Image: Jonty Crane | Creative Commons
James Mackay Hut Heaphy Track.
James Mackay Hut

Located in Kahurangi National Park in the Nelson/Tasman region

This is a 28-bunk hut located on the Heaphy Track in the Buller area.

It's situated on the edge of Mackay Downs in low forest and has distant views of the Tasman Sea and Heaphy River mouth, 15 km to the west and 750 m below. 

Facilities and services

All huts on the Heaphy Track have heating, either long drop or flush toilets supplied with toilet paper, and cold running water.

The James Mackay Hut is a new facility that opened in October 2014. It has gas cooking facilities, sinks with cold running water inside the hut, lighting, heating, individual bunk rooms with bunks and mattresses and flush toilets attached to the hut. You'll need to bring your own cooking utensils and sleeping bag as these are not supplied.

There are no showers in any of the huts.

Hut rangers move between huts in the summer. As well as checking bookings, they are able to provide information about the track and weather.

Fees

1 October – 30 April

New Zealand citizens and those ordinarily resident in New Zealand*:

  • Adult (18+ years): $44 per person, per night
  • Child (5 to 17 years): $22 per person, per night

International visitors:

  • Adult (18+ years): $66 per person, per night
  • Child (0 to 17 years): $33 per person, per night

Proof of eligibility is required for the New Zealand rate.

1 May – 30 June

For all visitors:

  • Adult (18+ years): $38 per person, per night
  • Child (5 to 17 years): $19 per person, per night

1 July – 31 August

For all visitors:

  • Adult (18+ years): $30 per person, per night
  • Child (5 to 17 years): $15 per person, per night

1 – 30  September

For all visitors:

  • Adult (18+ years): $38 per person, per night
  • Child (5 to 17 years): $19 per person, per night

Backcountry Hut Passes and Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.

Bookings

Tracks to this hut

Location

James Mackay Hut is on the Heaphy Track.

NZTopo50 map sheet: BP22
Grid/NZTM2000 coordinates: E1534044, N5473583