Living the dream on the Old Ghost Road

A six-year dream to walk the Old Ghost Road in New Zealand was finally achieved by 1st Caringbah Rover Scout Campbell.

Having discovered the track while attending outdoor film festivals with his parents – namely the Banff Film Festival at the Randwick Ritz – which described it as a blend of rugged beauty, technical difficulty and fascinating history, Campbell kept the hike in his mind as his dream adventure.

In November, thanks to a grant from the Dick and Pip Smith Leadership Through Adventure Fund, Campbell was finally able to tackle the track along with his three friends – Callum, also from 1st Caringbah Rover Unit; Ash, from 1st Picnic Point Rover Unit; and Bree, from Seddon Park Rover Unit.

Find out more about the Leadership Through Adventure Fund

“My Scouting journey has already taken me across some of Australia’s most demanding hikes – from Dunphy’s Campground to Splendour Rock, Jenolan Caves to Katoomba along the Six Foot Track, the Freycinet Peninsula, summitting Cradle Mountain, and the South Coast Track in Tasmania. Each of these has deepened my love for the outdoors and strengthened my determination to push my limits,” Campbell said.

“As an archaeology student, I am also drawn to the trail’s strong ties to New Zealand’s gold mining heritage. Walking paths carved out by miners and pioneers adds another layer of meaning, allowing me to connect not only with the land but also with its stories. For me, the Old Ghost Road is more than just a track – it’s an opportunity to explore history, strengthen international connections, and create lasting memories with my fellow Rovers.”

Key step to Baden-Powell Scout Award

The trip was a major component of Campbell’s journey towards achieving his Baden-Powell Scout Award (BPSA). One of the requirements of the BPSA is the Adventurous Journey, which involves undertaking a significant challenge that tests both resilience and leadership.

The Old Ghost Road perfectly aligned with this, as it combined physical endurance, teamwork, and planning, with the opportunity to explore history and the natural environment.

But what about planning?

While Campbell had previous experience organising interstate hikes (such as managing transport, navigation, and gear), taking a group overseas introduced many new considerations, including international procedures for Scouting journeys overseas; communicating with New Zealand; and acquiring navigational tools and food.

“This is the first time I’ve had to take responsibility for all the paperwork and approvals required to lead an overseas expedition,” he said.

“I became familiar with drafting key activity documents, such as activity outlines and risk assessments. However, navigating the international requirements was still a steep learning curve. The guidance from my Journey Advisor, Paul, has been a true blessing; his advice and keen eye have been greatly appreciated.

“A trip of this scale depends on getting a few essentials right: transport to and from the trail, accommodation and landowner approvals, and a good understanding of the terrain and conditions. Navigation has been another area of focus. I researched the best tools to use and secured topographic maps of the route. These were our primary means of navigation, supported by route cards, with GPS and electronic tools serving as reliable backups. This approach ensured we could adapt confident, even if technology failed.

“Food and water were also critical for a hike of this length, especially with no opportunities for food drops. I researched suitable dehydrated meals and also explored what local supplies were available in Christchurch. The aim was to strike a balance between the two, ensuring we had lightweight, nutritious meals for the duration of the journey.”

Was it all worth it?

“The experience was absolutely incredible – both physically and mentally challenging,” Campbell said.

“Having six continuous days through alpine ridgelines, dense beech forests, river valleys, and historical gold mining sites pushed us to our limits, but it was equally rewarding. Every day brought new challenges, from navigating tricky terrain and managing rapidly changing alpine weather to balancing logistics and team dynamics. It was immersive, demanding, and allowed us to connect deeply with New Zealand’s backcountry landscapes whilst testing my leadership and teamwork skills.”

The trip was not just about the challenge of hiking though – it was all the little moments that kept the Patrol connected and having fun. From ending each morning’s briefing with a “Question of the Day” style video covering everything from the day’s conditions and expectations to favourite animated movies, to discovering that Bree was the queen of card games and exploited her friends’ lack of knowledge to her own advantage remaining undefeated at the end of the trip.

How it started	How it went

What did they learn?

Campbell said everything about the trip was a learning experience.

“I learnt so much about planning, leadership, and self-reliance,” he said. “Well-thought-out risk assessments and detailed logistical planning proved invaluable in navigating challenges.

“I strengthened my group management skills, learning how to balance different fitness levels, experience, and motivations within the Patrol. I also reinforced the importance of reviewing your own work and having it proofed to avoid mistakes.

“Perhaps most importantly, I realised the purpose of a challenge is to support the team as a whole – it doesn’t always need to be the hardest physical test, and success comes from resilience, collaboration, and achieving collective goals.”