The most diverse walk in New Zealand

The Heaphy Track is one of New Zealand's designated ‘Great Walks'. At approximately 80 kilometers, it is renowned as the ‘flora walk' of New Zealand. No other track has the diversity and number of plant species found on the Heaphy. Scenery and habitat range from montane nothofagus-podocarp forest and sub-alpine tussock grasslands, mountain vistas, through to lush jungle like lowland forest and Nikau palm fringed beaches and pounding surf.

The track has a colourfulhistory. The route connects Golden Bay in the North of the South Island with the township of Karamea on the West Coast. Evidence of moa hunters at the Heaphy (Whakapouai) River mouth has been dated to the 13th century. European history started with the discovery of gold on both the West Coast and Golden Bay, leading to the completion of a track to connect the two districts in 1893. With the end of the gold rush era, the well graded and benched track lapsed into disuse, except for the occasional tramper, botanist or hunter.

It remained in that state for most of the 20th century. In the 1960's, with tramping becoming a popular pastime with New Zealanders, the track was ‘rediscovered'. The Forest Service responded by building more huts and upgrading the track. Trampers, in turn, arrived in ever greater numbers to experience this amazing tour of varied scenery and natural history.

The track receives it's name from Charles Heaphy – explorer, artist and soldier – who, along with Thomas Brunner and their Maori guides Kehu and Etau, was the first European to explore the Heaphy coast.

All Bush & Beyond clients receive a personal checklist to assist identifying and recording flora and fauna on the Heaphy Walk.

Trip facts

• 6 days/5 nights
• Fitness level: average
• Price: $1,395 (more about pricing)
• Includes a night in the delightful Karamea Village Hotel
• Includes scenic return drive
  to Motueka or Nelson.
• Transfer to/from Nelson Airport
  if required

Prices include all food, hut passes and transport ex Motueka or Nelson. We can arrange your accommodation for you in Motueka at a price and style which suits you. See accommodation page. We will get you back to Motueka or Nelson on day 6, unless your option is to carry on down the West Coast, or stay an extra day in Karamea.
More about Bush & Beyond cuisine

Fitness level required

The track is well graded and maintained, and all the major rivers and creeks are bridged. Only an average fitness level is therefore required. The walk has been planned so that short days follow the longer ones.

Clients are only expected to carry their own personal gear such as sleeping bag, clothing etc. Your guides take care of the food, cooking gear, and other equipment. The pace will be slow so as to allow ample time for observations, billy boils and snack breaks.

Accommodation on the walk

As there are no private huts on the Heaphy, we use the large well maintained Department of Conservation (DoC) huts with comfortable bunks, coal ranges and gas cookers. We book adequate space in huts for each of our trips. There are 7 huts and 2 shelters to choose from on the track. There are no shower facilities, but during the summer months there are some lovely bathing creeks and rivers – not to mention the lagoon at the Heaphy Mouth. In the cooler months a basin of water can be heated for washing.

When to do it

Unlike most of the other Great Walks in New Zealand, the Heaphy can be walked 12 months of the year, with every season having something special to offer. This part of New Zealand doesn't have a ‘rainy season' as such, but occasional rain can be expected at any time of the year.

Summer

The summer months are December through February, but March can also be very settled and hot. The summer is the time when our alpine/sub-alpine flowers are at their best. Late summer the weather is usually the most settled.

Autumn

Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere is March through May. Fungi time on the Heaphy! The weather is usually quite settled and becomes cooler in April and May.

Winter

Winter months are June through August. The Nelson region is renowned for it's beautiful winter weather, with cool crisp mornings and the clearest, bluest skies you've ever seen! As the highest point is only 910 m, this track is open all year round. Any snow that may fall doesn't sit for long. All the huts have lovely warm stoves. This is a quiet time to walk the track, with fewer trampers overall.

Spring

Spring is September through November. Everything is fresh with new growth – the promise of a great season ahead! The track is still reasonably quiet

Route Description

Flora

The Heaphy is renowned for its flora for several reasons. Kahurangi National Park has more plant species than any other park in New Zealand. During the last ice age the tussock grasslands (peneplains) of the park escaped glaciation and became refuges into which many of New Zealand's alpine species colonized. As the park is situated in the centre of New Zealand, it is also the southern or northern limit to many species. As if this weren't enough to make it pretty special, the Heaphy track starts in lowland forest, climbs through a variety of habitat to a sub-alpine plateau, and eventually finishes in coastal forest with the world's most southern palm trees fringing its beaches. There are many rare and endemic species along the track. All 5 species of Nothofagus (southern hemisphere beech) are found here. Huge podocarps and giant northern ratas are found in the lowland forest. On the Gouland Downs a huge variety of alpine and sub alpine species exists, including Celmisias (mountain daisy), Dracophyllums, Gentians, and Bulbinellas. Perching orchids, Astelias, mosses and spleenworts galore drip from the forest giants in the lowlands. Karaka, nikau and ngaio are among the many tree species to be found along the coast.

Fungi

There is a lot still to be discovered about New Zealand's fungi. New species are being discovered frequently. With its varied of habitat, there is no better place than the Heaphy Track to view the unique and strange New Zealand fungi.

 

Birds

For the bird lover, many of New Zealand's rare and endangered species may be seen or heard on the Heaphy. As with the flora, the habitat diversity also means a large variety of bird life. Among the more common birds which may be seen are robin, tomtit, brown creeper, pigeon, rifleman, bellbird, tui and pipit. Also quite commonly seen are kaka, kakariki, kea and weka. The more rare birds to be seen include fernbird, falcon and blue duck. Moreporks are frequently heard at night. Great spotted kiwi are commonly heard in the evenings across the Gouland Downs and sometimes in the western lowlands. They are rarely seen however. Common coastal sightings include pied and black shags (cormorants), a variety of gulls, oyster catchers and terns.

Other fauna

Before the arrival of humans, especially Europeans, New Zealand was a land virtually without mammals. Introduced species, now regarded as pests, such as deer, goats, possums and stoats may occasionally be seen. On the coast native fur seals may also occasionally be seen.

New Zealand's giant Powelliphanta land snails are quite common and are often seen. The largest of all New Zealand species is found on the Gouland Downs – Powelliphanta superba. Also the North West Nelson Giant Weta may possibly be seen.

 

Click 'grid' for thumbnails of all pictures.

 

 

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