Paying to walk the Heaphy

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 17

Paying to walk the Heaphy

From

BARRY SIMPSON

in Nelson

The first commercial guided tour of the Heaphy Track will start tomorrow from Collingwood. The venture, conceived by Mr Dale Pomeroy, a Collingwood tour operator, has received Forest Service approval for a 10month trial over the famed track in the North West Nelson Forest Park. The trial period excludes Easter and the peak holiday period of late December-January and early February when “freedom walkers” are most in evidence and the track huts are fairly full. Mr Pomeroy, a former National Film Unit cameraman, says that in his 10 years of making tourist films he has found that the Heaphy Track offers the widest range of scenery — seascapes, downs, mountains and bush. “It’s this variety which brings people from all over the world to walk this track,” he says. Mr Pomeroy’s venture is aimed mainly at the 44-plus age bracket, the age group that has means to pay for a guided tour. This age group also includes many who would like to walk the track but have been deterred because of the weight of food and other gear they would have to carry on the 78km walk. The tour operators (seven companies are tied up in the project) will take the hard work out of the trip. Food will be flown in daily in weatherproof containers by helicopter to the huts, and rubbish will be brought out the same way. The walkers will carry only their spare clothing, personal belongings and sleeping bags. Mr Pomeroy says the minimum age acceptable for the tours is 13. There is no maximum age, but in every case, the physical condition of the person concerned will be of paramount importance. An elderly person considered unable to handle the trip would not be permitted to join the party. Tour parties will be limited to a maximum of 10 and each will be led by a guide with wide experience of the region, its flora and fauna, says Mr Pomeroy. The concession does not confer any special privileges on tour party members. They have no guarantees of bunks at the Perry Saddle, Saxton, McKay and Heaphy huts. Tents will be provided should the huts be filled — although they seldom are outside the peak periods. As well, seven days notice of a tour must be given to the Forest Service and notices posted in the

huts to advise other walkers. Mr Pomeroy says two packages are being offered — a seven day and a five day tour, each costing $lOO a day. For this sum, food is provided and prepared by the guide at each hut, although Mr Pomeroy hopes that the walkers will join in the chores associated with such a walk. All tour walkers will congregate at Collingwood where an area for parking a car has been set aside. The tour operators will then decide from which end of

the track the walk will start Walkers will be ferried by fixedwing aircraft either to Karamea for the western start, or back from Karamea after the eastern start. Those on the seven-day package will also have accommodation provided overnight at both the Collingwood and Karamea ends of the journey. Both package tours will have transport provided to the track start, and will be taken on tours of the Honeycomb Caves near

Karamea and the Oparara limestone arches. To ensure as little disturbance as possible to the area, the aircraft flying between Karamea and Collingwood will stay well clear of the track and flying will be done early in the mornings. The helicopters, too, will land well away from the huts, says Mr Pomeroy. During the trial period the Forest Service will assess the scheme. If satisfied that the guided tours have had no ill effects on the track or the

activities and enjoyment of the “freedom” walkers, the concession will be advertised and other tour operators given the opportunity to apply for it About 4000 trampers walk the track annually, although the track has handled as many as 7000 in earlier years. Much of the track has been upgraded. ‘ The Forest Service says that 79 per cent of the walkers are New Zealanders, 6 per cent Australian and 8 per cent American. More than half of all walkers are aged between 20 and 44.