alt=“TUSSOCK PLAINS HIKING NEAR THE LUXMORE HUT ON THE KEPLER”>
Camping at Luxmore Cabin
Well, that's probably why you came here.
The area around Luxmore Hut is classified as an alpine area. The DOC recommends that you do not freedom camp here as the Tussock Plains are completely exposed and there is little to no dry, flat ground.
However, if you are experienced, have your own 100km safe alpine tent and are willing to take calculated personal risk, I can show you where I have camped to help you find a spot.
Remember, if you are camping near Luxmore Cabin in Freedom, you should not use any of its facilities. This includes water refills and toilets. Basically, if you go to the freedom camp, do so responsibly. This means leaving no trace and even packaging your own human waste. If you are not ready for this, do not try to go to the freedom camp.
alt=“TUSSOCK PLAINS HIKING NEAR THE LUXMORE HUT ON THE KEPLER”>
Best campsite with GPS coordinates
There are a few blogs and guidebooks online with limited information about where you can actually camp at Luxmore Hut. However, none provide truly accurate directions or locations.
Therefore, after arriving at the cabin, most people try to find a free campsite just past the path to Luxmore Caves. Remember that this route is also considered a Great Walks route, so you will also need to camp 500 meters away from it.
Following the tracks already carved by other freedom campers, go 80 meters west, then follow the edge of the hill southwest until you round the bend, where you see a mostly flat (if bumpy) plain.
This area is best as you will not be visible from the Luxmore Caves track. This is what the warden will ask you to do when you camp in freedom.
This area is far from perfect as the little flat ground that is present is usually either too wet or rocky. However, there are a few “Goldilocks” spots. The following GPS coordinates are most likely your best bet in the area.
alt=“CAMPING AT THE LUXMORE CABIN”>Campsite near the Luxmore Cabin
Freshwater spring near the campsite
Of course, since you cannot use the hut facilities to refill your water bottles, you will either need to pack extra water or rely on the availability of fresh water from the nearby stream.
When I camped here in March, there was a healthy, clear stream just 100 yards beyond the campsite above. You hear it from the GPS coordinates.
I imagine this stream will flow for most of the Great Walks season. However, pack extra water just in case.
What do I need?
So what do you need for a freedom camp near Luxmore cabin? Here is a short list of the most important things.
- Wasserdichtes Alpinzelt mit einer Laufleistung von über 100 km
- Wasser
- Warmer Schlafsack (-10°C)
- Schlafunterlage
- Möglichkeiten zum Verpacken Ihres eigenen Abfalls (einschließlich menschlicher Abfälle)
When I was camping we were pretty lucky to have fairly calm conditions. However, this alpine area is exposed and is known to cope with very strong winds and frequent rainfall.
One camper had brought a non-waterproof $15 pop-up tent. These guys were very lucky that the weather didn't turn against us. Don't be like them.
alt="LUXMORE HUT ON THE KEPLER TRACK">
alt=“KEA BIRD AT THE LUXMORE HUT”>Kea bird on the Kepler trail
More South Island hikes and travel guides
I hope this guide was helpful in planning your camping at Luxmore Cabin. If you have additional questions or news about a recent trip, help fellow travelers by commenting below.
If you are interested in other free travel guides and articles for New Zealand's South Island, you can find them at the links below. More hikes? Don't miss this list of the best hikes in the South Island!
Enjoy!
MY CAMERA AND PHOTO EQUIPMENT
- Spiegellose Kamera: Canon R5
- Drohne: DJI Mavic Pro 2
- 360-Grad-Action-Kamera: Insta360 One X2
- Landschaftsobjektiv: Canon RF 15-35 mm f/2.8L
- Allround-Objektiv: Canon RF 24–105 mm f/4L
- Teleobjektiv: Canon RF 100–500 mm f/f/4,5–7,1 L
- Lange Aktionsstange: Insta360 Invisible Pole (BulletTime)
- Landschaftslinsenfilter: Hoya Circular Polarizer
- Kamerarucksack: F-Stop Tilopa
- Lieblingsfotozubehör: Peak Design Capture Clip
For a list of my recommended photography gear (including what I use and why), check out my Travel Camera Gear Guide.
If you would like to use any of the photos on this website, please visit my licensing page to find out how. I also sell professional art prints, visit my Print Store or contact me directly for customs deductions of images on We Seek Travel.
alt=“CAMPING LUXMORE HUT”>
On Pinterest?
Why not save this guide to camping at Luxmore Hut for later? Follow We Seek Travel on Pinterest to stay up to date with all the new travel guides and blogs.
PIN IT FOLLOW ME
.