An inquiry released yesterday concluded the pair disregarded several clear warnings from people they met before setting out on the tramp in Fiordland National Park.
Quebec students Louis-Vincent Lessard and Etienne Lemieux (both 23) were found to have died of suffocation after being engulfed by an avalanche on July 9 while walking between Hanging Valley Shelter and Luxmore Hut.
Coroner David Crerar said the pair were "dismissive of the direct verbal warnings'' they were given by three people on separate occasions.
They also ignored warning signs at the track entrance and on billboards at the Department of Conservation (Doc) visitor centre in Te Anau, and did not accept weather and avalanche forecasts provided for them.
They were "evasive'' in their interactions with those they met, deliberately concealing their intentions, and did not make entries in any of the huts they passed through.
Giving evidence, Te Anau service station operator Diane Holmes said she met the pair after they arrived in the township on July 7.
When told they intended to walk the Kepler, she advised them not to attempt the walk because of forecast bad weather.
They responded the weather in Canada could be much worse, and they were used to it.
The same day, when they told Manapouri resident Shirley Mouat they intended to walk the track, she replied: "Oh my God, don't do that. It's too dangerous.''
Ms Mouat, a former guide on the track, told them there was too much snow and she would not even consider traversing its alpine sections.
Karin Dougherty-Van Amerongen, a Doc ranger at the visitor centre, said she told the men the Kepler could not be tramped at that time of year because of snow.
She showed them maps detailing avalanche paths on the track, and suggested alternative tramps.
Mr Crerar cited a Mountain Safety Council report which concluded the pair died because of their lack of New Zealand tramping experience, poor decision-making before and during the trip, including their failure to identify avalanche-prone slopes, and their failure to change their plans after receiving repeated warnings.
The report noted they did not have avalanche tranceivers, shovels or probes - all considered essential for alpine travel in New Zealand - nor did they have ice axes, crampons or a personal locator beacon.
Te Anau Doc ranger Grant Tremain told the hearing the track remained open during the off-season so people with appropriate equipment and experience could continue to use it.
Mr Crerar said the men "ignored the warnings given to them and have paid the ultimate price for their ignoring such warnings''.
He recommended Doc follow the recommendations of a report suggesting improved practices at its Te Anau visitor centre, particularly the ability to provide up-to-date information about avalanche hazards.
He endorsed a recommendation the department investigate installing security cameras to record conversations between staff and the public at all its visitor centres.
He also supported a suggestion from Mr Lemieux's parents that Doc consider erecting signage on the Kepler Track identifying areas of extreme avalanche risk.
