Heaphy Track
The Heaphy - from alpine downs to a wild nikau-palm West Coast beach
The route
The line through Kahurangi NP, New Zealand - waypoints, elevation and the day-by-day shape of the walk.
Waypoints
- 1Brown Hut (Collingwood)Trailhead
East start
- 2Perry Saddle HutHut
Onto the downs
- 3Gouland Downs / Saxon HutHut
Tussock downs
- 4Mackay HutHut
Toward the coast
- 5Heaphy HutHut
Nikau-palm coast
- 6Kohaihai (Karamea)Trailhead
West finish
Season & conditions
Year-round (MTB allowed in winter)
Rain and wind; sandflies on the coast
Open year-round; the trailheads are ~460 km apart by road - plan the shuttle/flight. Confirm.
On the trail
Beech forest, tussock downs, and a nikau-palm subtropical coast
Non-technical walking/hiking; confirm any exposed or scrambly sections locally
Marked/waymarked route; navigation generally straightforward - carry a map and confirm locally
Suitable for reasonably fit hikers; not wheelchair accessible - confirm specifics
Moderate
Walk or (in winter) bike; section options limited by the road gap
Getting there & staying
Brown Hut (Collingwood) to Kohaihai (Karamea)
Long road shuttle or a light-plane flight between the distant trailheads
DOC Great Walk huts and campsites (booked)
Layered outdoor kit, sturdy footwear, sun/rain protection, ample water; patchy mobile coverage - carry a map/PLB where remote
Services in Karamea / Collingwood; limited or none on the trail
Not required; self-guided
Permits & safety
DOC Great Walk hut booking mandatory in season (fees higher for international visitors); sells out early - book at season opening. Confirm current fees. Mountain biking permitted May-Nov.
Permits and operators change - confirm before booking.
The huge road gap between trailheads, weather, sandflies, remoteness
Retrace the route to exit; dial local emergency services; carry a means of calling for help where remote
This profile is desk research, compiled from public sources - not a first-hand trail report. Coordinates are approximate.