heaphy explorer

From the mountains to the sea

The Heaphy Track is world renowned for its beauty and diversity. Over its eighty kilometres the track passes through a range of dramatic landscapes in Kahurangi National Park. Ascending from the junction of the Brown and Aorere Rivers, traversing expansive sub-alpine tussock downs through lush Rata and Nikau palm forests, then dropping down to the roaring seas of the West Coast, it is truly one of New Zealand’s Great Walks.

What makes our Heaphy trips special?

We carry the majority of your food
We provide pick up & delivery to/from Nelson (including transfer of extra luggage from Nelson to Karamea)
We include accommodation at the end of the track*, allowing us to have a relaxed last day of tramping
We stop for tea or coffee (on us!) at the historic Langford Store before we begin the track
Our meal menu is varied and lovingly prepared with fresh and healthy ingredients (vegetarian options also available)
We make our own tasty energy treats to share with you along the way
We take photos and will provide them to you via a photo sharing service
You receive a ‘Certificate of Completion’ to show off to your friends (or post on Facebook)

Overview

6 days/ 5 nights
5 days of walking
Distance: 78.4 kms
Grade: Medium
$2450 NZD per person

Included

4 nights in DOC Great Walks huts
1 night at The Last Resort in Karamea
Tasty meals, homemade snacks, beverages
Pick up and return to Nelson (including transfer of extra bag to the tracks end)
See the F.A.Q. section below for more details

Full itinerary

DAY 1

Brown Hut to Perry Saddle

17 kilometres

5 hours

Perry Saddle Hut

Pickup in Nelson (approximately 7 am), drive to the start of the track (approximately 3 hours), stopping en route for a complimentary tea or coffee at the historic Langford Store. The road stops at Browns Hut, the first hut of the track, but we don’t stop here. Our first night is at Perry Saddle Hut (26 bunks), a 5 hour walk with a 700m altitude gain. The wide, well-graded track climbs gently up through the bush, giving views of Mt. Olympus and the thick bush of the Aorere Valley, and on a fine day it is possible to see Mt. Taranaki in the distance.

DAY 2

Perry Saddle to Saxon Hut

12.5 kilometres

4 hours

Saxon Hut

An easier day, with only 4 hours walking. The track goes through patches of beech forest before the wide expanse of the tussock covered Gouland Downs comes into view. The track meanders down to Cave Brook, passing the famous ‘boot pole’ on which trampers over the years have tied their old boots. Then we come to a limestone outcrop, with caves and waterfalls. We visit the oldest hut on the track, the Gouland Downs Hut, then continue on the flatter part of the Downs to Saxon Hut (16 bunks).

DAY 3

Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut

12 kilometres

3-4 hours

James Mackay Hut

This is a morning 3- 4 hour walk to Mackay Hut. The track crosses the Saxon River flats, then onto the broad ridge between the Gouland and Mackay Downs, passing an old pole marking the boundary between the Nelson and West Coast provinces. The vegetation varies between tussock and shrub fringed beech forests, and we get views of the ocean in the distance. We enjoy a tasty lunch at Mackay Hut (28 bunks) at the end of the 12km walk.

DAY 4

James Mackay to Heaphy Hut

20 kilometres

6-7 hours

Heaphy Hut

The day begins with the long gentle descent (downhill all the way), with the temperature getting warmer as we descend down towards the coast. The bush is ever changing from the alpine scrub to taller and taller trees and the welcoming sight of the tree ferns and lowland forest. We enjoy a leisurely lunch near the site of the old Lewis Hut (at the junction of the Heaphy and Lewis rivers).

After lunch we continue along the left bank of the Heaphy River, with its luxuriant rainforest of kowhai, cabbage trees, and nikau. We pass by several of New Zealand’s biggest northern rata trees. Once arriving at the Heaphy Hut (32 bunks) there is the option of a swim in the deep river, a walk along the beach, or you may just enjoy putting your feet up and looking out at the spectacular costal vista from the hut window.

DAY 5

Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai

17.5 kilometres

5 hours

The Last Resort in Karamea

The final day is a 5 hour walk along the magical West Coast, with high cliffs, pounding seas, nikau and karaka tree forests and wild scenery. After a few hours of walking, the distinctive cone of Kohaihai Bluff may be seen in the distance, our destination for the day*. At Kohaihai our vehicle is waiting (along with luggage transferred from Takaka) for the short drive into beautiful Karamea (15 minutes), where the group enjoys well-deserved hot showers and a relaxing night at The Last Resort. One night of lodge accommodation and breakfast at The Last Resort is included in the price. Here we can share a drink at the bar, enjoy an evening meal together and of course celebrate our achievements and experiences over the last 5 days together

DAY 5

The Last Resort to Nelson

Breakfast at The Last Resort

5 hours driving

Drop off in Nelson

After breakfast, we deliver you back to Nelson by 2:30pm (approximately) in time for an afternoon flight/bus or we drop you at your accommodation.

F.A.Q.

What’s included in the Heaphy Explorer?

– Transportation to and from Nelson. We can pick up and drop off from the airport, or at a local accomodation of your choosing
– An expert guide to carry the majority of the food, to cook, to clean-up, and to provide you with local knowledge and expertise.
– 4 nights accomodation in Department Of Conservation Great Walks huts
– 1 night shared room accomodation at The Last Resort, Karamea. Single room available for an additional fee.
– Delicious homemade meals and snacks while out tramping
– A coffee or tea at the historic Langford Store in Bainham prior to setting off on the track

Any exclusions?

– We’ll provide some wine for the table for our dinner at The Last Resort, but your choice of meal is on you
– On our way back to Nelson, any snacks or meals are not included. We typically stop for a coffee break somewhere on the West Coast and for lunch in Murchison.

How fit do I need to be?

The Heaphy Track is wonderfully accessible to people of varying fitness levels. We design our 5-day guided walks to break the journey into manageable daily sections, staying at or taking breaks at all the huts along the way. This means you’re never pushing too hard in a single day, and you’ll have plenty of time to soak in the stunning scenery.

Over the years, we’ve welcomed everyone from teenagers to adventurers in their 80s who’ve successfully completed this walk. That said, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 4-7 hours a day while carrying a pack with all your gear. Since you’ll be carrying your clothing, sleeping bag, and personal items for the entire journey, we recommend a pack between 35-50 litres. Any larger than that and you might be overpacking! Remember, we’ll be carrying all of the food other than individual snacks.

The terrain includes some gradual climbs and descents, but nothing requiring technical skills. The real challenge is more about endurance and being comfortable with a loaded pack rather than extreme fitness.

The key ingredients for success are:

– A reasonable level of fitness (regular walks at home are great preparation)
– Comfort carrying a loaded pack for extended periods
– A positive attitude and sense of adventure
– Comfortable, broken-in tramping boots or shoes

If you’re unsure about your fitness level or have questions about pack weight, we’re happy to chat through what the daily walks involve and help you prepare. Remember, our “carry less, enjoy more” philosophy means packing thoughtfully—and it’s not a race. It’s about enjoying New Zealand’s incredible wilderness at a pace that works for you.

Do we always walk together as a group?

Not necessarily. All of us like to experience the outdoors in our own way, and for some this means solitude while for others it means sharing the track with others. We like to give participants the opportunity to more or less go at their own pace. Your guides will always maintain an awareness of where the group members are and will provide guidelines for where and when to meet up to regroup and for snack breaks. If safety is a concern, your guides may ask that everyone stay together. Of course, you are also welcome to walk with the guides if you like.

What should I know about cancellations and refunds?

Life happens, and we understand that plans sometimes change. Our cancellation policy covers the costs we’ve already committed to for your trip and helps us manage bookings fairly for everyone. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your investment – here’s what you need to know:

Kahurangi Guided Walks requires a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellation fees are charged on the following basis:

– 59-30 days prior: 25% of trip cost
– 29-7 days prior: 50% of trip cost
– Within one week of trip start: 75% of trip cost
– Once trip has started: 100% of trip cost

These cancellation fees are not negotiable, therefore we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.

OPERATOR CANCELLATIONS
We reserve the right to alter, amend or cancel any trip should weather or any other situation require it. We also reserve the right to withdraw any person who in our opinion is likely to endanger themselves or others.

Incidents that may cause a cancellation include but are not limited to: track closures due to severe weather or natural disasters, damage to tracks which may deem them unsafe, weather events which may cause flooding or dangerous conditions, or any Act of God (e.g. earthquake, tsunami) which may pose an unacceptable risk to guests or staff.

All trips altered, amended or cancelled by Kahurangi Guided Walks will be subject to our standard cancellation and refund policy outlined above.

What else would you like to know?

Leave a question on our contact page.

heaphy explorer

From the mountains to the sea

Full itinerary

F.A.Q.​

F.A.Q.