Editing Heaphy Track (section)

== Route ==
The track can be travelled in either direction but the route from Golden Bay to Karamea is described here.

=== Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut ===
[[File:Aorere Shelter - Heaphy Track.jpg|thumb|Aorere Shelter – Heaphy Track]]
Brown Hut is located only five minutes walk from the carpark at the end of Aorere Valley road. There is a campsite located close to the hut.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brown Campsite |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/brown-campsite/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |language=en-nz |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202024741/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/campsites/brown-campsite/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The track from Brown Hut crosses Brown River and a grassy flat before climbing through regenerating forest. The {{cvt|17|km}} route to Perry Saddle is almost entirely uphill, and has a consistent gradient. The zigzag path follows the route of a bridle track surveyed and built in 1886 by John Saxon. The track climbs steadily through mature beech forest, mostly red beech (''[[Nothofagus fusca]]'') and hard beech (''[[Nothofagus truncata]]'') trees, but there are also podocarps including [[rimu]] and [[Prumnopitys ferruginea|miro]], [[southern rātā]] and other species such as [[kāmahi]]. Birds that may be seen in the forest on the climb to Perry Saddle Hut include [[Tomtit|tomtits]], [[South Island robin|robins]] and [[New Zealand bellbird|bellbird]]. [[Kākā]] may also be seen or heard near the top. There is a side branch of the track reached after about 90 minutes climbing. This leads down to Shakespeare Flat on the Aorere River. After 3–4 hours climb, the Aorere shelter and campsite at about {{Cvt|800|m}} elevation provides a place to rest. The highest point on the Heaphy Track, at {{Cvt|915|m}}, is reached after another hour. There is a lookout point nearby. From here, it is another 30 minutes walk to Perry Saddle Hut.<ref name="Petyt">{{citeQ|Q113267899}}</ref>{{rp||page=|pages=180–182}} The hut has 28 bunks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perry Saddle Hut |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/perry-saddle-hut/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |language=en-nz |archive-date=17 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617122305/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/perry-saddle-hut/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Perry Saddle Hut to Gouland Downs Hut ===
From the Perry Saddle Hut, the track passes over the saddle and follows the true left of the Perry Creek. There is a side-trip route up to the peak of Mount Perry, at {{Cvt|1238|m}} elevation that in suitable conditions provides panoramic views over the Aorere Valley and Golden Bay towards the North Island, and inland over the Gouland Downs and the rest of the Kahurangi National Park.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Perry Saddle Hut & Campsite |url=https://heaphytrack.com/perry-saddle-hut-campsite/ |access-date=4 August 2022 |publisher=Paul Murray |language=en-NZ |archive-date=6 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210506044028/https://heaphytrack.com/perry-saddle-hut-campsite/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The main track re-enters forest for about an hour until reaching the edge of the Gouland Downs. The route then descends gradually to the Cave Brook and then reaches the historic Gouland Downs Hut.<ref>{{cite web |title=Gouland Downs Hut |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/gouland-downs-hut/ |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202025208/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/gouland-downs-hut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The existing hut was built by the Collingwood County Council in 1936.<ref name="Petyt" />{{rp||page=184}} There are many limestone arches, caves and small waterfalls that can be accessed near the hut.<ref name="Barnett">{{citeQ|Q113389263}}</ref>{{rp||page=23}}

==== Geology of the Gouland Downs ====
This area is a [[peneplain]], a low-relief plain formed from prolonged erosion. Beneath the tussock in the Gouland Downs are sandstone and mudstone [[Sedimentary rock|sedimentary]] rocks that were formed in the [[Paleozoic|Lower Palaeozoic]] era around 400 to 500 million years ago. They are some of the oldest rocks in New Zealand. These rocks were worn down by erosion to form the peneplain around 100 million years ago. They were then submerged beneath a shallow sea, and limestone was deposited on top of the older sedimentary rocks. The land was subsequently uplifted, and erosion removed most of the limestone, leaving isolated outcrops that now appear like tree-covered islands in the tussock landscape. The remaining areas of the Gouland Downs have shallow and infertile soil where the only plants that thrive are tussocks and rushes.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Barnett |first=Shaun |date=Sep–Oct 2016 |title=Heaphy Track |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/heaphy-track/ |journal=New Zealand Geographic |issue=141 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=9 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309021901/https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/heaphy-track/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="Petyt" />{{rp||page=183}}

==== Introduction of takahē ====
In 2018, the Department of Conservation translocated 30 endangered [[takahē]] to the Gouland Downs, from the breeding facility at Burwood Takahē Centre in [[Southland Region|Southland]].<ref name="hindmarsh">{{Cite news |last=Hindmarsh |first=Gerard |date=22 September 2018 |title=Park's takahe tenants taking to new home |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/107273447/parks-takahe-tenants-taking-to-new-home |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=6 August 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220806083339/https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/107273447/parks-takahe-tenants-taking-to-new-home |url-status=live }}</ref> This release is part of a programme to ensure the survival of the species. The Gouland Downs area was chosen for the release partly because the Kahurangi National Park has had intensive pest control over many years, and along with natural barriers, this has kept down the population of predators such as cats and ferrets.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hansford |first=Dave |date=Mar–Apr 2019 |title=Road to recovery |url=https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/road-to-recovery/ |journal=New Zealand Geographic |issue=156 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 August 2022 |archive-date=23 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220123220625/https://www.nzgeo.com/stories/road-to-recovery/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Takahē can now be regularly seen near Gouland Downs Hut.<ref name="hindmarsh" />

=== Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut ===
The track from Gouland Downs Hut continues across the northern part of the Gouland Downs, crossing Shiner Brook, Big River and Weka Creek over swing bridges before descending into the headwaters of the [[Saxon River]] and reaching Saxon Hut.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saxon Hut |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/saxon-hut/ |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Department of Conservation |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202025026/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/saxon-hut/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The hut is named after John Saxon who surveyed the track in 1886. The endangered [[blue duck]] (or whio) may be seen in this section of the route.<ref name="Petyt" />{{rp||page=185}} [[Great spotted kiwi]] can often be heard calling in the area around Saxon Hut, and are occasionally seen at night.<ref>{{cite web |title=Saxon Hut and Campsite |url=https://heaphytrack.com/saxon-hut-campsite/ |access-date=5 August 2022 |publisher=Paul Murray |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422223639/https://heaphytrack.com/saxon-hut-campsite/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut ===
The route descends gently through forest to the Saxon River, and then over a flat to Blue Duck Creek. It then climbs through forest in a long sidle around the slopes of Mt Teddy before reaching the Mackay Downs. The James Mackay Hut is on the edge of the downs, and is situated on a terrace above the track. It has views of the [[Heaphy River]] mouth and the [[Tasman Sea]] to the south-west.<ref>{{Cite web |title=James Mackay Hut |url=https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/james-mackay-hut/ |access-date=5 August 2022 |website= |publisher=Department of Conservation |language=en-nz |archive-date=2 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220202024653/https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/nelson-tasman/places/kahurangi-national-park/things-to-do/huts/james-mackay-hut/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== James Mackay Hut to Heaphy Hut ===
The track descends through forest along a spur between Deception Creek to the south and the Lewis River to the north. The type of vegetation changes markedly as the track descends towards the Heaphy River. Stunted manuka and beech trees seen at the top become taller, and the sub-canopy and ground vegetation becomes more dense. At the bottom of the descent, there is typical West Coast rainforest, and the first [[Rhopalostylis sapida|nīkau palms]] can be seen.<ref name="Petyt" />{{rp||page=187}} There is a shelter near the junction of the Lewis and Heaphy Rivers.

The route then crosses the Heaphy River and the track then follows a large bend in the river under limestone bluffs. The track follows the true left of the Heaphy River and crosses the Gunner River near its junction with the Heaphy. The vegetation along this part of the route is lowland podcarp forest, with an increasing number of nīkau palms closer to Heaphy Hut, where they dominate the forest. The Heaphy Hut and campsite is around {{cvt|500|m}} back from the beach, overlooking the Heaphy River mouth, with a view of surf and the Tasman Sea.<ref name="Barnett" />{{rp||page=24}}

=== Heaphy Hut to Kōhaihai River mouth ===
This final section of the track is all close to the coastline, with the route partly in forest and partly on the beach or beach margins. There are several stream crossings along the route. The Katipo Creek shelter is located at the mid-point of this section of the track. The landscape of the coastline with its pounding surf and the coastal forest with groves of nīkau palms is described by some as the highlight of the track.<ref name="Petyt" />{{rp||page=191}} Towards the end of this section of the track there is a climb from [[Scotts Beach]] to around {{cvt|160|m}} over a saddle set back from Kōhaihai Bluff. The track then descends to a crossing of the Kōhaihai River and the end of the track at the car park.<ref name="Barnett" />{{rp||page=24}}