Heaphy Track Scheduled Bus Service
The Heaphy Bus - Scheduled Bus Service to the Heaphy Track
Heaphy Track Scheduled Bus Service - Just $225 return! Abel Tasman Track Scheduled Bus Service - Just $100 return!

Scheduled Bus Service

GOLDEN BAY

From 26th December 2025 to 28th February 2026

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. (For other possible days and times of travel see if there is a charter you can combine or create click here to find your trip).

Otherwise you can possibly overnight in Brown hut or Marahau at beginning of track for an early start, or if walking the Heaphy consider starting from the west coast side running on alternate days.


Nelson to Brown Hut (Heaphy) and Abel Tasman (with pick ups along the way) .
Return Brown Hut to Nelson (with possible stops along the way).
Abel Tasman pick up and drop off Wainui Bay and Marahau/Kaiteriteri or Nelson, Motueka and Takaka.

WEST COAST

From 28th December 2025 to 26th February 2026 for West Coast trips

Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
(For other possible days and times of travel see click here to find your trip). Nelson to Karamea and Kohaihai shelter Return Kohaihai Shelter to Nelson... (with possible stops along route Wangapeka and Ghost Trail.)

For other possible days and times of travel see click here to find your trip

!! You can start the track in either direction..

!! For those that have a car or camper can leave it at either end to walk to it at the finish, or wish to continue from the end on their travels, can leave their vehicle at Kohaihai or Brown hut and then jump on the bus to Nelson, and then catch the bus next day to Brown hut or Kohaihai. This will also leave trampers with flexible exit dates and times.

For all other chartered trips on other days and alternative existing trips to Heaphy, Wangapeka, Abel Tasman and Nelson Lakes; click here to send you to a page outlining existing trips on which you can join. Other tracks as well are advertised.

The Heaphy Bus will depart from central Nelson Millers Acre car park (old I-site premises and information centre) corner of Halifax and Trafalgar streets every morning 07:30am to arrive at Brown Hut with plenty of time to get to Perry Saddle hut. It can pick up along the way from Motueka I-Site, Takaka I-Site, Collingwood cafe, and on the return journey take trampers from Brown Hut to any of those destinations including Wainui Bay and Marahau. Whilst the Heaphy trampers have lunch in Takaka we drop off and pick up at Wainui Bay at the top of Abel Tasman National Park and drop off at Marahau or Nelson (or en-route) on the return.

For those travelling to and from Kohaihai shelter the bus will leave Nelson Millers Acre car park (old I-site premises) at 7.30am to Kohaihai shelter. Also pick ups/ drop off at Lyell, Westport, Seddonville, Little Wanganui (Wangapeka), Karamea and ultimately at Kohaihai Shelter leaving plenty of time to reach the Heaphy Hut that day, or for exiting trampers to get out from the Heaphy hut. The bus then returns to Nelson from Kohaihai Shelter departing before 1.30pm and arriving usually in Nelson before 8pm. It will also stop along the destinations outlined previously. We strongly recommend you do not book a flight out from Nelson that evening as to the uncertainty of weather, road conditions and delays from injuries or other. It also puts an unnecessary pressure on the driver which becomes a safety issue.

We will guarantee to arrive at the track start in plenty of time so you can reach your hut within daylight hours.

To see all other trips that are not going on the scheduled days to the Heaphy and Wangapeka (click this link)and also to see all other availability on existing trips to other tracks.