Child friendly rating: 3 stars

Distance: 16.2km

Signposted time: 5 hours

Bookings Required? Yes

Suitable in Winter? Yes

Camping Available? Yes paid bookable campsite

4wd required? No

Parking:

Park at the Heaphy Track carpark at the very end of Kohaihai Road past Karamea.

The Track:

 This track is very long, which can make it less kid-friendly, but it is a very easy flat walk. I would consider the track to this hut to be much flatter than the Abel Tasman track. There's much more beach-side walking here. (Just the main difference being you can't actually swim in the waters here due to currents)

Because this is a shared bike and walking track, the track is well graded, and generally wide enough for you to be walking holding a childs hand on either side.

Around 90% of the track is flat, however it does start with a small climb up to 100m above sea level before dropping down to Scotts Beach.

Then you're generally walking on wide flat track next to the beach among the giant Nikau palms. It's absolutely beautiful windswept country.

There are some sections where you need to climb up and over slips, but in general the track is not difficult, and even the sections with slips have been cut with the idea that bike users will be coming past here.

With a 28 week pregnant mama, a 7 year old who walked the whole way carrying a 20% bodyweight pack, and a 2.5 year old who walked around half the track, it took us 7.5 hours to walk.

Hut:

 The hut is spacious and large with multiple rooms off the lounge, and single bunks.

There are amazing views from the hut, and you're right next to the Heaphy River mouth which is an amazing end-of-the-world type location to be at.

Do not swim in the ocean, but if you're very careful, you can swim in the Heaphy River - make sure you're far enough upstream to not risk getting into the ocean. The ocean has extremely dangerous currents.

There is cellphone reception at the river mouth, and on sections along the track.

Recommendations:

 This walk is spectacular, and not difficult - but it is very long in relation to other hikes out there.

It's a great one for older kids, or if you're up for something that requires a bit more work.

The location is absolutely spectacular, and there is a lot of space to play around the hut so the vibes are just amazing.