Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey continues along the Heaphy Track leaving the river at Lewis Hut ascending a ridge seven hundred metres through changing forest to the heathlands of Mackay Downs. Once on the Downs, I reach the new James Mackay Hut where I settle in and stay the night watching a spectacular West Coast sunset over the distant sea.
Today's Journey
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Departing Lewis Hut in the early morning, the track immediately rises with the ridge rising high above the ochre stained Heaphy River. |
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With only the occasional glimpse through the forest, I see there is a long way to climb up the ridge towards Mackay Downs. |
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I pass through very lush rainforest with thick carpets of moss and the occasional coal seam crossing the track. |
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The forest thins as I continue gaining altitude along near the top of the ridge. |
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Occasionally the track diverts away from the ridge revealing beautiful ochre stained streams running between mossy boulders. |
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The track continues rising into thick heathland now only a kilometre short of the hut. A tree stump here has a face carved into it. |
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I reach the edge of the Mackay Downs and arrive at the James Mackay Hut (this is the same James Mackay who named Mackay Falls on the Milford Track). From here I can see through the clouds all the way to the mouth of the Heaphy River. |
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Looking further up the heath covered hill to the ranger's hut and the top of the Iwituaroa Range. |
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The James Mackay Hut was recently rebuilt and still smells of fresh paint. |
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Looking through the orange dusk sky down the mouth of the Heaphy River and out over the Tasman Sea. |
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