What was it about walking the Track that was so special? The people, the surroundings? There were certainly some characters on the trip from the uncley uncle who dropped us off at the trailhead, through to the khaki clad rangeress digging ditches, her humour impervious to the pouring rain. The morning of the second day, we clambered up Mount Perry along a rough track of mossy bog and loose scree. At the top, lingering views of Golden Bay and the Dragon Teeth Mountains tempted us to leave the marked trail and lose ourselves in the wilderness for a week or two, perhaps more. We came to our senses though - a series of cairns surrounded us, each one at the very earliest stages of construction, rings of stone, giant bird nests, a metre or so across and a few rocks high. We jumped in, crouched down and began cawing, cuckooing and flapping with delight, lesser spotted trampers in their natural habitat.
The scenery is fantastic, compelling, distracting. After a short time on the Heaphy, forest nymphs have taken the pack's weight from your shoulders. Trails disappear into the bush, grassy knolls beckon, trees cry out to be climbed. How to stay out here plays on your mind - eeking rations out, trading with fellow trampers, whatever it takes. If only you've packed another meal or two. There are secrets along the way, more than enough for everyone. Let me share mine. There is a cave through which water trickles over three musical waterfalls, each fringed with bright moss. The notes echo and frolic before being carried up to blue skies by a cool breeze. The sun creeps over a cliff edge high above, its light reaching the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, scattering honey gold reflections onto the cave's ceiling. I apologise to the spirits for bathing in their crystal waters then thank them for this wonderful, cleansing place.

The Heaphy Track was indeed a "Great Walk." Every day was completely different and each bend in the track revealed a stunning new vista. The scenery was incredible, beech forests, open alpine plains, amazing granite and limestone rock formations, mighty rivers, majestic rata and rimu trees, stunning coastline and an amazing array of birds greeted me along the way. The huts were warm, dry and comfortably appointed, the track well graded and formed, which made for easy tramping...I thoroughly enjoyed the tramp and would highly recommend it to others.

Alpine Landschaften, schottische Highlandhuegel, Maerchenwaelder und tropisch-karibische Inselidylle, das alles innerhalb weniger Tage und auf "Schusters Rappen" bequem zu erleben. Dazu gemueltiche Huetten mit viel Ambiente, engagierten Rangern, die viel zu erzaehlen wissen und einer Tier- und Pflanzenwelt, die Naturfreundeherzen hoeher schlagen laesst. Hoehrt sich paradiesisch an? Ist paradiesisch! Neugierig geworden? Dann nichts wie in die Wanderschuhe und auf zum Heaphytrack! Ihr werdet es geniessen!

The Heaphy Track is one of my favourite New Zealand Great Walks (together with the Abel Tasman Coastal Track). It's a really well formed, medium 4-6 day walk, with absolutely cosy and nice huts with lots of atmosphere. The scenery is unique and is changing so quickly, it's just amazing. You'll walk through a mixture of alpine scenery, Scottish highlandhills, magic forests, and tropical islands. We did the Heaphy Track at the end of May and the weather was quite good, but I would say the track is worth walking in any time of the year.