Sight · Fiordland National Park
Fiordland’s big-view summit right off the Kepler Track
Overview
Mount Luxmore crowns the open tops of the Kepler Track, topping out around 1,472 m. It’s the classic big-view detour on the Great Walk: a short, steep spur from the main ridge to a bare-rock summit with Fiordland laid out in every direction.
Absolutely. If you’re already on the Kepler, the summit is a must-do detour for the views alone—one of the most rewarding high points in the park’s front country.
Parkwolf’s verdictIs It Worth It?Map
Local know-how
Start early if attempting a day return from Brod Bay or the Control Gates.
Check the Luxmore Hut forecast before committing to the exposed tops.
Detour to Luxmore Cave near the hut and bring a headlamp.
Secure food and loose gear—kea will try to steal it.
Carry all food and water; there are no supplies at the summit.
Plan your stop
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Fiordland Tour Guide
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Fiordland National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
See the Fiordland audio tourMore stories near here in the app
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Guide
Expect sweeping vistas across Lake Te Anau and the Murchison Mountains, with tussock grasslands, limestone bluffs, and rocky ridgelines. On clear days the panorama stretches across multiple ranges; after fresh snow it’s otherworldly. Near the hut, a small side trip leads to Luxmore Cave—bring a headlamp if you want a peek inside.
You reach the summit from the Kepler Track near Luxmore Saddle via a roughly 10‑minute, steep, rocky spur. Most hikers tag it while staying at Luxmore Hut; fit hikers sometimes do a long day return from Brod Bay or the Control Gates in summer. The climb from lake level to the tops is sustained, but the summit detour itself is short once you’re up high.
Kea often patrol the summit area—wonderfully entertaining and infamously cheeky. Guard your snacks and loose gear; they’ll have a go if you look away.
This is an exposed alpine environment. Conditions swing quickly to wind, clag, rain or even summer snow. Check the forecast for Luxmore Hut and be prepared to turn back if the tops cloud in. Warm layers, a rain shell, and sturdy footwear are non‑negotiable.
Wildlife
1,181 sightingsKeaMost seen around 10 AMSighting map
199 sightingsFiordland PenguinMost seen around 7 PMSighting map
228 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
32 sightingsBottlenose DolphinMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
247 sightingsNew Zealand Fur SealMost seen around 6 PMSighting map
58 sightingsKākāMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Fiordland. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
Keep exploring
Sight · 2 km awayLuxmore CavesWild limestone cave detour just minutes from Luxmore Hut
Lodging · 2.2 km awayLuxmore HutBig alpine hut with knockout views and a nearby cave
Lodging · 6.5 km awayIris Burn HutSpacious Kepler Track hut steps from Iris Burn Falls
Campground · 6.7 km awayBrod BayLakeside Kepler Track campsite with a beach and hush-quiet vibes
Sight · 7.5 km awayIris Burn FallsShort walk to a tranquil Kepler Track waterfall with a swimParkwolf’s Fiordland ranking
The audio tour guide for the drive, plus offline maps, trails, and wildlife heatmaps for when the signal drops.
