Heaphy Track

Heaphy Track is a one-way multi-day tramp/mountain-bike route through Kahurangi National Park in New Zealand, running the full length from the Golden Bay end at the upper Aorere River down to the West Coast end at Kōhaihai (Heaphy River mouth). The route is a New Zealand Great Walk and is typically completed in 4–5 days on foot, depending on how long you stretch the hut legs.

Mapped length is 78.4 km (one way). The track climbs to a high point at Flanagan’s Corner (915 m) and drops back to sea level at the river mouth, so expect a long-distance hike with sustained time on your feet rather than one short steep outing.

The hut system structures the main pacing through a series of fixed legs: Brown Hut → Perry Saddle Hut (about 17–17.5 km), then onward through Perry Saddle, Gouland Downs, Saxon Hut, James Mackay Hut, and Lewis Hut before reaching Heaphy Hut near the river mouth.

From Lewis Hut to Heaphy Hut, the route follows the Heaphy River to the river mouth, with a transition into nikau palm forest as you get closer to the coast. The Heaphy Hut sits close enough to the river mouth to feel the West Coast environment, while being set back from the sea.

The final section from Heaphy Hut to Kōhaihai follows the Heaphy River to the mouth and then on to Kohaihai car park/shelter area. This leg includes coastal/river-mouth walking and a bridge crossing on the way out, and it’s the section where tide timing matters for beach choices.

For logistics, road ends are far apart; you’ll generally use transfers/car relocation, shuttles/buses, or fly in and out to do the walk one way. Shared-use access exists seasonally for mountain biking—when it’s open to bikes, it’s within the stated May–September period in each year.

More information: Wikipedia, The Heaphy Track: what to expect, logistics, difficulty & more, Facts about hiking the Heaphy Track, New Zealand | Active Adventures