Mountain Bikers on a Mission

Over Wellington Anniversary weekend I was one of 45 hardy mountain bikers who travelled from Christchurch, Wellington, Nelson and Westport to help restore and reopen an historic section of West Coast trail that is part of The Old Ghost Road.

The Old Ghost Road, one of the 18 Great Rides under Nga Haerenga, The New Zealand Cycle Trail, is an 80 kilometre trail being built from Lyell, in the Buller Gorge, to Mokihinui on the West Coast.

One United Kingdom magazine, has recently ranked the trail as one of the top ten rides in the world and it’s not even finished yet! Click here to read the article. In fact, it’s been tough going for the Old Ghost Road trail building crew in the last few months, so our group of mountain bikers, well- known for their track building enthusiasm, decided to lend a hand.

The long abandoned Mokihinui Track used to be part of the main road from Westport to Karamea, until it was closed by slips and tree fall in the 1929 Murchison earthquake. The New Zealand Forest Service reopened it as track for hunting and tramping in the 1970s, but in recent years it has steadily deteriorated.

Our small battalion of bikers worked to clear fallen trees and rocks from the track. Much of the old formation was still in excellent condition, so progress was fast, and after two days of hard work the first 5km up to Rough and Tumble Creek was rideable, and a further 2km easily walkable.

This is the first time that groups from four different regions have joined forces on a track work party, and this was no ordinary group. It included guide book writers Dave Mitchell and the Kennett Brothers, as well as national mountain biking champions Tim Galloway and Murray Dwyer.

The Old Ghost Road team will now employ a contractor to restore the rest of the track, which will provide a stunning walk and ride for 20km up to Mokihinui Forks Hut.

It was a great weekend spent surrounded by beautiful native forest with great views down to the Mokihinui River. My thanks to my fellow mountain bikers for a job well done!

Jonathan Kennett
New Zealand Cycle Trail Project Manager

Clearing fallen trees

Clearing logs

Work party lunch break

NZCT Project Manager Jonathan Kennett and Old Ghost Road Project Manager Phil Rossiter enjoying the views

Seddonville Holiday Park