Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Perry Saddle Hut to Gouland Downs Hut
2
Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut
1½
Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut
3
James Mackay Hut to Lewis Hut
3½
Lewis Hut to Heaphy Hut
2½
Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai River
5
Bookings & Transport
Seven designated
Great Walk huts
($32)
lie along the track, which have bunks and a kit-
chen area, heating, flush toilets and washbasins with cold water. Most but not all have
gas rings; a couple have lighting. There are also nine
Great Walk campsites
($14)
, plus
two day shelters are just that; overnight stays are not permitted.
As the Heaphy is a Great Walk, all huts and campsites must be booked in advance
year-round. Bookings can be made online through
Great Walks Bookings
( 0800 694
732;
www.greatwalks.co.nz
)
or at DOC visitor centres, nationwide. In person, the best spot
for detailed Heaphy Track information and bookings is the DOC counter at the Nelson i-
SITE (
Click here
). Closer to the Golden Bay end of the track, hut tickets, bookings and
other track information can be obtained from the DOC office (
Click here
)
or Visitor
Centre (
Click here
)
in Takaka. See also
www.heaphytrack.com
,
and DOC's
Heaphy
Track
brochure.
The two road ends of the Heaphy Track are an almost unfathomable distance apart:
463km to be precise. From Takaka, you can get to the Heaphy Track (via Collingwood)
shuttle service: drop off and pick up from Kohaihai ($110), and other on-demand local
relocations ($200 to $300, depending on the direction and time), food drops, shuttles and
advice.
The Kohaihai trailhead is 15km from the small town of Karamea.
Karamea Express
(
03-782 6757; info@karamea-express.co.nz)
departs from the shelter at 1pm and 2pm for
Karamea from October to the end of April ($15).
Flights between Karamea and Takaka are offered by
Adventure Flights Golden Bay
(
03-525 6167, 0800 150 338;
www.adventureflightsgoldenbay.co.nz
;
Takaka Airfield)
, from $185
per person (up to four people);
Golden Bay Air
(
0800 588 885;
www.goldenbayair.co.nz
)
