Saturday 26th August 2023
Old Ghost Road is a walking and biking track managed by The Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust, it’s a bookable hut system. Approx. 5 days walk with facilities to rival the best of The Great Walks.
Our trip was an in and out weekender on the Lyell side up to Lyell saddle hut and back out the next day. I thought I’d be in for a solo as no-one signed up through the club website, although I put a few posts out on the FB page and got a message from a member, Jaci. I arranged to meet Jaci up on the way. From Hokitika it’s about 2.5hours drive to the track start, incidentally the track is about 2hours from Nelson, so Jaci’s niece and partner cruised over to meet us at the track start from Murchison.
Getting our stuff arranged in the carpark at around midday we bumped into fellow club member Jules on a hut bagging mission, had a chat, took a photo under the Old Ghost sign and set off.
The track is perfect cut and an easy gradual climb, it took us about 4hours moving at steady pace and not taking side trips, of which there are many to really soak up the atmosphere and immerse in contemplating the former lives of pioneers in this area.
Arrived at the hut around 4pm – light the fire and bring out the snacks, we are the only party at the hut. For the $40 pp this is what you get – A beautiful clean hut, gas supplied, dry cut wood supplied, all cooking and eating utensils supplied, dishwashing liquid & cleaning stuff, the cleanest composting toilets (with toilet paper) you’ve ever seen in the back country, hand sanitizer, a shower (top the water up yourself). And weka’s that steal food from your pack (you can keep them away by hanging everything up. Immediately. And not leaving ANYTHING on ground bird level).
Had a lovely evening relaxing and conversating, the usual to bed early and lounged it around in the morning making bacon, brie, and egg croissants for breakfast, cruising out slow around 10am and back out about 2pm.
If I had a few more days off work, I’d be keen as mustard to take the track all the way through to Seddonville, although for a quick bush escape with the luxuries of a bookable hut included, I’d pop in here again. Highly recommend for those new to tramping, and those wanting a bit of a botanical walk in the park with not much planning or carrying involved. Walked in sneakers, shorts, t-shirt, no poles. Just the basics in the pack, with consideration paid only to the food 😊
Candis Hawkins