The Old Ghost Road Run
Follow in the footsteps of gold miners, though hopefully with better shoes and significantly more snacks. The Old Ghost Road is New Zealand's ultimate backcountry odyssey - stretching through rugged valleys, towering mountain passes, and ridgelines that make you feel very small in a very big way. Across three running days, we tackle the full 85km. We've done the smart thing and arranged helicopter drops for our supplies (High Country UberEats, if you will), so you can focus on the famed Skyline Steps without a 15kg pack trying to pull you backward. This isn't just a run; it's a West Coast epic with a roof over your head and a crew that's in it together.
Tour Highlights
- •The Full 85km: No shortcuts. You're running the most iconic multi-day trail in the country.
- •Heli-Style Logistics: We drop the heavy gear by air. You carry the essentials; we provide the smiles.
- •Hut Life, Upgraded: Stay at Ghost Lake (perched on a cliff) and Specimen Point (beside the mighty Mokihinui).
- •Skyline Steps: 300+ steps of pure character building with views that actually justify the burning lungs.
- •The West Coast Finish: Celebrate at the Seddonville trailhead before the long sleep on the bus home.
What's Included
- ✓3 Days of Guided Mission: Expert leads who know every turn and every historic ruin.
- ✓Strategic Stays: 2 nights in backcountry huts, 1 night in a Murchison motel.
- ✓Pack-Mule Antics: Helicopter luggage and food drops included.
- ✓Fuel for the Ghost: 3 Breakfasts, 3 Trail Lunches, and 2 Hearty Hut Dinners.
- ✓Door-to-Trail Transport: Return transfers from Christchurch included.
- ✓Heli-Dropped Refreshments: Enjoy a local 0% beer or cider dropped at the huts. Because a sunset at Ghost Lake Hut deserves a toast, even if you're 85km from the nearest pub.
Itinerary
Day 1: The Gateway to the West
Your adventure begins in Christchurch with an afternoon meet-up and group transfer to Murchison (about 3.5 hours) - the gateway to the Old Ghost Road. We aim to arrive before 5.30pm to give us time to settle in, try out the local tavern and have a little brief for tomorrow's adventure kicks off.
Day 2: Lyell Carpark to Ghost Lake Hut
Your adventure begins with a short 1 hour transfer to the Lyell Carpark, the gateway to the Old Ghost Road. From here, the trail climbs steadily through lush podocarp and beech forest, past historic gold-mining relics and across suspension bridges, before breaking into open alpine ridgelines. The reward? One of New Zealand's most spectacular backcountry huts, Ghost Lake Hut, perched high above the valleys with panoramic sunset views. To keep packs light on this first big climb, our supplies will be dropped in by heli - the High Country UberEats! That means you'll only carry essentials, and we'll share a hearty group dinner as the sun dips behind the mountains.
Day 3: Ghost Lake Hut to Specimen Point Hut
After breakfast, pack your gear and lunch for the biggest day ahead. Today is an epic journey across the very heart of the Old Ghost Road. Expect undulating ridgelines, the famed Skyline Steps, and long descents into wild river valleys. This is true backcountry - remote, rugged, and incredibly rewarding. We finish beside the mighty Mokihinui River at Specimen Point Hut. Dinner tonight is classic high-country hut fare.
Day 4: Specimen Point Hut to Seddonville
Our final morning follows the Mokihinui River Gorge, with fast, flowing single track framed by sheer cliffs, swing bridges, and dense West Coast bush. This gentler run allows time to soak up the wild beauty before reaching the northern trailhead in Seddonville. From here, we'll have time to relax and soak up a little more of the stunning West Coast before we make our way back to Christchurch - tired legs, full hearts, and stories to last a lifetime.