Murchison to Reefton and a Mountain Pass

Murchison to Lyell to Blackwater School, to Waiutu ghost town finishing in Reefton.

Today is about fabulous, glorious South Island scenery. For even jaded New Zealanders the road from Murchison to Westport is the most beautiful in the country. Breathtaking mountains vie with plunging gorges and the roar of white water. Maori prospectors were the first to obtain gold from the Lyell region and by 1863 the gold rush had started. There are heritage sites to explore, perhaps some gold prospecting and bridges that sweep over numerous rivers and cataracts.

Route map

The Buller gorge flows through a deep canyon between Murchison and Westport. There are two sections to the gorge, Upper Buller Gorge and Lower Buller Gorge. State Highway 6 runs alongside the gorge through cut rock faces and the river is your companion. There are stupendous moments where you are suspended between the river and the road. The route SH6 on this trip is the Upper Buller Gorge only. The Lower Buller Gorge SH6 leads to Westport.

Points of interest on the Buller Gorge route:

• Brunner and Kehu’s Plaque – commemorating an epic journey by Thomas Brunner and his Maori guides.
• Lyell – once a thriving town now a ghost town now a popular picnic and camping spot. The Lyell walkway (1 hr loop walk) is worth exploring if you can fight off the sandflies.  They are vicious here so make sure you wear repellent.   This is also the starting point of the ‘Old Ghost Road’ mountain biking and multi-day tramp.