With just over 71 km, the Heaphy Track is the longest of the pedestrian Great Walks, and I use the word “pedestrian” advisedly, because the Whanganui River Journey, a Great Walk that can only be done by kayak/canoe, is twice as long, and the Heaphy is open for pedestrians only in the Great Walks Season (November – April). In the winter time it is a mountain bike track, so be warned.
Section (with links) | Distance | Track Time | Break | Mean speed | Median time|distance | Ascent | Descent |
Brown Hut Access – Perry Saddle | 16.0 km | 4:09 h | 0:25 h | 3.87 km/h | 4.14|4.39 km/h | 1408 m (D-) | 670 m (M+) |
Perry Saddle – James Mackay | 21.3 km | 5:04 h | 1:49 h | 4.21 km/h | 4.47|4.67 km/h | 609 m (M-) | 778 m (E+) |
James Mackay – Heaphy Hut | 18.2 km | 4:17 h | 1:12 h | 4.25 km/h | 4.64|4.88 km/h | 341 m (E+) | 1033 m (M) |
Heaphy Hut – Kohaihai Carpark | 15.6 km | 3:35 h | 0:23 h | 4.36 km/h | 4.79|5.09 km/h | 504 m (E+) | 508 m (M-) |
Totals | 71.1 km | 17:05 h | 3:49 h | 4.17 km/h | 4.47|4.72 km/h | 2892 m (M) | 3020 m (M-) |
Summary of the Heaphy Track. Climb categories are: Flat (< 1.9°/3.3%), Easy (> 1.9°/3.3%), Moderate (> 3.8°/6.6%), Demanding (> 7.5°/13%, < 15°/27%) |