Day 4 – Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai

(16.5 km; 5 hours)

This is one of the most spectacular sections of the track and follows the coast for almost the entire 16km. The track follows the beach line just inside the nikau forest and occasionally breaks out on to the beach. Be aware of where the track starts again whenever entering the beach sections. Creeks are a mixture of bridged and unbridged and caution must be exercised when crossing unbridged streams.

Katipo Shelter is traditionally the halfway point. It is a good chance for a snack – there is a toilet, running water but no gas (this is a simple shelter). Just after the halfway point, Koura Beach is reached and it is important to check tide conditions for this section of the track as it can be treacherous.

Scotts Beach is a further 1 ½ hours walk from here and then there is a steady climb over the Kohaihai Bluff with a small side trip to the lookout (highly recommended). There is a small descent to the Kohaihai River bridge and 5 minutes after that is the track end at the Kohaihai Carpark. Your Heaphy Track adventure is complete!