Walking the Old Coach Road Track in Arthur's Pass
My
partner and I recently visited Arthur Pass for the day and while there
we took the opportunity to walk the Old Coach road near Greyneys Corner.
This is a remnant of the old stagecoach road from Christchurch to
Greymouth. Most of the rest of the track became SH73 this is a piece
that was bypassed and cleared so that people could see what the old
stage route looked like.
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| Interpretive board showing the course of the Old Coach Road Track at Greyneys |
It
is a nice wee track and well worth the 20 minutes it takes to do the
loop from the car-park, along the hillside and then back all within the
confines of the forest.
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| Map of the area: Greyneys is the start point for many tracks in the area.. |
Greyneys car
park is the start point for a number of tracks: the Old Coach Road,
Edwards Hut, Mingha-Deception Track and the section of the Te Araroa
through Arthur's Pass National Part.
Greyneys Picnic Area and Day shelter
My
partner Karen and I were up in Arthur's Pass to walk the Punchbowl
Falls Track, I have been there many times but it was the first visit for
Karen. On the way back to Christchurch we stopped and walked the 20
minute Old Coach Road Track near Greyneys car park.
Greyneys
used to be a very useful camp-site for those people tramping the
Mingha-Deception Route or attempting the trip to the Hawdon Valley via
Edwards Hut. DOC have now banned camping here probably because of all
the vandalism that happened to the facilities. It is also much closer to
SH73 since the road widening near here making it a less desirable place
to camp.
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| The picnic area at Greyneys Corner, Arthur's Pass National Park |
I
camped here a couple of times back in the 1980's and 1990's and always
found it a nice spot to stop for a night. It is a bit of a pity it is no
longer a camp-site but it is still an excellent spot to stop for a
picnic.
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| The Greyneys Picnic area day shelter......interpretive board...toilet... |
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| ...and a view of the inside of Greyneys day shelter |
There
is a fireplace in the day shelter at Greyneys and plenty of wood in the
surrounding forest although I am not sure if DOC want you using it on
the fire. If you do use it just make sure it is fully out before you
leave the area.
Walking the Old Coach Road Track, Greyneys Corner
The
start of the track is not well sign posted but it is the obvious track
at the eastern end of the picnic area. The track is flat to start with
and then ascends for about 20 meters to get up to the level of the Coach
Road. The whole track is very gentle and easy to walk...great for kids
and even the less fit of us.
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| The Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass starts from the Greyneys picnic area |
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| The short 20 metre climb to get to the level of the Old Coach Road Track |
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| on the Eastern ascent of the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass: |
Once
you reach the track it is a flat easy walk along a classic benched
track built for horses and carts. The waking is very easy with only one
or two small wet spots to cross...with all the fine weather we have been
experiencing these last two months the ground was dry.
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| Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass: starting the long sidle along the side of the hill |
It was cool under the trees and there is a surprising amount of bird life along the track. We saw some Wrens, fantails and I think a Weka which we disturbed.....if
it really was a Weka it would be the first I have ever seen in Arthur's Pass
National Park!!!
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| The original track is much wider than the newer foot bridges, Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| Greyneys car-park area just visible through the trees , Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| Descending down towards the western end of the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass: |
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| Thin forest in a regenerating cut over area along the Old Coach Road Track |
You
sidle along the side of the hill for about 500 meters before descending
back down to ground level alongside SH 73. The track used to be fully
within the forest but the recent road widening at Greyneys Corner means a
200 meter section of the track is now in the open.
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| Wind fall damage in the forest along the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| You can easily see this was once a coach road....Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| A small water fall crossing the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| Fixed bridge over a small stream along the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
There
were some very pretty small white flowers along the track as well as
some dense stands of fern in the darker wetter sections.
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| Some pretty white flowers growing alongside the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
There is a track junction towards the western end of the track, there is
a short 100 meter section of additional track to the left, and a
descending track heading down towards the highway.
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| Track junction on the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
As
we were unsure where the left hand track lead we followed the path down
the hill. I will come back the next time I am up here and take some
photos of the loop we missed out.
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| Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass: the start of the extra loop |
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| Descending down to the highway on the western end of the Old Coach Road Track |
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| Looking west towards the loop of track we missed: Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
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| the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass, heading alongside SH73 in the forest |
You
are about 30 meters away from the road on the flat sections of this
track, the noise of the cars is a bit intrusive but not a real concern. I
believe DOC intend to plant some new trees along this section now that
the road widening is finished.
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| The Old Coach Road Track running next to SH73 |
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| Heading back into the forest on the way to Greyneys Picnic Area |
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| Raised board-walk over one of the small streams along the Old Coach Road Track, Arthur's Pass |
The
track deposits you at Greyneys car park, the western entrance to the
track is just past the long drop toilets DOC have provided for the
site.
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| The long drop toilet at the Greyneys car-park/Old Coach Road Track |
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| The other end of the Old Coach Road Track at Greyneys car park |
As
you can see from the sign camping is no longer allowed at Greyneys
Corner. Since the recent road widening in the area the old camping area
is right next to SH73 and less attractive as an overnight destination.
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| Sign put up by DOC to discourage over night camping |
Given
the distance from Arthur's Pass village and the small number of rangers
working there I would imagine the car-park fills up with illegal
freedom campers every night. The day we were there there were two vans
parked up looking like they were getting comfortable.
A great we walk if you are ever going to or from Arthur's Pass Village, make sure you stop and check it out...
