This text was read by OCR from a scanned newsletter and has not been proofread yet, so expect odd characters and mistakes.
friends that it was time to dust off the gear and stretch our legs and walk the Heaphy Track. So the time was put aside for Easter 2001, the group grew to nine, and expertise was called on. _ David McNair, who had recently done the trip [about a year previously], was chief trip leader, booking officer, and food buyer! He wore all hats, sometimes all at once. The trip members were a mixed bunch, five veteran Tongue & Meats — Beth & Kevin Griffiths, Pat & David McNair and the Hon. Ron Fayle, joined by four friends. So Wednesday 11/4/01 saw us on the Lynx for a calm trip to Picton, then the drive to Motueka where we had arranged to leave our cars at the motor camp. We diwvied out the food, repacked the packs and piled into the minibus for the trip over Takaka Hill to the roadend. .Within minutes of leaving the roadend we were at Brown Hut. This was our first night and it was already almost dark, so we decided it was time to settle in and cook dinner — all fresh food tonight! Even a little red wine to help our comfort zone!? And by this stage we were all aware that the “Hon Ron” had dusted off his revered, much loved, ancient, been-theredone-that “Mountain Mule”. This chap’s pack was to cause many a comment and become quite a talking point over the next few days; actually it was quite a novel way to make new friends. So Thursday dawned a clear and fresh morning. Unfortunately this didn’t last and the day soon became overcast followed by light showers. Undaunted we enjoyed the bush, birds and the steady uphill grade. This track had once been surveyed for a road — great bush. Soon we were at Aorere Shelter where we had lunch and then our journey took us onwards to Perry Saddle Hut. It was a really wet night, but fortunately we all had bunk space — more fortunate than those that arrived later, very wet, and soon we had a very overcrowded hut. This led to an early night, which was pretty noisy due to the loud and not always musical snoring. Day 2 turned out to be clearing weather and it just got
“or some time there had been discussion with a few
Kevin & Beth Griffiths
Day 3 saw an early start from Saxon, heading to “Mackay”. This track follows grassy flats, crossing many small streams, and soon crosses the boundary from Nelson and the West Coast. Some interesting rocky out crops around here, across the Mackay Downs to the “dames Mackay Hut.” Great lunch spot here and views of the Tasman Sea and the Heaphy River mouth. James Mackay Huts a large hut named after the explorer who had pressed for a bridle track from Collingwood to the West Coast. So it was onwards again, through lovely stands of rimu, amazing mosses, pretty side streams to arrive at “Lewis Hut”, home of the most discerning, fittest, best nourished sandflies — a major threat to every passing tramper. Nevertheless a truely beautiful place, the hut is set just above the Heaphy River at the junction of the Lewis River, surrounded by beech forest and looking out to the coast and the first glimpses of the nikau palms. Great sunsets from here — and heaps of campers. So for day 4, leaving Lewis Hut we headed off to cross the Lewis River then walked downstream to cross the Heaphy River. Some tremendous bridges, as we followed the river through firstly kahikatea, rimu, and rata, before it gave way to the wonderful glades of nikau palms. All the time we had great views of the coast and the Tasman Sea. Over the past days we had been aware of the birds, mainly the fantails, little South Island bush robins, and the kereru. Of course, at night we could hear the kiwi calling too. We arrived early at Heaphy Hut and had an afternoon to relax and enjoy this magic place. There is an amazing beach here, littered with rocks of wonderful colours, fascinating driftwood and signs of many a wild storm. Now onto our fifth and last day — the coastal track to the roadend at Kohaihai River mouth, which involved some beach and rock walking. We followed the coast, forests of karaka trees and groves of nikau palms and a rugged coastline. There was even time to stop and watch the seals in the surf. The lunch stop on top of the Kohaihai saddle was sunny beiter and better as the trip progressed. It was a pleasant walk across the mixed colours of tussock in a wide valley to the “Gouland Downs” Hut, an older style tramper’s hut. Snack time and time to discover the dreaded sandflys! Then it was “away away with billy & pack” across the Downs, swing bridges, boardwalks, and terrific golden tussock. As this was a short day for us we were soon at Saxon Hut for a late lunch, and plenty of time to bag a bunk. As we had all pre-purchased hut passes, no camping was supposedly allowed.
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and had terrific views — below we could see the Konaihai River and the roadend. So soon we were off on the last leg of the walk. At the roadend it was chats and goodbyes to new friends, and promises from Ron to retire the “Mule”[which incidentally had running repairs at various times!]. We travelled by shuttle then to the Karamea Pub, only because this is where we had to wait for the pick-up to fly back to Motueka!! So it was a very successful trip — good laughs, no more Ryvita please!