Heaphy Track

New Zealand's longest Great Walk, 78 km through Kahurangi National Park from the Aorere valley in Golden Bay to the wild West Coast near Karamea. It crosses beech forest, the open red tussock of the Gouland and Mackay Downs, and ends with a day walking among nīkau palms beside the pounding Tasman Sea.

Most people take 4 to 6 days. There are seven huts and nine campsites, which must be booked through DOC. All the main rivers are bridged and the track is well formed, so it's suitable for most fit walkers, in either direction. From May to November it's also open to mountain bikers.

The two ends are a long way apart by road (about 6 hours), so plan transport: shuttles, track transport services and small planes connect Tākaka and Karamea.