The Heaphy Track has reopened as a through route with a new bridge across the Heaphy River.
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Places to stay
There are 6 huts and 9 campsites, which must be booked well in advance all year round.
Hut facilities
Huts have: bunks. mattresses, heating, toilets, basic cooking facilities
Check individual huts for cooking facilities and lighting provided. Huts do not have food, cooking utensils, showers or bedding.
A DOC ranger may be present.
Campsite facilities
Campsites have basic facilities including toilets, sinks and a water supply. Some also have picnic tables and cooking shelters. Campers cannot use hut facilities.
The track is well marked and signposted, but some sections may be steep and rough and the track could be muddy.
Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut
Time: 5 hr walking, 2 hr 30 min–3 hr 30 min mountain biking
Distance: 17.5 km
About 180 m upstream from the hut, cross the bridge over the Brown River, then a grass flat, before winding up a well-defined track and into the bush. The track climbs gradually, following a route once surveyed for a road.
After 4 hours, you'll reach Aorere Shelter. From here, the Aorere Valley is seen extending northwards and on clear days it is possible to see Mt Taranaki/Egmont. Thirty minutes before Perry Saddle Hut, a short track leads to a viewpoint at Flanagans Corner. At 915 m, this is the highest point on the track.
Perry Saddle Hut is 880 m above sea level. Near the hut in Gorge Creek is a deep but cold pool, popular for swimming.
Mountain biking: The ride starts with a consistently graded steady climb, passing Aorere Shelter and winding up to 890 m through beech forest to Perry Saddle Hut.
Take extra care between the turnoff to Shakespeare Flat and the lookout at Flanagans Corner especially when descending. There are a number of steep drops beside the track.
Campsites and huts between Brown Hut and Perry Saddle
Perry Saddle to Gouland Downs Hut
Time: 2 hr walking, 1-2 hr mountain biking
Distance: 7 km
Cross Perry Saddle and sidle above Perry Creek through tussock clearings and patches of beech. Soon the valley widens and the track climbs a small rise to where the Gouland Downs, an open tussock area, is revealed stretching out to the west.
The track meanders easily down to Cave Brook, passing the famed pole to which trampers have tied old boots over the years. Just beyond the brook is Gouland Downs Hut. Nearby, a small patch of beech grows on a limestone outcrop which has escaped erosion. This area is worth exploring. The track crosses one of several limestone arches, which are the remnants of old caves. Nearby, a small waterfall flows out of another cave passage.
Mountain biking: A mainly downhill ride to Gouland Downs on a wide, well-formed track. Initially, the track is quite steep with technical stony sections and deep streams.
Campsites and huts between Perry Saddle and Gouland Downs Hut
Look and listen out for great spotted kiwi/roroa and takahē around Gouland Downs.
Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut
Time: 1 hr 30 min, 1-2 hr mountain biking
Distance: 5.4 km
Beyond Gouland Downs Hut the track is relatively level as it crosses the northern part of Gouland Downs. The tussock country and riverbeds make for good exploring but, when the mist lowers, the featureless downs can be confusing and it is easy to become disorientated.
Saxon Hut, nestled near the end of the downs, is named after John Saxon, who surveyed the track in 1886.
Campsites and huts between Gouland Downs Hut and Saxon Hut
Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut
Time: 3 hr walking, 2-3 hr mountain biking
Distance: 11.8 km
From Saxon Hut the track drops slightly to grassy flats beside the Saxon River and then climbs gently up to a broad ridge, which joins Gouland Downs to Mackay Downs.
Flood prone area between Saxon and James Mackay huts
A section on Mackay Downs floods in extremely wet conditions. This is a 70 m piece of the track across a wetland and a bridge. It becomes impassable and quite dangerous. Walkers should wait for the water to recede.
The track now skirts the edge of Mackay Downs to James Mackay Hut, winding in and out of several small streams, just before they tumble off the downs and fall to the Heaphy River on the left. The vegetation is alternately tussock field and shrub-fringed patches of beech forest. Small creeks dissect the landscape and the pink granite sparkles and crunches beneath your feet.
James Mackay Hut is situated just above the track on an open terrace. The Tasman Sea and Heaphy River mouth can be seen from here, 15 km to the west and 750 m below. It is named after the explorer who first pressed for a bridle track to be established between Collingwood and the West Coast.
Campsites and huts between Saxon Hut and James Mackay
James Mackay Hut to Heaphy Hut via Lewis Shelter
Time: 6 hr walking, 2.5 hr - 4.5 hr mountain biking
Distance: 20.5 km
Beyond James Mackay Hut, a gradual descent to the Heaphy River begins. The track is through beech forest at first but soon the richer and taller forest typical of the West Coast becomes dominant. Occasional tantalising glimpses of the Heaphy River below are seen through the forest. The sounds of rushing water grow louder and suddenly the shelter appears at the junction of the Heaphy River with the smaller Lewis River, along with sandflies and the first nikau palms.
Charles Lewis was a Collingwood surveyor who, in the 1880s, was first to investigate Mackay’s proposed bridle route.
From Lewis Shelter, continue to the 101m long Lewis River swing bridge and enjoy the views to the confluence of the Heaphy river. After a short distance you cross the Heaphy River swing bridge, as you reach the bridge notice the two large rata trees, possibly the oldest and largest in New Zealand.
The track continues along the left bank to the river mouth through a forest of kahikatea, rimu and rata. Glossy-leaved shrubs perch precariously in the tall trees, flourishing in the abundant light and extracting nutrients from humus (accumulated plant debris) in their hosts’ branches.
In dry spells, the sluggish river meanders along peacefully, but in times of heavy rain especially when it’s high tide, sections of the track and bridges get flooded. An area of limestone and karst locally known as Cave Stream about 15 min before Heaphy Hut, floods after periods of heavy rain.
Mountain biking: This section is technical but an invigorating descent to Lewis Shelter. The track is rocky, rutted and soft in places. Get off your bike and walk these soft, muddy sections to avoid damage to the track or yourself.
Take extra care through this section, particularly in the approach to Lewis Shelter. There are a number of steep drops beside the track, especially in the section of track 2.5-1km before Lewis Shelter.
From Lewis Shelter there are a number of suspension and swing bridges on this section. The suspension bridges are ride-able or alternatively use the approved MTB swing bridge crossing method. This method involves flipping your bike on its back with the rear wheel angled away from you at 45 degrees. With the stem in one hand move yourself by gripping the top wire with your other hand.
Stay in Heaphy Hut if the track is flooded. It's not safe to proceed when the track is flooded – you should wait in either Lewis Shelter or Heaphy Hut.
Towards the river mouth, nikau palms become more common, the sea’s incessant roaring grows louder and, in some conditions, small waves can be seen running upriver. Heaphy Hut is situated far enough back from the sea to be spared the worst of the winds.
The river mouth is at the junction of two pounamu (greenstone) trails and archaeological work has uncovered evidence of occupation by Māori that extends back 500 years. In 1905, an extensive European settlement was surveyed in the lower valley, but it was never built.
Warning: Do not swim at the Heaphy River mouth as strong currents may wash you out to sea.
Campsites and huts between James Mackay Hut and Heaphy Hut
Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai River Mouth
Time: 5 hr walking, 3-4 hr mountain biking
Distance: 16.2 km
Warning: Sections of the coastal track between Heaphy Hut and Kohaihai may be affected by large wave surges during high tides and rough seas which can cause the track to be temporarily impassable. Check tide timetables
The Heaphy River mouth is an exciting place. The river surges out through a narrow gap into the sea - in-coming waves halt the flow and the churning of salt and fresh waters is spectacular.
The track south to Kohaihai is through forest although beach walking is possible in some places. Some of the small streams are not bridged and can be dangerous after heavy rain. The forest has rata and karaka trees, many vines and groves of nikau palms. Be careful of the stinging nettle that grows in places.
Just beyond Katipo Creek is Crayfish (Koura) Point. Crayfish Point no longer requires visitors to traverse the beach and plan around high tide. There is a high level track above the beach well away from the sea. The only risk that still faces people here is to take care crossing Crayfish Stream particularly after or during rainfall as it can flood quickly (and drops quickly).
Soon Scotts Beach is reached – the clearing here is a good spot to rest before climbing over Kohaihai Saddle and down through wind-blasted shrubs to a bridge across the Kohaihai River. The track follows the riverbank for 400 m to Kohaihai carpark where there is a shelter and phone.
The section of track around the Kohaihai River mouth may experience flooding issues when the river mouth becomes blocked. An alternative track has been put in place to allow visitors to bypass this area when this occurs.
Warning: It's dangerous to wade or swim at the mouth of the Kohaihai River due to extreme tidal currents and rips.