Day 3 – James Mckay Hut to Heaphy Hut

(21.5km; 7 hours)

The track from James Mackay to the Lewis Hut is a steady downhill gradient, almost for its entirety. The foliage changes from stunted manuka and kanuka and bog plants to beech forest and then podocarp further down the slopes. In 90 minutes, the first glimpses of the Heaphy River are possible and this section of the track is a great example of the graduation of forest types from sub-alpine to rainforest. The birdlife increases markedly also.

Lewis Hut is reached in 3 1/2 hours and is a good place to stop for lunch. The track forks just before the hut and Lewis Hut is a 2 minute walk down the left fork with running water, gas and flush toilets and is positioned at the confluence of the Lewis and the Heaphy Rivers.

After lunch there are two large swingbridges to cross. The first bridge is across the Lewis River and the longer bridge is across the Heaphy River which is the bridge visible from the Lewis Hut. The foliage changes yet again – the first nikau palms are encountered along this section and some very large northern rata trees. The track follows the true left bank of the Heaphy River for 40 minutes and then takes a small deviation up the Gunner River to the Gunner Swingbridge. Not long after the Gunner Swingbridge, the first layered karst limestone formations are encountered and the walking from this point is flat.

The Heaphy Hut is reached around 3 hours from Lewis Hut. It is located on the edge of a large grassy flat with a lagoon to one side and access down to the beach around 5 minutes walk away. The Heaphy Hut has running water, flush toilets, gas and open fireplace. A great place to watch the sun set into the sea!