In the North West corner of the South Island, a long forgotten gold miners’ road was revived as a mountain biking and tramping trail. Now, all 85 kilometres of Old Ghost Road have been captured for Google Earth Voyager. From today, Kiwis can venture from the old dray road in the Lyell, all the way to the Mokihinui River in the north, right from the comfort of their living room.
The majestic native forest, open tussock tops, river flats and forgotten valleys are now available to anyone to explore.
A group of three captured the length of the trail over three days by taking it in turns to carry the 18 kilogram Trekker camera. The Trekker’s 15 camera lenses take photos every 2.5 seconds, capturing panoramic imagery. This creates the interactive 360 degree virtual tour of New Zealand’s backyard.
Behind the scenes imagery of the Trekker capturing the trail.
With only five kilometres to go of the trail, the team found their Trekker battery had run flat. Luckily, the nearby local Sedonville pub was able to save the day and allowed the team to recharge to capture the final distance.
The trail was captured in partnership with the Mokihinui-Lyell Backcountry Trust - the creator and operator of The Old Ghost Road. "We were delighted to have the interest and support of Google New Zealand to capture The Old Ghost Road and bring this very remote and rugged part of New Zealand to the world" said Trust Chairperson, Phil Rossiter. "We hope it gives viewers greater insight and appreciation for what makes this trail so special."
A view of Lyell Saddle hut.
Old Ghost Road is part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail and has four ghost towns populating the route. Gold was first discovered here in the 1860s, followed by a boom for a couple of decades, only to be closed up by the early 1900s. Some might say it's an outdoor museum, but this corner of New Zealand undeniably brings heritage, wilderness and storytelling together in an unforgettable way.
So strap up your boots, mount your home exercise bike or just put your feet up with a cuppa, and take a trip down this adventure trail Old Ghost Road here.
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