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Login/signup to tick this walk off.The Old Ghost Road
South Island NZ
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This is an excellent five day walk in the north-west of the South Island. track is very well maintained, huts are very well managed and have all you need for cooking, eating. I have done the Routeburn and would say this surpasses it easily for range of scenery, continually interesting walking, facilities etc. Only thing I would say is bring a lot of repellent. the sand flies are bad!
While it is also a cycle trail, there was very little evidence of bikes as we walked. Hardly met anyone on the trail, in fact, but lots of good company in the huts at the end of the day. I think this may become one of the must do walks of NZ as it becomes better known.
Waterfalls
Lookouts
Swimming
Bird Watching
Heritage Sites
Toilets
Cycling Permitted
Rainforest
Getting there
How do you get to the start of the walk? It is necessary to either arrange a tramping bus drop off/pick up or hire car relocation service, since the start and end are remote locations.
Maps
Which maps cover the area?
Route/Trail notes
day one involves 18 kms of walking up a steady incline. Not too steep and pretty easy. lovely forest cover, sound of the creek below. beautifully situated hut at Lyell saddle.
day two is more uphill for 13 km to Ghost lake hut. More gorgeous scenery. stady incline, but still pretty gentle.
day three takes you across the alpine tops. it is an open, exposed walk with great scenery, for 14 kms the last part of which drops down in elevation, partly through the use of a steep staricase. another lovely hut location next to a creek in Stern Valley, which I loved swimming in.
day four involves a 25 km walk that starts with a climb out of the valley, with lots of great scenery and then a pleasant decline down to the Mokihunui river. You pass two huts whcih could be sued to shorten this walk and lengthen the last day, but not really necessary as despite the length, it is really quite an easy day. the hut is again wonderfully situated above the river. Great views.
the last day is a walk of 17 km to the rough and tumble lodge. It is great to finish at a little bit of civilisation- hot, open air shower awaits, with view of river, as well as cold beers and hot pizzas. An excellent hike.
Permits/Costs
to stay in huts it costs 140 NZD per person, or there are summer sleepouts that are 320 in total for up to 4 people. tent sites are 40 NZD for up to 2 people, total cost.
Other References
visit the Old Ghost Road website for detailed info.
GPS Tracks
- No GPS available for this walk yet.
Comments
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