Heaphy Track

On the day before the tour we’ll pick you up in Nelson and drive you to Motueka.

We begin with a two-hour scenic drive from your accommodation in Motueka to the start of the track in the Aorere Valley in Golden Bay. The road takes us over the renowned Takaka Hill, also known as ‘Marble Mountain’ for its huge outcrops of limestone marble rock. We then travel down the beautiful Takaka Valley, through the township of the same name, then turn inland to the Aorere Valley.

The track commences at Brown River and climbs on a well graded track through lowland then podocarp-beech forest. We reach the highest point on the track (910m) approximately 40 minutes from our destination for the night – Perry Saddle Hut (a distance of 17 km – 6 hours). From the hut there are spectacular views of the distant saw-toothed Douglas Range and the Dragon’s Teeth.

Highlights

• The change in the unique flora as we ascend the track.
• Numerous bush birds – tui, bellbird, rifleman, tomtit and many more.
• The spectacular vistas from Flanagans Lookout at the highest point of the track and then again from the hut.
• A chance to see two of our native parrots at the hut – the kea and kaka.
• At night the piercing cries of the great spotted kiwi can be heard.

Entering the Gouland Downs.

An easy day of flat to undulating walking. First through kamahi-beech-quintinia forest, then across the rolling tussock grass lands of the Gouland Downs – a peneplain. We stop at the historic Gouland Downs Hut for lunch, then continue through the ‘Enchanted Forest’. This is a limestone remnant with beech forest. On across the Downs, we walk through more magic forest with Dracophyllum traversii and D. townsonii. Our destination, Saxon Hut, is situated in tussock country. (A distance of 13 km – approx. 3 1/2 hours walking time, but we will be taking most of the day observing things along the way).

Highlights

• A chance for the fitter walker to climb Mount Perry first thing in the morning for the 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).
• A fossick among the moss dripping beech trees of the Enchanted Forest, checking out some of the cave entrances in this lovely limestone outcrop.
• Once again at night listening to the great spotted kiwi.
• The rare endemic Bulbinella talbotii can be found on the Downs, along with the Pseudopanax lineris.

On the way to Lewis Hut we encounter a different flora habitat once again, 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. We descend to the Heaphy valley floor, as the track winds gradually down through ever changing forest with new species being added constantly, until the first nikau palm appears and the forest takes on a jungle like appearance. The Lewis Hut is situated on the confluence of the Heaphy and Lewis Rivers.

From Lewis Hut, the Heaphy River approaches the West Coast of New Zealand. Only an 8 km – 2 1/2 hours walking. But a longer time may be taken as there is so much to see. After crossing the Heaphy swing bridge, the mixed lowland rainforest flora and the limestone outcrops cannot be rushed. There is little of this forest type left in New Zealand. We follow the river all the way to the mouth, arriving at Heaphy Hut.

Highlights

• Where do we start! 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 Earinaand Winika perching orchids.
• Spend the afternoon beachcombing on the driftwood-strewn shore and/or swimming in the large sandbar protected lagoon (but not swimming in the spectacular but dangerous surf!)
• Maybe just a relaxing afternoon with a book.
• And finally the chance to experience the famous Heaphy sunset!

For the entire day the track hugs the coast and goes in and out of nikau and karaka groves beside pounding surf beaches. We stop for a picnic lunch en route to our finish at Kohaihai. There is magnificent scenery all the way (16 km., 5 – 6 hours).

Highlights

• From the nikau and karaka forest to the wonderful West Coast beaches – this whole day is certainly a highlight.
• Seabirds to be seen today include the cormorant, oystercatchers and gulls.
• We may even see a seal sunning itself on the rocks.
• Also to be seen is our large native pigeon (the kereru), especially when one of their favorite foods – the nikau berry – is ripe.
• We spend our final night at The Last Resort in Karamea. We have a celebratory dinner and get to experience real West Coast hospitality. The meal tonight is at your own cost.
• The restaurant has excellent regional cuisine, including their famous whitebait (a New Zealand native fish) patties.
• This is a fun night of relaxation and laughter, full of camaraderie after spending five adventurous days together!

Tonight dinner is at your own cost