Tramp Heaphy Track New Zealand for Great Exercise

For three unforgettable days in Kahurangi National Park, exploring natural scenery which has no equal, consider tramping along Heaphy Track New Zealand. Heaphy Track is considered one of the ten Great Walks in NZ by New Zealand’s Department of Conservation - like the Kepler Track, Routeburn Track, Milford Track, and Hollyford Track. This trail takes its name from the famous 19th-century New Zealand explorer, Major Charles Heaphy.

It takes a full three days to traverse the entirety of Heaphy Track New Zealand, but many visitors to the area advise taking even longer and stopping frequently to savor the unique scenery. Indeed, the geological diversity here is astounding, and every 20 kilometers of the track is absolutely unlike any other section.

The best times to walk this trail are the fall and winter. Then, the tourist rush begins to abate, the weather becomes more predictable, and you will have ample opportunity to explore the area at a leisurely pace. The trek from east to west starts in a lush beech forest; from here, the track steadily rises in elevation until it reaches over 900 meters above sea level. The mountains of the southern New Zealand island are readily visible from this section.

Then Heaphy Track New Zealand leads travelers to Gouland Downs and its many fascinating swing bridges. They may wobble, but they’re designed to hold and are perfectly safe. Crossing a swing bridge will give you a unique perspective of the rivers, canyons, and vast landscapes below. Gouland Downs Hut in this area also provides travelers with a place to rest and spend the night.

Through tussock moors, moss-covered wetlands, and New Zealand bush, the Heaphy Track will take you to the MacKay Hut, where you can observe the breathtaking Tasman Sea spread out before you. From there, another body of water, the Heaphy River, is not far away, followed shortly by a lush, exotic nikau palm forest.

The shores of the Tasman Sea and the Heaphy Hut mark the final section of the trail - a walk along the beaches of Kahurangi National Park, alternating with verdant palm forests. The farther you go on this trail, the more exhilarating it gets. As you complete the trek along Heaphy Track New Zealand, you’ll wish that there were more!

Bridges, forests, seas, mountains, rivers, and beaches - all this and more awaits travelers who venture to tramp the Heaphy Track. Indeed, nothing quite compares to this New Zealand vacation experience for fathoming the delights of the northern part of NZ’s South Island.

For excellent accommodations in the Golden Bay area, try Almond House Backpackers in Nelson — within close reach of Kahurangi National Park.