Kepler Challenge is a 60km ultra marathon in Te Anau, New Zealand. Distance: 60km. Elevation: 1,700m D+. Difficulty: moderate (Challenge Rating 36/100). DNF rate: 10%. Time limit: 12h. Surface: trail. Established 1988.
Kepler Challenge
Te Anau, Southland, New Zealand
"60km on one of New Zealand's Great Walks. Alpine ridges, beech forest, and Fiordland's wild beauty in a single day."
Run a Great Walk in a day — the Kepler Track through Fiordland's alpine ridges and ancient beech forests.
The Course
Following the Kepler Track, one of New Zealand's Great Walks, through Fiordland National Park. The course climbs above the tree line to alpine ridges with panoramic views, traverses exposed mountain terrain, and descends through ancient beech forest along Lake Te Anau.
mountainous
loop
4
Runner Experience
Standard aid station support with food, drinks, and basic medical assistance at regular intervals.
A legendary finish line atmosphere. Kepler Challenge is a bucket-list race with celebrations that match its reputation.
Race Day Weather
14°C
6° – 20°
70%
50%
Fiordland — one of the wettest places in New Zealand. Rain is more likely than not. Can be warm and sunny in the valleys but cold and windy on the ridges.
Stats & Records
1988
400
09:00:00
04:38:00
Tim Gallagher (2019)
05:31:00
Ruby Muir (2017)
Entry
NZD 175
May
instant
Lore & Trivia
The Kepler Challenge runs the full Kepler Track — one of New Zealand's Great Walks — in a single day. The 60km route circles Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri in Fiordland, crossing Luxmore Saddle (1,400m) with views that stretch across the Southern Alps. New Zealand's Great Walks were designed for multi-day tramping (hiking); running them in a day is a distinctly Kiwi act of endurance that compresses a 3-4 day experience into one breathless push.
- ▸ The Kepler Track is one of New Zealand's Great Walks — normally a 3-4 day hike, done here in a single day.
- ▸ Fiordland receives up to 8 meters of rain per year, making it one of the wettest places on Earth.
- ▸ The alpine section at 1,400m offers views across multiple glacier-carved fiords on clear days.
- ▸ The race has been running since 1988, making it one of New Zealand's oldest trail ultras.
- ▸ Established in 1988.
The Kepler Track in one day — 60km of New Zealand's finest alpine trail with Fiordland stretching to the horizon.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long is Kepler Challenge? +
Kepler Challenge is a 60km (60km) ultra marathon with 1,700m of elevation gain. The course is loop on trail terrain.
How hard is Kepler Challenge? +
Kepler Challenge is rated moderate with a Challenge Rating of 36/100 (Moderate). The DNF rate is 10%. Runners have 12 hours to finish.
What is the weather like at Kepler Challenge? +
Average temperature is 14°C (range 6°C to 20°C) with 70% humidity and a 50% chance of rain. Fiordland — one of the wettest places in New Zealand. Rain is more likely than not. Can be warm and sunny in the valleys but cold and windy on the ridges.
Are crew and pacers allowed at Kepler Challenge? +
No crew access is permitted. Pacers are not allowed. Mandatory gear is required.
What is the course record for Kepler Challenge? +
The men's course record is 04:38:00 set by Tim Gallagher in 2019. The women's course record is 05:31:00 set by Ruby Muir in 2017.
What is the average finish time for Kepler Challenge? +
The average finish time is 09:00:00. About 400 runners finish each year. The DNF rate is 10%.
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