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All photos on the Web site are by Paul Murray and Naomi Ishihara unless otherwise attributed. |
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 Many people consider the Heaphy Track to be the greatest of New Zealand's nine Great Walks.
The 82-kilometre track through the Kahurangi National Park--connecting Collingwood in Golden Bay with Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island--is a long, but relatively easy tramp and a fantastic adventure for moderately fit people of all ages.
Unlike many other Great Walks, the Heaphy Track is open year round and the winter season affords unparalleled freedom, tranquillity and affordability as the numbers on the track are less than the busy summer season, the sandflies are on holiday and the huts are only $10 per night. The huts are spaced evenly along the track. The longest distance between huts is 17 kilometres between Brown Hut and Perry Saddle Hut.
Scenically, everyday on the Heaphy Track is wonderfully different. You'll pass through ancient beech forests, expansive alpine tussock country, see giant rata trees, limestone caves and cliffs, cross broad rivers (all with sturdy bridges), look out over densely forested mountains as far as you can see, through incredibly lush rainforest and along the sub-tropical coast through groves of nikau palms as you follow the wild Tasman coast from the Heaphy Hut to Karamea. You'll also see all sorts of native birds, including flocks of screeching kaka and kea parrots, morepokes, rare blue ducks (which are on the NZ $10 note), friendly robins, cuckoos, kingfishers, parrots, wekas, pukekos, stilts, godwits, terns, oyster catchers, shags, herons, and some lucky trampers have even seen kiwis.
Many people also walk either end of the Heaphy Track and stay at either the Heaphy or Lewis huts from the Karamea end, or the Perry Saddle Hut from the Collingwood end. This enables a taste of the track for people who haven't the time or the stamina to do the whole track. There is a large camping area at the Heaphy Hut with ample space for 40 campers.
It is possible to walk the track in both directions, but most people start at Collingwood and finish in Karamea. Some trampers walk one way, rest a while in either Karamea or Collingwood and then walk back again! |
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