the old ghost Road

a journey of discovery and wonder

A long-forgotten gold miners’ road has been 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 traverses majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys. The Old Ghost Road is a challenging, alpine tramp. Please contact us if you are unsure about your suitability for this trip.

What makes our Old Ghost Road trips special?

We are the only guided walk on The Old Ghost Road that stays at the Rough & Tumble Lodge, an integral part of the history of the track. This also allows us to have a relaxed last day of tramping.
We carry the majority of your food
We provide pick up & delivery to/from Nelson (including transfer of extra luggage from Nelson to The Rough & Tumble Bush Lodge)
Our meal menu is varied and lovingly prepared with fresh and healthy ingredients (vegetarian options also available)
We make our own tasty energy treats to share with you along the way
We take photos and will provide them to you via a photo sharing service

Overview

6 days/ 5 nights
5 days of walking
Distance: 85 kms
Grade: Challenging
$2475 NZD per person

Included

4 nights in backcountry huts
1 night at The Rough & Tumble Lodge in Seddonville
Tasty meals, homemade snacks, beverages
Pick up and return to Nelson (including transfer of extra bag to the tracks end)
See the F.A.Q. section below for more details

Group of guests enjoying a big view along The Old Ghost Road

Full itinerary

DAY 1

Lyell to Lyell Saddle

18 kilometres

5 hours

Lyell Saddle Hut

We pick you up in Nelson at 7am and drive to Lyell car park (approx 3 hrs driving) in the Upper Buller Gorge. We pack up our gear and begin our walk with a steady climb along the 100+ year old dray road, stopping along the way for lunch. We’ll get occasional views across the stunning Lyell Range and pass through beautiful mature beech forest. The spirits of the old miners and track builders are inescapable. No less than seven ghost towns populate the Old Ghost Road route, and we will pass relics of old gold mining claims and ghost towns on our way up to Lyell Saddle Hut (875m above sea level).

DAY 2

Lyell Saddle to Ghost Lake

12 kilometres

4-5 hours

Ghost Lake Hut

The walk begins with a 6 km graded climb through cloud forest up to the tussock tops of the Lyell Range. Then it’s 6 km of relatively level open-tops travel to ‘Ghost Lake’ and the stunning Ghost Lake Hut. Unparalleled views of pure South Island majesty are yours with every stride.

DAY 3

Ghost Lake to Stern Valley

13 kilometres

4 hours

Stern Valley Hut

After breakfast, we will begin our descent down from Ghost Lake Hut down through the mystical and mossy Dragon’s Creek beech forest. The track then zigzags across several ridge tops before descending down Skyline Ridge. We’ll have two steep descents totalling about 800m on our way down to our evening accommodation at Stern Valley Hut. A dip in the creek is a great end to the day.

Looking across the trail on Skyline Ridge

DAY 4

Stern Valley to Specimen Point

25 kilometres

7-8 hours

Specimen Point Hut

The track leads us up the Earnest Valley (north branch of Stern Creek) and through the strange but gorgeous open meadows of its catchment. At the twin lakes (Lake Grim and Lake Cheerful), we climb up again through the ‘Boneyard’, heading for ‘Solemn Saddle’ and then on down through ‘The Hanging Judge’ into the headwaters of the Goat Creek catchment. Scrub and grass covered valleys form the way until the final couple of kilometres through bush to the historic Goat Creek Hut. From Goat Creek Hut it’s 8 km of flat walking down through the beautiful podocarp forest to the Mokihinui Forks Hut and then on to Specimen Point Hut. The hut is situated at the head of the mighty Mokihinui River Gorge.

DAY 5

Specimen Point to The Rough & Tumble Lodge

17 kilometres

5-6 hours

The Rough & Tumble Lodge

DAY 6

The Rough & Tumble Lodge to Nelson

Breakfast at The Rough & Tumble

5 hours driving

Drop off in Nelson

After breakfast, we deliver you back to Nelson by 2:30pm (approximately) in time for an afternoon flight/bus or we drop you at your accommodation. Along the way, there will be a chance for a coffee and a lunch break in Murchison.

F.A.Q.

What’s included on The Old Ghost Road trip?

– Transportation to and from Nelson. We can pick up and drop off from the airport, or at a local accomodation of your choosing
– An expert guide to carry the majority of the food, to cook, to clean-up, and to provide you with local knowledge and expertise.
– 4 nights accomodation in backcountry huts
– 1 night shared room accomodation at The Rough & Tumble Bush Lodge. Single room available for an additional fee.
– Dinner and breakfast at The Rough & Tumble Bush Lodge
– Delicious homemade meals and snacks while out tramping

Any exclusions?

– We’ll have a stop at Beechwoods Cafe in Murchinson before starting the track where you can purchase one last barista coffee or a scone
– On our way back to Nelson, any snacks or meals are not included. We typically stop for a coffee break somewhere on the West Coast and for lunch in Murchison.

How fit do I need to be?

The Old Ghost Road is accessible to people of varying fitness levels. We design our 5-day guided walks to break the journey into manageable daily sections, staying at or taking breaks at all the huts along the way. The Old Ghost Road is more challenging than the Heaphy Track due to a 24 kilometre day four.

Over the years, we’ve welcomed everyone from teenagers to adventurers in their 80s who’ve successfully completed this walk. That said, you’ll need to be comfortable walking for 4-8 hours a day while carrying a pack with all your gear. Since you’ll be carrying your clothing, sleeping bag, and personal items for the entire journey, we recommend a pack between 35-50 litres. Any larger than that and you might be overpacking! Remember, we’ll be carrying all of the food other than individual snacks.

The terrain includes some gradual climbs and descents, but nothing requiring technical skills. The real challenge is more about endurance and being comfortable with a loaded pack rather than extreme fitness.

The key ingredients for success are:

– A reasonable level of fitness (regular walks at home are great preparation)
– Comfort carrying a loaded pack for extended periods
– A positive attitude and sense of adventure
– Comfortable, broken-in tramping boots or shoes

If you’re unsure about your fitness level or have questions about pack weight, we’re happy to chat through what the daily walks involve and help you prepare. Remember, our “carry less, enjoy more” philosophy means packing thoughtfully—and it’s not a race. It’s about enjoying New Zealand’s incredible wilderness at a pace that works for you.

Do we always walk together as a group?

Not necessarily. All of us like to experience the outdoors in our own way, and for some this means solitude while for others it means sharing the track with others. We like to give participants the opportunity to more or less go at their own pace. Your guides will always maintain an awareness of where the group members are and will provide guidelines for where and when to meet up to regroup and for snack breaks. If safety is a concern, your guides may ask that everyone stay together. Of course, you are also welcome to walk with the guides if you like.

What should I know about cancellations and refunds?

Life happens, and we understand that plans sometimes change. Our cancellation policy covers the costs we’ve already committed to for your trip and helps us manage bookings fairly for everyone. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect your investment – here’s what you need to know:

Kahurangi Guided Walks requires a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellation fees are charged on the following basis:

– 59-30 days prior: 25% of trip cost
– 29-7 days prior: 50% of trip cost
– Within one week of trip start: 75% of trip cost
– Once trip has started: 100% of trip cost

These cancellation fees are not negotiable, therefore we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance.

OPERATOR CANCELLATIONS
We reserve the right to alter, amend or cancel any trip should weather or any other situation require it. We also reserve the right to withdraw any person who in our opinion is likely to endanger themselves or others.

Incidents that may cause a cancellation include but are not limited to: track closures due to severe weather or natural disasters, damage to tracks which may deem them unsafe, weather events which may cause flooding or dangerous conditions, or any Act of God (e.g. earthquake, tsunami) which may pose an unacceptable risk to guests or staff.

All trips altered, amended or cancelled by Kahurangi Guided Walks will be subject to our standard cancellation and refund policy outlined above.

What else would you like to know?

Leave a question on our contact page.

the old ghost Road

a journey of discovery and wonder

Full itinerary

F.A.Q.​

F.A.Q.