Shallow Bay

Follow a section of the Kepler Track to a small hut on Lake Manapouri, surrounded by ample camping space. The walking is flat and easy.

The Waiau River runs in a gentle meander between Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri, carving loops and leaving behind oxbows. Rainbow Reach is about halfway between the two settlements, and provides an access point for the Kepler Track. The car park here is very busy, and many locals use the Kepler for day walks. Toilets, water, and information are available at the car park. 

Cross the swingbridge to the true right river bank and turn left to head downriver. The Kepler Track makes an easy journey across a terrace of tall silver beech forest and crown ferns. It folloows the river, bending around the Balloon Loop and crossing the Forest Burn on a small bridge. 

A boardwalked side trail leads to the Amoeboid Mire, a wetland of rushes, sphagnum mosses, and orchids hidden in the forest. The Kepler Track crosses a section of the mire and returns to forest, coming to the marked Shallow Bay turn off a few minutes later. Leave the Kepler here and follow the track through scrub to a stony beach. Head left along the beach past a lonely toilet, and pick up the track back into forest at the end of the beach. At the next bay, the hut is located in forest behind a line of kowhai trees at the edge of the lake.  

Walking times:

• Rainbow Reach to Shallow Bay junction: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Shallow Bay junction to hut: 20 minutes