Heaphy Track Great Walk - Independant Four Day Walk

If you are looking for a tramp that will take you through pretty much every sort of terrain possible to find in New Zealand, then this Great Walk, in the awesome Kahurangi National Park, is the one to choose. A bit like a “Best of the Great Walks” you will encounter vast native forests, rushing mountain streams and waterfalls, tussocky alpine country and remote palm fringed beaches.

• Hut accommodation on trail included. 
• All your transportation taken care of with shuttle bus from Takaka to the start point and return plane ride from the end.
• Return flight or shuttle from Nelson and return flight from Wellington to Takaka available.

Day One: Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut (17.5km 5 Hours). In the morning you meet your shuttle bus at Takaka Airport and get taken through to the start of the track at Brown Hut. The trail begins with a gradual climb, following a route once surveyed for a road. After 3-4 hours, Aorere shelter is reached and a good place for lunch and well deserved rest. From here, the Aorere Valley is seen extending northwards and on clear days it is possible to see Mt Taranaki/Egmont on the North Island. Some more strenuous uphill leads to the viewpoint at Flanagans Corner: At 915 m, this is the highest point on the track. It's another 40 minutes to the brand new Perry Saddle Hut for your first night. Near the hut in Gorge Creek is a deep but cold pool, popular for swimming.

Day Two: Perry Saddle to James Mackay Hut (24.5km 7 Hours). Heading out on your second day - the longest of the walk - the valley widens and the tussocky Gouland Downs is revealed stretching out to the west. The track passes a limestone outcrop and crosses one of several limestone arches, which are the remnants of old caves. From Saxon Hut the track drops slightly to grassy flats beside the Saxon River and then climbs gently up to a broad ridge. The vegetation is alternately tussock field and shrub-fringed patches of beech forest and the pink granite sparkles and crunches beneath your feet. James Mackay Hut is situated on an open terrace for your second night. The Tasman Sea and Heaphy River mouth can be seen from here, 15 km to the west and 750 m below.

Day Three: James Mackay Hut to Heaphy Hut (20.5km 6 Hours). Your third day on the track is where you start your descent. Soon the dense rainforest typical of the West Coast becomes dominant. You cross the Heaphy River, via a 148.4 metre suspended deck suspension bridge. Towards the river mouth, nikau palms become more common and the sea’s incessant roaring grows louder. The Heaphy Hut is situated back from the sea where it's more sheltered - this is your last night on the trail.

Day Four: Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai River Mouth (16km 5 hours). The Heaphy River mouth is an exhilarating place of surging waves and tide - definitely not the place for a swim though. Heading south along this spectacular and wild coastline you pass though forest of rata, karaka trees, vines and groves of nikau palms. Scotts Beach is a good spot to rest before climbing over Kohaihai Saddle and down to Kohaihai carpark and you have reached the end of a truly epic tramp! From here you will get picked up by bus for a short ride to Karamea Airfield and straight onto a plane back to Takaka.

*Please Note: 

There is a supplementary fee for international (non-NZ) visitors to NZ Great Walks imposed by the NZ Government - If you are an adult international visitor please select the International Adult Price Box

These prices are for the main walking season October to end April - if you want to book outside of this period  please contact us directly for more information.