Saxon Hut
Great Walk hutKahurangi National Park, TasmanOpen
Current advisories
Landslip on Heaphy Track
16 September 2026
There is a slip on Heaphy Track close to Crayfish Point, between Kōhaihai and Heaphy Hut. The slip is impassable. A diversion is in place, but should only be attempted within 4 hours either side of low tide. From 28 September to 7 October, maintenance work will be taking place on the track, including the diversion. For safety reasons, access to the diversion may be temporarily stopped and delays of up to 1 hour are possible. To allow enough time to cross the diversion, do not arrive at the slip site more than 3 hours after low tide. Check the Tide Tables - for exact timings deduct 30 minutes from the time for Westport tides. It is dangerous to cross outside of these times and watch for rogue waves. Keep children close at all times while crossing this area. First published on 8 September 2026. Last reviewed on 17 September 2026.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai alerts.
- Sleeps
- 16 bunks
- Booking
- Can book
- Cost
- Fee applies
- Heating
- Yes
- Drinking water
- Boil first
- Toilet
- Non-flush
Getting there
We have not checked a road end or car park for this place yet, so we do not give driving directions to it. Check how to get there before you go. Some routes cross private land and need the landowner's permission.
How to get there, on doc.govt.nz- Topo map
- Topo50 sheet BP23
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Map and tracks
Track lines: DOC Te Papa Atawhai. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Topo map: LINZ, CC BY 4.0. 40.88621° S, 172.30822° E
About this place
This is a 16-bunk hut located on the Heaphy Track in the Golden Bay area.
On the way here
Heaphy Track · 4-6 days
Gouland Downs Hut to Saxon Hut
Time: 1 hr 30 min, 1-2 hr mountain biking
5.4 km Beyond Gouland Downs Hut the track is relatively level as it crosses the northern part of Gouland Downs. The tussock country and riverbeds make for good exploring but, when the mist lowers, the featureless downs can be confusing and it is easy to become disorientated. Saxon Hut, nestled near the end of the downs, is named after John Saxon, who surveyed the track in 1886.
Saxon Hut to James Mackay Hut
Time: 3 hr walking, 2-3 hr mountain biking
11.8 km From Saxon Hut the track drops slightly to grassy flats beside the Saxon River and then climbs gently up to a broad ridge, which joins Gouland Downs to Mackay Downs. Flood prone area between Saxon and James Mackay huts A section on Mackay Downs floods in extremely wet conditions. This is a 70 m piece of the track across a wetland and a bridge. It becomes impassable and quite dangerous. Walkers should wait for the water to recede. The track now skirts the edge of Mackay Downs to James Mackay Hut, winding in and out of several small streams, just before they tumble off the downs and fall to the Heaphy River on the left. The vegetation is alternately tussock field and shrub-fringed patches of beech forest. Small creeks dissect the landscape and the pink granite sparkles and crunches beneath your feet. James Mackay Hut is situated just above the track on an open terrace. The Tasman Sea and Heaphy River mouth can be seen from here, 15 km to the west and 750 m below. It is named after the explorer who first pressed for a bridle track to be established between Collingwood and the West Coast.
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Fees and bookings
Backcountry Hut Passes and Backcountry Hut Tickets cannot be used at this hut.
Book Heaphy Track huts/campsites online
Source: DOC Te Papa Atawhai.
Nearby stops
Gouland Downs Hut
Great Walk • 8 bunks • Tasman • 3.8 km
Gouland Downs Hut is an eight-bunk hut situated on the Heaphy Track in the Golden Bay area of the Tasman region.
Heating • Mattresses • Toilets - non-flush
Gouland Downs campsite
Great Walk • Tasman • 3.8 km
Gouland Downs is a walk-in campsite on the Heaphy Track in the Tasman region. The site is set against beech forest on a limestone outcrop, with numerous caves…
Non-powered/tent sites • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use • Toilets - non-flush
James Mackay Campsite
Great Walk • West Coast • 7.6 km
James Mackay Campsite is a walk-in campsite located on the Heaphy Track in the Nelson/Tasman region.
Non-powered/tent sites • Toilets - flush • Water from tap - not treated, boil before use
James Mackay Hut
Great Walk • 28 bunks • West Coast • 7.7 km
James Mackay Hut is a 28-bunk hut located on the Heaphy Track in the Buller area.
Cooking • Heating • Mattresses
Perry Saddle Hut
Great Walk • 28 bunks • Tasman • 8.1 km
Perry Saddle Hut is a 28-bunk hut located on the Heaphy Track in the Golden Bay area of the Tasman region.
Cooking • Heating • Mattresses
Contact
Nelson/Tasman/Marlborough information
Regional DOC service centre.
Notes from people who have been
No notes yet. If you have been, say what you found.
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Sources
- DOC Huts (API) · CC BY 4.0Crown Copyright: Department of Conservation Te Papa Atawhai. Data sourced from the DOC Developer Portal (api.doc.govt.nz).
- DOC Huts · CC BY 4.0Data sourced from the Department of Conservation (DOC), New Zealand.
- OpenStreetMap Huts · ODbL (Open Database License)Contains information from OpenStreetMap, made available under the ODbL.