Three Day Ride

• Accommodation in huts on trail included.
• All your transportation taken care of with shuttle bus from Takaka to the start point and return plane ride from the end.
• Return flight or shuttle from Nelson and return flight from Wellington to Takaka available.

Day One: Brown Hut to Perry Saddle Hut (17.5km). In the morning you meet your shuttle bus at Takaka Airport and get taken through to the start of the track at Brown Hut. The first day is short but mostly uphill. The track starts with a gradual climb, following a route once surveyed for a road. At the Aorere shelter there are excellent views extending north along the valley and on clear days it is possible to see Mt Taranaki/Egmont on the North Island. Some more strenuous uphill leads to the viewpoint at Flanagans Corner: At 915 m, this is the highest point on the track. It's not much further from here to the brand new Perry Saddle Hut for your first night's stop. Near the hut in Gorge Creek is a deep but cold pool, popular for swimming.

Day Two: Perry Saddle to Heaphy Hut (45km). Your second day on the trail comprises a long, spectacular ride across the tops and then a descent to the wild west coast. From Perry Saddle the valley widens and the tussocky Gouland Downs is revealed stretching out to the west. The track passes a limestone outcrop and crosses one of several limestone arches, which are the remnants of old caves. The vegetation is alternately tussock field and shrub-fringed patches of beech forest and the pink granite sparkles and crunches beneath your wheels. At James Mackay Hut the Tasman Sea and Heaphy River mouth can be seen 15 km to the west and 750 m below. From here you start your descent. Soon the dense rainforest typical of the West Coast becomes dominant. You cross the Heaphy River, via a 148.4 metre suspended deck suspension bridge. Towards the river mouth, nikau palms become more common and the sea’s incessant roaring grows louder. The Heaphy Hut is situated back from the sea where it's more sheltered - this is your last night on the trail.

Day Three: Heaphy Hut to Kohaihai River Mouth (17km). The Heaphy River mouth is an exhilarating place of surging waves and tide - definitely not the place for a swim though. Heading south along this spectacular and wild coastline you pass though forest of rata, karaka trees, vines and groves of nikau palms. Scotts Beach is a good spot to rest before climbing over Kohaihai Saddle and down to Kohaihai carpark. A shuttle will meet you there and transfer you the short way to the tiny village of Karamea and your flight back to Takaka.