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Places to stay

DOC provides seven huts and nine campsites on the Heaphy Track.

You must have a Great Walk Ticket to stay in huts or campsites on the Heaphy Track. For information about how to obtain a Great Walk Ticket see the fees, bookings and conditions page.

For a four-day, three-night trip, most walkers stay at Perry Saddle, James Mackay and Heaphy Huts.

For a five-day, four-night trip, most walkers stay at Perry Saddle, Saxon, James Mackay and Heaphy Huts.

A popular two-day, one-night trip on the western side is from Kohaihai to Heaphy Hut and return to Kohaihai.

Alert/Important notice

A new hut will be built at Perry Saddle next summer. The new hut will be built on the site of the Perry Saddle campground and is planned to begin on 15 January 2012.

The Perry Saddle camp site will be closed from 15 January 2012 until 1 September 2012. Those wishing to camp should stay at Aorere Shelter camp site or at the Gouland Downs camp site.

Those visiting Perry Saddle hut during this period should be aware that there will be the increased noise and activity typically associated with building construction projects.

Huts

All huts have heating, toilets, bunks, mattresses and water. Gas cooking facilities are available at Perry Saddle, Saxon, James Mackay, Lewis and Heaphy Huts but not at Brown and Gouland Downs Huts. No huts have lighting or pots and pans. Backcountry Hut Tickets and Backcountry Hut Passes are not valid for use on the Heaphy Track. Hut spaces need to be booked all year around. Overnight stays in huts along the Heaphy Track are limited to two consecutive nights. School groups, guided walking groups and independent walkers can stay at huts. Please be considerate of other visitors. Hut users are expected to leave huts clean and tidy and take their rubbish out with them.

Campsites

Campsites need to be booked. Overnight stays in campsites along the Heaphy Track are limited to two consecutive nights at any one campsite. Campers are not permitted to use hut facilities. All campsites have a water supply and toilets; some campsites have fireplaces. Open fires are only permitted where fireplaces are provided.

School groups, guided walking groups and independent walkers can stay at campsites. Please be considerate to other visitors. Campers are expected to leave campsites clean and tidy and take their rubbish out with them.

Huts and campsites


Weather

NZ weather

Maps

Parkmaps are detailed maps for those visiting and using New Zealand's national parks and other conservation land. They are available from DOC visitor centres.

Learn more

Plan & prepare for your tripGreat Walks visitor statistics

Stop the spread of didymo
Check, Clean, Dry all items before entering, and when moving between, waterways.

Safety

Follow the Outdoor Safety Code:
1. Plan your trip
2. Tell someone
3. Be aware of the weather
4. Know your limits
5. Take sufficient supplies

Safety alerts for Nelson/Tasman tracks

Contacts

Contacts list
Conservation for prosperity. Tiakina te taiao, kia puawai