Bealey Spur Hut

Bealey Spur Hut is a historic six-bunk backcountry hut in a clearing of mountain beech at the end of Bealey Spur Track. It’s a good destination for an overnight trip or a long walk with a proper place to reach. The route is 6 km one way and about 2½ hours each way. The climb is gradual by Arthur’s Pass standards, but it’s still a 12 km return walk if you come back the same day.

The track starts from a car park off State Highway 73, 14 km south of Arthur’s Pass village. From there, walk up Cloudesley Road to the track. It climbs through mountain beech, then tussock and subalpine scrub, passing tarns on the way to the hut. In clear weather, the open stretches look across the Waimakariri valley to the surrounding mountains. A cliffside section gives a sharp drop toward Bruce Stream, so take care with children there.

The hut was built in 1925 as a sheep-mustering base for the surrounding high country. As many as 6,000 sheep grazed there. Mustering ended when the land was retired in 1978 and added to the national park. Look nearby for the remains of a corrugated-iron dog kennel and an old holding-paddock fence. It’s also known as Top Hut; Musterer’s Hut and Top Horse Hut are older names.

This is a very basic hut: six sacking bunks, a wooden floor and an open fire, with no mattresses. Bring a bed roll or air mattress. A nearby pit toilet serves the hut, and the rainwater tank is untreated, so boil its water before drinking. The hut is first come, first served, with no booking required.

There’s no drinking water along the track, so carry at least a litre per person. The path can be muddy and rough underfoot, and higher sections may have snow in winter; the route is exposed to wind and cold. Wasps can be numerous from January to April. Dogs aren’t allowed on the track.