🥾 Heaphy Track: A Great Walk Through New Zealand’s Untamed Wilderness 🌿
The Heaphy Track is one of New Zealand’s most iconic Great Walks, stretching across the wild and varied landscapes of Kahurangi National Park in the South Island. It’s a multi-day journey that transitions from alpine tussocklands to palm-fringed coastlines, making it a unique and unforgettable hiking or biking adventure.
📍 Quick Facts
🗺️ Location | Kahurangi National Park, Northwest South Island |
🚶 Distance | 78.4 km one way |
⏱️ Duration | 4–6 days (walking) or 2–3 days (mountain biking) |
🥾 Grade | Intermediate (well-formed but remote) |
🚴♂️ Biking Season | May 1 – Nov 30 |
🌟 Why Do the Heaphy Track?
🏞️ 1. Diverse Landscapes
Alpine Plateaus with panoramic views
Limestone caves & cliffs through the Gouland Downs
Podocarp forests and mossy valleys
West Coast beaches lined with nikau palms
🐦 2. Rare Wildlife Encounters
Home to great spotted kiwi (roa), weka, kea, and powelliphanta snails
Best chance to hear kiwi at night in higher altitude huts
🚶 3. A Journey of Solitude
Fewer crowds than other Great Walks
Remote and peaceful with a back-to-nature feel
🗓️ Suggested Itinerary (Walking)
Day 1: Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut (17.5 km)
Climb steadily through beech forest into alpine country
Day 2: Perry Saddle to Saxon Hut or James Mackay (12–24 km)
Cross the open Gouland Downs; optional cave side tracks
Day 3: James Mackay to Heaphy Hut (20.5 km)
Long descent toward the lush West Coast; nikau palms emerge
Day 4: Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai (16.2 km)
Walk beside wild beaches, rivers, and swing bridges to track’s end
🚴 Mountain Biking the Heaphy
Only allowed May 1 – Nov 30 (off-season for trampers)
Advanced riders can complete it in 2–3 days
Technical in parts with changing terrain — be prepared!
🏕️ Accommodation
DOC Huts: 7 along the track with bunks, toilets, heating (no cooking facilities)
Campsites: Well-spaced and bookable through the DOC website
💡 Booking is essential, especially in summer.
🎒 What to Bring
Waterproof gear and warm layers
Sleeping bag and stove (no gas at huts)
Torch for caves & tunnels
Map and personal locator beacon (PLB) recommended
📝 Tips for Success
✅ Check weather — track is remote and exposed
✅ Bring insect repellent for coastal sections
✅ Be self-sufficient — no services or shops en route
✅ DOC rangers may be present — follow Leave No Trace principles
🗺️ Getting There & Back
Start at Brown Hut (Golden Bay) or Kohaihai (West Coast near Karamea)
No direct road between ends — arrange shuttle or scenic flight
Options via Golden Bay Air, Heaphy Track Transport, or tracknet.nz
🏞️ Nearby Attractions
🌊 Wharariki Beach – Wind-sculpted dunes and sea stacks (45 min from Collingwood)
🐚 Farewell Spit – Tours to lighthouse and bird sanctuary
🧭 Cape Foulwind – Lighthouse and seal colony near Westport
🏁 Final Word
The Heaphy Track is a spectacular blend of solitude, scenery, and true New Zealand wildness. Whether you’re walking or biking, every day reveals something new — a bird call in the bush, a thunderous sea, or the quiet hush of an alpine morning.
🥾 Come for the views. Stay for the stillness.
