The Kepler Challenge & Luxmore Grunt 2026

The Kepler Challenge is a 60 km mountain trail race on New Zealand’s Kepler Track circuit, starting and finishing at the Control Gates of Lake Te Anau. It is run annually in December, alongside the shorter Luxmore Grunt, and both races cap entries tightly enough that places sell out within minutes of opening online. The full course begins with an easy 6 km section before climbing steadily to Luxmore Hut, then rolls across the tops with views over South Fiord. Runners descend to Iris Burn Hut, follow the Iris Burn for 17 km to Moturau Hut on Lake Manapouri, continue 6 km to Rainbow Reach, and then run beside the Waiau River back to the Control Gates. The Luxmore Grunt uses the same route up to Luxmore Hut, then turns around and returns the way it came.