DAY 1: CHRISTCHURCH TO WESTPORT & BAZIL'S BACKPACKERS
On the 8th of October 2016 my wife & I set off to Westport on the Westcoast to prepare for the following days 85km 5 day hike. We had previously booked a room at Bazil's backpackers, upon arriving here we were extremly impressed at what this backpackers had to offer, it has all types of accomodation available for your needs, from basic bunk beds to private family rooms with ensuites and kitchenettes at very reasonable pricing. They are a clean & tidy establishment and have a very relaxed atmosphere.
For more info on Bazil's check out their website: http://www.bazils.com/.
Below are a few pictures from Bazil's:
DAY 2: THE START OF THE OLD GHOST ROAD; LYELL TO LYELL SADDLE: 17.5KM
We were up nice & early Sunday morning, managed to shower & get a hot breakfast of bacon & eggs on toast before we set off to the Lyell carpark arriving at just after 8am. Below: Me at the start of the 85km track.
Day 1 consists of walking at an easy gradient over 17km with an altitude of 800m climbed, which most of this is done in the 1st 12km.
Below: Pictures and images of Day 1
There are lots of old relics to be found along the way:
Below: A nice place to stop for a break, just before you hit the 12km mark, this is known as the 'Big Slips':
Below: And finally after 17.5km the Lyell Saddle hut:
DAY 3: LYELL SADDLE TO GHOST LAKE HUT: 12KM
Today was also an early start as I am naturally an early bird, we had about a 500m ascent today before descending slightly down towards Ghost Lake hut. There is excellent views and scenary once you exit the bush line at Bald Hill. Points of interest include: Rocky Tor, The Tombstone & Heavens Gate. You also get cellphone reception at the top and can see right down to Murchison.
Below: Photo's of todays walk.
DAY 4: GHOST LAKE HUT TO STERN VALLEY HUT: 13KM
Today was also an early start seeing us leaving around 8am, it was a 4 hour walk to Stern valley hut, mostly down hill after the short ascent up to the Skyline ridge. You start at the Ghost lake hut, elevation of 1190m and end up at Stern hut at 400m. This is an easy day and we were almost considering continuing on to Goat Creek hut which is 27km total. Along the way we had the privledge of bumping into the legend himself Steve 'Stacky' Stack, one of the founding members of the Old Ghost Road and the track builder.
Below: Stacky, Aaron & Antonia.
Below: Photo's of todays walk.
Below: A video showing the many turns on the Skyline ridge:
DAY 5: STERN VALLEY HUT TO SPECIMEN POINT HUT: 25KM
Today started off with rain, we decided to set off early as it was a 25km day and the rain had set in for the morning. The day started off wet but by around midday the sun had come out. The highlights of the day were the Boneyard and stopping at Goat creek hut to make a nice cup of soup. This day consists of starting off fairly flat to then climbing about 300m elevation up the Boneyard to Solemn saddle, the rest of the day was fairly flat again. You end up descending down to around the 150m mark passing Goat creek hut, The Mokihinui folks hut and then reaching your final destination of Specimen point hut. Like Ghost lake hut, Specimen point has amazing views. Below is a picture of Goat creek hut (a small basic hut with 4 beds & a fire place):
Below: Todays photo's.
Below: Video of the bridge crossing over the Mokihinui river & Specimen point hut:
DAY 6: SPECIMEN POINT HUT TO THE ROUGH & TUMBLE LODGE (END): 18KM
Today we set off just after 8am with a plan of being out before 1pm, this however didn't go to plan, on our walk out we met up with 4 of the guys who assisted in building the Old Ghost road and we must have spent at least 20 minutes chatting with each of them. 1st off we came across Nigel on the digger then Barry who was crushing rocks, not long after this we met Ben on the track coming to check traps and right before the end we met up with Rhys who is the Track Manager for the Old Ghost road and the Legend behind the Skyline ridge.
We managed to reach the Rough & Tumble carpack not long after 2pm where our car had been relocated to. Todays walk is fairly flat the whole way, sidling alongside the Mokihinui river.
Below: The furtherest distance I have done on a multiday hike (the 81km mark), beating my 80km distance:
Below are some of the highlights of todays walk:
Below: Some of the bridges on the way out.
Below: Us at the end under the final arch:
This has been one of the best hikes to date for me. It is well worth the time and is a never to forget experience, I would highly recommend ready 'Spirit of the Stone' by Marion Boatwright prior to doing this walk, although there is a copy in each hut, this gives you great detail on the history & building of the Old Ghost road. This book can be purchased from the OGR website by clicking the picture.
I would also recommend booking and staying at the Rough & Tumble lodge upon finishing the Old Ghost road as this is where the carpark is and it is owned & operated by Marion who is the visionary behind the Old ghost road.
The Seddonville pub is a great place to stop and get some well earned hot food and beer on the way out also, this is located a few km's up the road from the end of the track.
For all info on the Old ghost road copy & paste the link below:
http://www.oldghostroad.org.nz/
If you would like to join in any of the upcoming adventures with the Christchurch Wilderness Hiking group click the link at the top of the page, remember it is a free club & free to join.
