Old Ghost Road

In the North West corner of the South Island of New Zealand a ghost is awakening. A long-forgotten gold miners’ road is being revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail – connecting the old dray road in the Lyell (Upper Buller Gorge) to the mighty Mokihinui River in the north. The 85km-long Old Ghost Road will traverse majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys.

A proud member of the New Zealand Cycle Trail, the volunteer-driven Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust is partnering with a range of other entities to make The Old Ghost Road a reality. It’s almost as if the engineers from the 1870’s knew we were coming The spirits of the old miners and track builders are inescapable. No less than five ghost towns populate the route. The Old Ghost Road is quite literally an 85km-long outdoor museum.

The Old Ghost Road is a work in progress and is due for completion in late 2015 (refer to our Trail Status page for updates).
Our volunteers and supporters know that each generation grows up in an increasingly urbanised environment. The connection to the land dims. Here, on The Old Ghost Road, heritage, wilderness, accessibility and storytelling come together in an unforgettable way. We invite you to join the journey……

See http://www.oldghostroad.org.nz/ for updated information on trail status and hut booking.

Access Info

The Old Ghost Road’s trail heads are two hours drive apart – or 4-5 days tramp Various options are available for cyclists and trampers.

Due to The Old Ghost Road’s elevation profile, Lyell is the suggested starting point for through-trampers (and, by late 2015, through-cyclists). 1200m elevation is gained via a steady climb past the Lyell Saddle Hut and up to Ghost Lake, while the descent into Stern Valley and Goat Creek is steeper and more technical. Riders and trampers can enjoy day and overnight trips from this end, which features lush beech forest, historic artifacts, and in the Lyell Saddle to Ghost Lake section, sweeping views.
The Lyell Historic Reserve has ample parking, a Department of Conservation Campground, water and toilet facilities. It is 62km east of Westport, 15km east of Inangahua or 35km south of Murchison on State Highway 6 in the Upper Buller Gorge.
Grid reference: NZTM2000, E1520990-N5372328
Latitude: -41.79697466, Longitude: 172.04899791