Swing bridge on the Heaphy Track over the Lewis River

The Lewis River is a tributary of the Heaphy River in New Zealand's Kahurangi National Park.[1] The Lewis River is located in the Buller District. It was named for C. Lewis, one of the contractors who built the Heaphy Track in 1886.[lower-alpha 1][2] The Lewis River flows into the Heaphy River at Lewis Hut. After the river was encroaching the hut, it was removed and replaced nearby by Lewis Shelter.[3] Land Information New Zealand lists the name of the river as "official", i.e. the name is confirmed by the New Zealand Geographic Board.[4]

The Heaphy Track used to cross the Lewis River via a swing bridge near Lewis Hut. This swing bridge was washed away in July 2012. The track was rerouted and from 30 November 2012, it crossed the Heaphy River instead.[5]

Heavy rain in the Buller District in February 2022 caused significant damage. The suspension bridge over the Heaphy River was destroyed. The suspension bridge over the Gunner River was damaged but was deemed repairable, while the Pitt Creek bridge was swept away. Instead of replacing the damaged Heaphy River suspension bridge in its existing location, the solution chosen was to build two bridges, one across the Lewis River, and another across the Heaphy River downstream from the original bridge, with a small section of new track in between. The track re-opened in October 2023.[6][7]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Note that the Place Names of New Zealand entry is for Lewis Creek, but this is presumably a mistake as neither Topomap nor the New Zealand Geographic Board list a Lewis Creek in Tasman. The entry reads: "Lewis Creek: Tasman. After C. Lewis, who was one of the contractors who formed the Heaphy Track in 1886."

References

  1. ↑ "NZ Topo Map". Topomap.co.nz. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  2. ↑ Reed, A. W. (2010). Peter Dowling (ed.). Place Names of New Zealand. Rosedale, North Shore: Raupo. p. 216. ISBN 9780143204107.
  3. ↑ "Lewis Hut". Department of Conservation. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  4. ↑ "Place name detail: Lewis River". New Zealand Gazetteer. New Zealand Geographic Board. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  5. ↑ "New Heaphy suspension bridge". Department of Conservation. 4 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
  6. ↑ "Heaphy Track fully reopening tomorrow". www.doc.govt.nz. Retrieved 15 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Heaphy Track reopens, thousands already booked in". RNZ. 19 October 2023. Archived from the original on 15 January 2024. Retrieved 18 October 2023.

40°54′29.0″S 172°09′53.0″E / 40.908056°S 172.164722°E / -40.908056; 172.164722


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