A route guide to tramping the scenic 78 km long Heaphy Track in the Kahurangi National Park — the longest Great Walk in New Zealand. Duration 4-6 days Distance 78.4km Huts $34 per adult per night. Available in Kindle format. You'll then hike through flat tussock country to reach Saxon Hut, nestled at the end of the downs. 2. Travel through expansive tussock downs, lush forests and nīkau palms to the roaring seas of the wild West Coast. We also use cookies to show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms. The Heaphy Track is one of the most popular tracks in the country. The path followed by the Heaphy Track was first used by Maori pounamu hunters travelling from Golden Bay to the pounamu (jade) rivers of Westland. Choose to hike this track and you’ll get luxuriant rainforest; sub-alpine tussock grasslands; high, rugged mountains; and, finally, lowland forest and palm-fringed surf beaches. DOC Visitor Centres nationwide can make hut or campsite bookings on your behalf. The Heaphy Track is one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks”, connecting the Aorere Valley in Golden Bay with Karamea on the West Coast. 1. Von Tourism New Zealand. There are seven huts and nine campsites dotted throughout the Heaphy Track, all run by the Department of Conservation (DOC). Now that you know about the pole, you have the option of packing a boot to add to the collection! From the west, the town of Westport offers multiple options for accommodation. Wave surge warning. The James Mackay Hut sits on an open terrace just above the track. E-Mail, Kahurangi National Park, West Coast, South Island, New Zealand. This self-guided hike on the 78.4km track with views of mountains to the sea takes 4-6 days. The park also contains the largest cave system in New Zealand. First off today you'll gradually descend towards the Heaphy River, surrounded by a rainforest of kowhai, cabbage trees and nikau palms. Heaphy Track, West Coast Von Miles Holden. Kids 17 and under stay free! Ancient settlement. Find airfares. Many people choose to walk only to the first or second huts on the track … tramping new zealand. A Great Walk in every sense, it traverses diverse terrain – dense native forest, the mystical Gouland Downs, secluded river valleys, and beaches dusted in salt spray and fringed by nikau palms. Today, journey through tussock to Gouland Downs before coming to the 'boot pole' - sure to bring a smile to your face. for Conservation, Air New Zealand. With its varied of habitat, there is no better place than the Heaphy Track to view the unique and strange New Zealand fungi. You'll soon reach the Scotts Beach clearing; a great spot to rest before climbing the Kohaihai saddle and meandering down to the bridge that crosses the river. One of New Zealand’s nine great walks, the Heaphy Track, finishes (or starts, depending on which way you’re heading) at Karamea. Pounamu was highly valued for tools, weapons and ornaments. The Heaphy Track is well formed and well marked. The huts are Department of Conservation-maintained bush cabins with gas cooking facilities, open fires, bunks with mattresses, large camping grounds, toilets and running-water facilities. This ancient Maori trail is now one of New Zealand's "Great Walks" and is a well formed track stretching 82 kilometres from Golden Bay to the West Coast. You’re in for 82 kilometres of hard walking, but the frequent scenery changes will certainly take your mind off sore feet. Gourmet guided walking trips of New Zealand. 02 December 2020 at 12:00-18:00: Partly cloudy, Temperature 15, 0 mm, Light breeze, 2 m/s … Click the link below for more information and detailed maps for this trail. It is located within the Kahurangi National Park and classified as one of New Zealand's nine Great Walks by the Department of Conservation.Named after Charles Heaphy, the track is 78.4 kilometres (48.7 mi) long and is usually walked in four or five days.. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience on this site. In addition to above, we use other cookies and analytics to provide a better site experience. It's often overlooked for its more glamorous neighbour - Abel Tasman - but we loved the quietness and diversity of this Great Walk. The fee for this varies between each Great Walk. One of New Zealand’s nine great walks, the Heaphy Track, finishes (or starts, depending on which way you’re heading) at Karamea. In the distance, both the Tasman Sea and the Heaphy River can be seen from here. Heaphy Track in New Zealand. In the east, the town of Takaka in the Nelson region is also home to many options for places to stay. Even to a non-geologist, Kahurangi’s rocks are deeply interesting. Our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy explain how we use your data and who our partners are. Check out what other travelers say about New Zealand on TripAdvisor. It crosses the Southern Alps, taking the walker from the east to the west coast, through beech forests, alpine moors, mossy, very wet forests reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, a large and beautiful estuary at the entrance of the Heaphy River to the sea, then a superb walk along rocky and sandy ocean beaches, … As you follow the track towards the mouth of the river, nikau palms become more common, the sea’s incessant roaring grows louder and, in some conditions, small waves can be seen running upriver. A number of specialist tour operators can aid in bringing your walking experience to life. Also here is a limestone outcrop where you can explore caves and waterfalls - take a torch and see if you can find a cave spider. Pounamu was highly valued for tools, weapons and ornaments. Includes gourment meal, equipment hire, plus help with transport and accommodation organisation. Traversing an ancient trail composed of massive tussock downs and lush forestry, the multi-day trek offers some of the greatest geographical contrasts you could possibly imagine. It rains heavily with little warning and even small streams are dangerous in flood. Enjoy a guided walk on the Heaphy Track (one of New Zealand's Great Walks) with Bush and Beyond, the original guiding company on the Heaphy. A detour to see one of New Zealand’s biggest rata trees is definitely worthwhile. When planning your trip, ensure you check the … Wellington, New Zealand 55 contributions 26 helpful votes What a hike When my friend asked me if I wanted to walk the Heaphy track, all I could think of was saying no. Read the itinerary, get packing tips, learn its story. New species are being discovered frequently. Visitors need to subtract 30 minutes from the Land Information New Zealand Westport Port tide timetables to get the correct tide times for the Heaphy Track coastline.. This is one of seven Great Walk huts on the Heaphy Track. Bookings are essential for both huts and campsites. Small creeks dissect the landscape and pink granite sparkles and crunches beneath your boots. This delightful hiking route takes you on a traverse through the heart of Kahurangi National Park. It is recommended that you book in advance for this popular walk. Further up the river you'll come to a huge 148-metre suspension bridge, crossing the water and the river flats. Perry Saddle (Heaphy Track), Nelson Ranges, New Zealand, New Zealand Mountain weather forecast for 880m. The 82km walk traverses some of New Zealand’s most diverse and rugged landscapes, with each section of the track entirely different to the last. Parts of the region are limestone or marble; these areas are characterised by an abundance of caves, bluffs, natural arches, sinkholes and water-worn outcrops. Of being wet, cold and tired, which can cause you and your companions to become hypothermic. You can start the track either from Brown Hut in Golden Bay (156 km from Nelson) or from Kohaihai on the West Coast (110 km from Westport). Popular guided walks include the Heaphy Track in Kahurangi National Park, the Old Ghost Road through native beech forest. Later well worn pack tracks were built by those wanting easy access to the country's first goldfields. Trampers staying at Heaphy Hut are resting right next to one of New Zealand’s … The Heaphy Track is one of New Zealand’s most popular hiking (or tramping) routes. Shortly after crossing the bridge you'll reach the Kohaihai Carpark where there is both shelter and a phone. © Copyright 2005 - 2020 Paul Murray. Heaphy Track Guided Walks. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, without the prior written permission of Paul Murray. Heaphy Track Fungi. The Heaphy Track team has built a sound reputation as an ecologically based operation, with a concern for the park's natural values. When planning Weather on the Heaphy Track changes quickly and annual rainfall averages over 4,000 mm. At the mouth of the Heaphy River water surges out through a narrow gap into the sea - in-coming waves halt the flow; and the resulting tumultuous churning of salt and fresh waters is spectacular. 2 1 3 4 5 Safety on the Heaphy Track track is not safe to walk. The former New Zealand Forest Service improved the track facilities and now a route with a long tradition of use for commerce has a new life as a premier tourist attraction. Every section of the track is vastly different from the previous one. All huts have heating, toilets, bunks and water; and a few have gas cooking facilities and lighting. Book the Heaphy Huts online. Description. Jeder Abschnitt der Strecke ist völlig anders als der vorherige. Your browser does not support iframes. The Heaphy combines well with the Wangapeka Track which crosses the national park further south, beginning near Tapawera and ending just south of Karamea. Starting at Brown Hut, you'll head upstream before crossing crossing a bridge over the Brown River. The Heaphy Track is not a loop walk, with hikers having the option of walking west to east or east to west. The Heaphy Track is one of the Great Walks - New Zealand’s premier hiking tracks, passing through some of the most awe-inspiring and pristine landscapes. See our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy to understand how you can manage cookies. Von allen Great Walks bietet der Heaphy Track die stärksten Kontraste. The Heaphy Track in New Zealand, 80 km long, has a wide variety of landscapes. In 1846 Charles Heaphy, a draughtsman with the New Zealand Company, and Thomas Brunner were the first Europeans to traverse the park to the coast. Fungi fanciers have much to enjoy along the Heaphy Track. In addition they will carry and cook lots of … From here the track gradually climbs to a saddle with beautiful views across the Aorere Valley - on a clear day it is even possible to see the conical peak of Mt Taranaki in the North Island. Day 4, James Mackay Hut > Heaphy Hut, 20km. There is a lot still to be discovered about New Zealand's fungi. This is a 32 -bunk hut located on the Heaphy Track in the Buller area. Of tight corners and slippery rock between James Mackay and Lewis huts. This ancient Maori trail crosses over tussock downs to lush forests, through Nikau palms and onward to the roaring seas of the West Coast. The track then dips slightly, leading to Perry Saddle Hut. Online: For anything and everything pertaining to the Heaphy Track, check the DOC website (i.e. This pole wears a variety of old boots, bestowed by hikers over many years. It overlooks the Heaphy River mouth, which is an exciting place. The majority of today's hike is through forest; although there is some beach walking. A deep pool nearby offers a refreshing swim - not for the faint-hearted, but all feelings of fatigue will vanish the moment you hit the cold water. Read more about the Heaphy Track Guided Walks now Keep browsing if you're happy with this. Many people choose to walk only to the first or second huts on the track instead of walking its entire length. 3. Heaphy Track coast tide tables. After it was discovered there was hardly any gold in the area, the track fell into disrepair until the North-west Nelson Forest Park was established in 1965. All Rights Reserved. It should however be noted that the Wangapeka track is significantly more difficult than the Heaphy. The Heaphy Track is the longest of New Zealand’s 10 Great Walks, situated in Kahurangi National Park. In late 2018, the takahē raised two chicks. Day 5, Heaphy Hut > Kohaihai Carpark, 16.2km. Free downloadable brochure, trail map, trekking notes, logistical details, etc.). This is the highest point on the track. The 82-kilometre, four-day tramp attracts visitors from all over the world every year. Heaphy Track Bus and Shuttle Services; Heaphy Track Bus and Shuttle Services; Golden Bay Coachlines: Phone: 03-5258-352 E-mail: info@gbcoachlines.co.nz Web: www.gbcoachlines.co.nz Heaphy Express: Phone: 0800-629-422 E-mail: transport@HeaphyExpress.com Web: www.HeaphyExpress.com Heaphy Track Help – Car Relocation Of all the Great Walks, the Heaphy Track delivers the strongest contrasts. Let us show you the best of New Zealand on other platforms by selecting 'On' and allowing us to share data from your visit(s) with our partners. The park also contains the largest cave system in New Zealand. 38 almost epic adventures on the South and Stewart Islands. The route is adorned by expansive tussock downs, lush forestry, wondrous native trees and roaring waterways. Guidebook: The Lonely Planet guide Hiking & Tramping in New Zealand has a map and trekking notes for the Routeburn. The track is staged within the Kahurangi National Park, the second largest national park in the country and home to many Great Spotted Kiwi Birds. Todays journey winds through more tussock and bush flats, criss-crossed by rivers and various bridges. The Heaphy Track is a popular tramping track in the north west of the South Island of New Zealand. The path followed by the Heaphy Track was first used by Maori pounamu hunters travelling from Golden Bay to the pounamu (jade) rivers of Westland. Later it would become Kahurangi National Park and today the Heaphy Track is one of the most walked tracks in New Zealand. Heaphy Track Elevation Profile - Total Distance 73.5 km Car Park Hut Shelter Campsite Vista Caution Toilets Water Sinks Bunks Heating Cooking Lighting Barbecue Firepit Phone Our guides have a vast knowledge of flora, fauna and history to share with you and explore our unique Kahurangi environment. The Heaphy Track is easily the most diverse of all New Zealand's Great Walks. All major stream and river crossings are bridged. As a multi-day ride, the Heaphy Track is much more demanding than other popular New Zealand multi-day rides, such as the Central Otago Rail Trail and Queen Charlotte Track.As part of your preparation you should have tackled at least one six-hour plus ride on technical single track, carrying a loaded 25–30 litre pack. 29 November 2020 at 12:00-18:00: Partly cloudy, Temperature 15, 0 mm, Gentle breeze, 4 … The Heaphy River flowing into the Tasman Sea, Kahurangi National Park. Here’s your first look at the most beautiful spots trekkers tackling this epic journey can look forward to. If you want to do a Great Walk independently, you will need to book the DOC accommodation on the trails. Detailed 6 day mountain weather forecast for climbers and mountaineers. From forest to coast, the Heaphy Track combines all of New Zealand's scenic beauty into one Great Walk. The Heaphy Track is the longest of all the Great Walks in New Zealand, coming in at nearly 80km across four days. Day 3, Saxon Hut > James Mackay Hut, 11.8km. A booking fee applies. Eine Reise der Kontraste. The 82-kilometre, four-day tramp attracts visitors from all over the world every year. As one of New Zealand's Great Walks, there are certain regulations in place. There’s a reason the Heaphy Track is among New Zealand’s most loved multi-day hikes. Contact the business to find out if a walking tour is right for you. Distance: 82 km Approximate Time: 4 to 6 days To view cookie details and how to opt-out, please see our Cookie Policy. Heaphy Hut is situated far enough back from the sea to be spared the worst of the winds.