Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is right next to a parking lot.

Last updated: January 22, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through protected areas

Please check local regulations for:

Fiordland National Park

Conservation Area - Waiau River

Waypoints

Start point

Parking

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278 m

Kepler Track Suspension Bridge over Waiau River

Highlight • Bridge

This suspension bridge is the second official entry on Kepler Track (with that of Te Anau Lake).

This entrance is however more isolated since it is quite far from Te …

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944 m

View of the Waiau River

Highlight • Viewpoint

Beautiful view of the Waiau River

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1.43 km

Balloon Loop is a Waiau River turnoff that literally takes the shape of a balloon. By this detour Waiau River comes to recover the waters of Forest Burn River which come from a multitude of streams of the Luxmore mountains.

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2.40 km

Suspension Bridge in Fiordland National Park

Highlight • Bridge

Pretty shaky business

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3.88 km

Spirit Lake Wetland Boardwalk

Highlight • Trail

This wetland is an ecosystem particularly protected by the DOC (Department of Conservancy), hence the log trail. It is absolutely forbidden to deviate from it.

By following it you can branch off towards an observation platform which overlooks Spirit Lake.

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5.12 km

View of Lake Manapouri and the fjords

Highlight • Viewpoint

This beach is accessible on the occasion of a small detour on a charming path under the woods.

Without saying that it is a secret beach, its access outside the …

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8.02 km

View of the River in Fiordland National Park

Highlight • River

You can see the river a little

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10.0 km

End point

Parking

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

9.59 km

305 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

5.64 km

3.95 km

370 m

Elevation

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Weather

Tuesday 21 April

11°C

2°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 4.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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View of the Waiau River – View of Balloon Loop loop from Conservation Area - Waiau River

Kepler Track Suspension Bridge over Waiau River

View of the Waiau River

View of Balloon Loop

Suspension Bridge in Fiordland National Park

Spirit Lake Wetland Boardwalk

View of Lake Manapouri and the fjords

View of the River in Fiordland National Park

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