Lyell Saddle to Ghost Lake Hut | bennettandslater.co.nz

Heavens Door view point along the Old Ghost Road | Sandra Appleby

Warm up ride in the Craigieburn Ranges of Canterbury | Mike Smith

Flowing singletrack through west coast bush | Sandra Appleby

Skyline Steps on the Old Ghost Road | bennettandslater.co.nz

Old Ghost Hut | Sandra Appleby

Old Ghost Road Mountain Bike Adventure

Name: Old Ghost Road Mountain Bike Adventure
Brand: Adventure South
SKU: OGR
Rating: 5.00 (5 reviews)

Mountain bike the iconic Old Ghost Road

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5 reviews

5 Days from

$2420 USD

Trip Code: OGR

View dates to Book Essential Information

Extra trip options & supplements

*Prices listed are per person

Single Supplement (Night 2 only) Limited to 2 per departure

$70 USD

Duration

5 Days

Activities

5 day mountain bike

Accommodation

2 nights back country hut
1 night lodge
1 night motel

Meals

4 Dinners
2 Lunches
4 Breakfasts

Difficulty Grading

5 / 5

challenging

Carbon Footprint

25kg of CO₂-e PP per day

(102kg of CO₂-e PP entire trip)

Trip highlights

Warm up on Christchurch’s Port Hills with stunning ocean views
Ride the trails of Christchurch’s Adventure Park – lift assisted
Explore the local Craigieburn Trails in Castle Hill Basin
Test your skills on the Old Ghost Road’s enviable single-track
Stay overnight in the remote Ghost Lake and Specimen Point Huts
Take in incredible views from the Skyline Ridge and Lyell Tops
Learn new riding tips and a receive a skill session with your experienced mountain bike guides
Enjoy local hospitality in small townships along the way

Overview

Experience some of the South Island’s best mountain biking on our fully guided and supported Old Ghost Road Mountain Bike Adventure.

We kick things off by exploring the abundant network of trails in Christchurch’s Port Hills and Adventure Park, before heading west to take on Canterbury’s hidden gem that is the Craigieburn Trails.

Get excited, the iconic Old Ghost Road is up next. From Lyell, we follow the 85km trail through thick beach forest, along rocky ridges, down the infamous Skyline staircase and out through the Mohikinui River Gorge to Seddonville.

The 19th century trail was once created to connect gold fields between the Buller Gorge and the Mohikinui Valley, although it was never finished as the trail was deemed too rugged!

Our expert mountain biking guides will drive you from A to B, muster up a homecooked meal and even treat you to a skills session. You’ll also enjoy classic Kiwi hospitality in a mix of alpine lodges and remote huts with unbeatable views.

Bring your friends and ask us about group discounts and flexible dates, groups of 8-12 can easily be accommodated.

Itinerary

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Your mountain biking adventure begins with a warm up in Christchurch’s Port Hills. Flowing single-track along the crater rim gives us panoramic views in all directions, the peaks of the Southern Alps to the west and the vivid blue waters of Lyttelton Harbour to the east. Our adventure continues with a few runs in Christchurch’s Adventure Park using their state-of-the-art lift. We then enjoy lunch at the on-site restaurant before getting ready for the 1.5 hour drive towards the mountains. The journey takes us across the vast Canterbury Plains and over Porters Pass which is a fitting introduction to the Craigieburn Mountains where our next adventure awaits. We stay the night at Forest Lodge where we enjoy a home cooked dinner and a hot shower. Note: If you are bringing your own bike, please make sure you have it assembled and ready when we pick you up. If you are hiring a mountain bike, there will be a chance to test and fit your hire bike. Cycling distance: Up to 40km 350m Climb / 1300m Descent

Meals: L,D

Today’s adventure starts right outside our doorstep. After a hearty breakfast we set loose in the Craigieburn forest. You’ll be rewarded with fantastic views over the surrounding valleys and mountains from the many trail options including the Hog’s Back, Luge, the Edge, Dracophyllum flat and Dicksons Downhill tracks. Returning to the trailhead, we then drive across the Southern Alps via Arthur’s Pass to Westport, the charming West Coast town that’s our stopping point for the night. We enjoy an evening meal and a well-deserved beer in one the town’s historic pubs. Rest up as the next three days will be huge! Cycling distance: Up to 40km 1350m Climb / 1350m Descent

Meals: B,D

A short drive takes us to the gold rush ghost town of Lyell and the start of the Old Ghost Road. The trail starts with a 765m climb through beach forest along an old dray road to the open tops of the saddle, offering dramatic views across the valley in all directions. A narrow and rocky track then sidles across the face of Mt Montgomery and past ‘Heaven’s Door’ before descending through stunted alpine forest to Ghost Lake Hut and our accommodation for the night. At 1200m above sea level, we think you’ll agree this is the perfect place to stop. We’ll enjoy a relaxed evening at the back country hut, overlooking Ghost Lake and the surrounding mountain ranges where your guides will prepare your evening meal. Riding Distance: 30km Approx. Time: 6-8 hours 1440m Climb / 350m Descent

Meals: B,D

Today our ride descends rapidly from Ghost Lake through rock gardens with tight turns to reach the spectacular Skyline Ridge. We carry our bikes down the Skyline Steps before some fun, fast and sweeping single-track into the Stern Valley. The trail continues to meander on through the Earnest Valley and zigzags up through a large bolder field named the Boneyard to Solemn Saddle. From here it’s on down to the confluence with the Mokihinui River South Branch and the old Goat Creek Hut. From Goat Creek, we will wind our way through towering podocarp forest to the Mokihinui ‘Forks’ and then on to the Specimen Point Hut site 3km downstream towards at the head of Mokihinui River Gorge. Our guides will cook up another tasty meal and we will relax enjoying views of the river nearby. Riding Distance: 38km Approx. time: 6-9 hours 720m Climb / 1750m Descent

Meals: B,D

From Specimen Point, the Mokihinui squeezes into a tight gorge and below us are rushing green waters and deep clear pools. Narrow swing bridges overhang massive drops and the old miners’ road is re-joined for the undulating ride through the spectacular Mokihinui River gorge to the end of the trail and the end of the Old Ghost Road. At Seddonville we meet up with our transport, load up the bikes before we enjoy a shower and refreshments at the Rough & Tumble lodge. We then set off on our journey over the Lewis Pass back to Christchurch. We can expect to arrive in Christchurch around 6pm, dropping back in the central city. Those who would like to dismantle and box their mountain bikes can return to the Adventure South NZ depot. Riding Distance: 17km Approx. time: 2-4 hours 150m Climb / 200m Descent

Meals: B,L

Map

Elevation

The map and elevation chart are for illustrative purposes only and meant to provide general guidelines.

Ready to start your adventure?

View dates to Book

What’s included?

Included

Tasty breakfasts (x4), picnic style or cafe lunches (x2), hearty dinners (x4) catered to all dietary requirements
1 night comfortable motel ensuite accommodation on a twin share basis
1 night back country lodge with shared facilities
2 nights in remote backcountry hut with shared facilities and sleeping bags
Experienced qualified mountain bike guides/drivers who handle all the hard bits and share epic stories
Private vehicle transport with trailer for bikes and luggage
Lift rides in the Christchurch Adventure Park
Tasty nutritious snacks, drinks and treats plus our famous morning and afternoon teas
Pre departure information kit to help you plan and prepare
Access and concession fees paid to the Department of Conservation

Not included

Mountain bike hire (including helmet) - Quality full suspension bikes can be hired from NZ$130-$270 per day
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary (There will be time to purchase lunch food along the way when needed)
All alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
Water bottle (help us save the environment and bring your own standard bike drink bottle or hydration system)
Optional activities not mentioned in the itinerary
Personal expenses (eg. phone calls, internet, laundry, shopping etc)
Travel insurance
International or domestic flights and taxes
Arrival and departure transfers
Visa (if required)

About your guide

Our Guides are one of our biggest assets. We pride ourselves on the standard and quality of these great people who you will be spending your holiday with. They come from all walks of life but they all have a common desire to give you the best possible experience, heaps of fun and lots of fond memories to take home with you. We provide you with the services of two experienced mountain bike guides, who will be able to share their mountain bike knowledge with you and give you some riding tips out on the trail. All our guides are certified in first aid and CPR and many are trained bike mechanics.