Parking
Use the Greyneys Shelter campground/turnout on SH 73, about 6 km east of Arthur’s Pass Village. The walk starts and finishes near the shelter; cross the grassy campground to the forest track entrance.
Overview
About Old Coach Road
Old Coach Road is an easy 1.1-km/0.7-mile loop that starts and finishes at Greyneys Shelter, about 6 km east of Arthur’s Pass Village on SH 73. It follows a gently graded section of the century-old coach road above the Bealey riverbed before returning on a newer forest track. Allow about 30 minutes; the route has roughly 15 m/50 ft of elevation change.
Why go
- Easy 1.1 km loop with only about 15 m of elevation change
- Historic coach-road bed and old rock walling beside Greyneys Shelter
Heads up
- Traffic noise is noticeable near SH 73 and the campground approach
- Short bridges, wet forest surfaces, and the roped inner loop need care
Map & elevation
The route
Loading the Arthur's Pass map
Full mapElevation661–677 m
Plan your hike
Before you go
Parking
Safety
1 active Arthur's Pass alert
- CautionFlood damage on route to Sudden Valley BivvySignificant flood damage has washed away much of the route to Sudden Valley Bivvy; expect a longer trip and take great care on the climb around Barrier.Official details
The highest, rockiest slopes around here are a summer buffet for grizzly bears.
Arthur's Pass Tour Guide
Your drive to Old Coach Road, narrated.
Parkwolf is a GPS audio tour guide for Arthur's Pass National Park. As you drive, it chimes in with what’s ahead: hidden gems, upcoming stops, history, geology, and wildlife, right through your car’s speakers.
Recorded for this trailhead
Greyneys Shelter Campsite and Old Coach RoadListen
“You're about to pass Greyneys Shelter, a basic, free campsite that works on a first-come, first-served basis. Its most notable feature is the small stone shelter with a fireplace inside.”
Plays as you drive up to this trailhead in the Parkwolf Arthur's Pass Tour Guide.
More stories near here in the app
- Te Namu: The Unofficial Welcoming Committee
- Coast to Coast: The Mountain Run
- Life on the Scree: The Black Mountain Ringlet
- Avalanche Peak: The Signature Summit
- 87 audio storiesacross Arthur's Pass’s roads, triggered by GPS as you drive
- Wildlife heatmapsfor Kea, New Zealand Falcon, Blue Duck, and 13 more
- Works offlinemaps, 22 trails, 56 places, and audio download before you lose signal
- CarPlay readysimple controls built for the drive
“Fantastic app with many points of information… It’s great to just turn on while you’re driving and it gives you an audio tour of the national Park. We love it!!!!”
Trail guide
Hiking Old Coach Road
Route and feelBegin at Greyneys Shelter campground and cross the grassy area south to the forest entrance.
Begin at Greyneys Shelter campground and cross the grassy area south to the forest entrance. The path climbs gently to the old roadbed, then follows the historic route through the forest before making a safety-pin-shaped loop and returning to the shelter. The full loop includes a short section near SH 73 and the campground toilet, a few short wooden bridges below small cascades, and a roped section on the smaller inner loop.
What you’ll seeOld roadbed and sections of historic rock walling are the main attractions.
Old roadbed and sections of historic rock walling are the main attractions. The elevated road was cut into the hillside to avoid the flood-prone Bealey riverbed, and the forested route offers a quiet history-focused walk even though traffic noise from SH 73 is noticeable nearby.
Access and practical notesThe track is suitable for all-terrain baby buggies.
The track is suitable for all-terrain baby buggies. Mountain weather can change quickly, so DOC recommends warm clothing, a raincoat, sun protection, something to eat and drink, and strong footwear. Dogs and bikes are not allowed. The loop starts and ends near Greyneys Shelter; follow the complete marked loop rather than substituting a different nearby track.
Wildlife
Wildlife in Arthur's Pass
979 sightingsKeaMost seen around noonSighting map
39 sightingsNew Zealand FalconMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
190 sightingsBlue DuckMost seen around 5 PMSighting map
19 sightingsKākāMost seen around 8 AMSighting map
14 sightingsWekaMost seen around 7 AMSighting map
15 sightingsParadise ShelduckMost seen around 6 PMSighting mapSighting maps show where each species has been reported across Arthur's Pass. Wildlife moves, so no sighting is guaranteed.
