Heaphy Track Huts and Campsites, Hut by Hut

The huts and campsites in order

From the Brown Hut end, DOC lists these stays. Lewis Shelter, between James Mackay and Heaphy huts, is an emergency shelter only, with no overnight stays. At the West Coast end the page also lists Kohaihai Campsite, at the car park.

• Brown Hut and Brown Campsite, at the road end
• Aorere Shelter Campsite
• Perry Saddle Hut and Campsite: 17.5 km (10.9 mi) from Brown Hut, about 5 hr
• Gouland Downs Hut and Campsite: 7 km (4.3 mi) on, about 2 hr
• Saxon Hut and Campsite: 5.4 km (3.4 mi) on, about 1 hr 30 min
• James Mackay Hut and Campsite: 11.8 km (7.3 mi) on, about 3 hr
• Heaphy Hut and Campsite: 20.5 km (12.7 mi) on, about 6 hr
• Katipo Creek Shelter Campsite and Scotts Beach Campsite, on the 16.2 km (10.1 mi) coast walk to Kohaihai

Fees through the year

The Heaphy is booked all year, and the price changes with the month. International adults pay more only from 1 October to 30 April.

• Huts, 1 October to 30 April: NZ$44 NZ adult, NZ$66 international adult
• Huts, 1 May to 30 June and 1 to 30 September: NZ$38 any adult
• Huts, 1 July to 31 August: NZ$30 any adult
• Campsites, 1 October to 30 April: NZ$19 NZ adult, NZ$28 international adult
• Campsites, 1 May to 30 September: NZ$19 any adult

Booking it

DOC's March 2026 release names the Heaphy as one of the Great Walks that often have space, with strong growth after storm repairs. The track has reopened as a through route with a new bridge over the Heaphy River.

In 2026 Great Walk bookings opened at 9:30 am NZ time on DOC's booking service, bookings.doc.govt.nz, with a virtual queue. DOC's 2026 tips: make an account and test your login before the day, and be online by about 9:15 am. Our guide on how to book a Great Walk covers the rest of the system.

DOC has not announced the 2027/28 opening day. Going by past seasons, booking for the Heaphy Track usually opens around 4 May to 6 June. Last year's opening, for stays from 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027, was Wednesday 20 May 2026 at 9:30 am NZ time.

Plan transport for both ends: Brown Hut is 156 km (96.9 mi) from Nelson and Kohaihai is 110 km (68.4 mi) from Westport. Between 1 May and 30 November you share the track with mountain bikers, who must also book any hut or campsite they stay in.

Changing or cancelling

Date changes stay inside the 1 July to 30 June booking season, and DOC does not move a booking to a different hut or campsite. Cancelling costs nothing on the day you book or the day after (if your first night is more than 2 days away). After that DOC keeps 10% of a Great Walk booking from 15 or more days out, 50% from 14 to 4 days out, 75% from 3 days out, and all of it on the day you arrive.

Floods between Lewis Shelter and Heaphy Hut can close the way. DOC says to wait at Lewis Shelter or Heaphy Hut, and check the tides for the coast section.

What PermitSnag does here

Each permit page says whether you can set a PermitSnag alert for it, and links to the agency that sells it.

Questions