Editing Heaphy Track (section)

=== 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" />