Heaphy Track

An easy day of flat to undulating walking. First thing in the morning there is the opportunity for the fitter walker to climb Mount Perry for spectacular views into the Aorere Valley, across the Gouland Downs and out to Tasman Bay (on a clear day Mount Taranaki in the North Island can be seen).  

We hike through kamahi-beech-Quintinia forest, then across the rolling tussock grass lands of the Gouland Downs - a peneplain. Stop at the Gouland Downs Hut for lunch, then continue through the Enchanted Forest. This is a limestone remnant with beech forest. Across the Downs, you will walk through more magic forest with Dracophyllum traversii and D. townsonii track side. Your destination, Saxon Hut, is situated in tussock country. 

Encounter a new flora habitat once again today on the way to Lewis Shelter, with the banks along the track covered with mosses and a huge diversity of other plants. The geology changes to granite country with wonderful outcrops. As the track winds gradually down, we descend to the Heaphy Valley floor, through ever changing forest, look out for the first nikau palms which begin to appear as we approach confluence of the Heaphy and Lewis Rivers.

Stop for lunch at the Lewis Shelter, then cross both rivers to observe rare lowland rainforest flora and the striking limestone outcrops. We follow the river all the way to the mouth, arriving at Heaphy Hut. Keep a look out for some the largest Northern Rātā trees in New Zealand.

The huge change in habitats and flora, the greatest change over the whole track occurs today, from the sub-alpine downs to veritable rain forest. The nikau, podocarp and giant northern rata forest will leave you breathless. Along with idyllic river scenes and, in season, the Earina and Winika perching orchids.

Spend the afternoon beach combing the driftwood-strewn shore and/or swimming in the large sandbar protected lagoon or just relaxing with a book before finally arriving at the chance to experience the famous Heaphy sunset.

This morning, we will leave Karamea in our own transport for the 5 1/2 hour scenic drive to Motueka or Nelson. This route will take you down the northern West Coast to Westport, then through the picturesque Buller Gorge. We will stop en-route at Murchison for a light lunch. Arrival time in Nelson is approximately 3:00pm - 3:30pm, so it is advisable not to book a flight out of Nelson until after 4:30pm in the event of unforeseen circumstances delaying our return.

Any excess luggage left behind in Motueka whilst you are on the track, will be awaiting you at Karamea, where we finish the walk.

If you are continuing on down the West Coast after your Heaphy walk, we can drop you off in Westport if desired.