Bealey Spur

Bealey Spur

Arthur's Pass

15 Rankers Reviews

12 Face-to-Face

8 Arthur's Pass

Your Nature Guide

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Marios Gavalas

Author And Researcher

Nau mai, haere mai

Nau mai, haere mai

I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.

I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!

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Information

Bealey Spur

12 km return | 3 hours 30 minutes return

Bealey Spur is a distillation of all Arthurs Pass National Park has to offer. Beech forest, open alpine tops with bogs and tarns and big views over the braided Waimakariri and surrounding ranges.

Walking Track

Timing

This walk is often a good choice when north-westerly winds are bringing rain to Arthur’s Pass - being further east, it is drier in these conditions. The track also appeals to many walkers because it is more gradual than most of the alpine tracks around Arthur’s Pass Village, and it does not climb above the bush-line. It is also well marked and is suitable for reasonably fit people who are well equipped.

Access

The carpark is at the bottom of Cloudesley Road in the missable village of Bealey 1 km east of the famous Bealey Hotel. The start of the track is signposted 500m further up at the road end. There is no parking here and no turning either.

Track

This walk is often a good choice when north-westerly winds are bringing rain to Arthur’s Pass - being further east, it is drier in these conditions. The track also appeals to many walkers because it is more gradual than most of the alpine tracks around Arthur’s Pass Village, and it does not climb above the bush-line. It is also well marked and is suitable for reasonably fit people who are well equipped.

The steady climb starts through mountain beech forest before entering low manuka scrub and then a red tussock clearing. These are the first of the extensive views over the ranges of Arthurs Pass National Park, including the Polar and Savannah Ranges. On re-entering the forest there is a particularly muddy patch. On exiting the forest again, boardwalks protect the fragile alpine vegetation and tarns. Poles guide you through the tussock clearings and these are invaluable if the cloud rolls in. Keep climbing to Bealey Top Hut (signposted Bealey Spur Hut), an old musterers Hut on the forest edge.

In the vicinity of the hut are remains of the old holding fences and dog kennels. A basic toilet is near the hut and some smoky drinking water.

Geology

The braided Waimakariri River shines like intertwining silver threads as it weaves a course through the ranges. With a catchment of around 2,500 km square, it is fed by rivers such as the Bealey, Esk and Poulter. Its name translates as ‘cold waters’.

The ranges of Arthurs Pass form part of the main Southern Alps.

European History

Top Hut, as the shack was known, was built in 1935 by Walter Taylor and Harry Faulkner. These owners of Cora Lynn Station would spend time on the tops in an area known as ‘Powers Country’ and the hut was used by musterers until the area was incorporated into Arthurs Pass National Park in 1978. It is made from beech saplings for the framing and clad in corrugate iron.

Musterers enjoyed a good night’s sleep on diamond mesh bed bases with chaff sack mattresses. Around 6,000 sheep grazed the tops here.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

DOC Canterbury

Central government organisation

Location

South IslandCanterburyArthur's Pass

Categories

  • Activity__walking_and_trekkingWalking
  • Free

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-43.0275228796208

171.628601782597

Latitude
-43.0275228796208
Longitude
171.628601782597

Nearby

Reviews

    • One of my favourites in my one-year-in-NZ!
    • I did a moderate walk.
    • Great views after about a 45 minute forest hike.
    • We did the track in February.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 7
    47%
    9/10 2
    13%
    8/10 1
    7%
    7/10 5
    33%
    6/10 0
    0%
    5/10 0
    0%
    4/10 0
    0%
    3/10 0
    0%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 5.0/5

    About a third of this hike is a moderate walk through the forest which is particularly pleasant on really hot days.

    And when we got out of the forest we were more and more surprised with the stunning views. It takes about 2hrs to the small hut (you can refill your water from rainwater tank or maybe even sleep over - about 4 beds). Definitely go for the spur (30 more mins from the hut) - breathtaking view.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great views after about a 45 minute forest hike.

    Hike up to the hut is mostly forest. However, if you want amazing views, continue pas the hut and go to the summit. Really exposed but well worth the views.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    There is a hut, if you pass it the view is amazing.

    The walk is great if the weather is good.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    Very nice track through different vegetation and stunning views over the valley.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    I did the moderate walk and it was very nice, the view at the end is fantastic.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    It is a little bit steep but the view at the top is amazing.

    I recommend it.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    Well marked track but too long in the forest before the track becomes open with good views.

    Otherwise a good walk with great views.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Not too exhausting and at the top you have an amazing views.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    I did a moderate walk.

    This walk is very good and the view at the end is fantastic and very beautiful.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    We did the track in February.

    It is a little bit steep but a really good view at the top. There is also a little hut towards the end for the night.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing view if you continue passed the hut to the Summit!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    About a third of this hike is a moderate walk through the forest which is particularly pleasant on really hot days.

    And when we got out of the forest we were more and more surprised with the stunning views. It takes about 2hrs to the small hut (you can refill your water from rainwater tank or maybe even sleep over - about 4 beds). Definitely go for the spur (30 more mins from the hut) - breathtaking view.

    Reviewed over 5 years ago

  • 4.5/5

    Great views after about a 45 minute forest hike.

    Hike up to the hut is mostly forest. However, if you want amazing views, continue pas the hut and go to the summit. Really exposed but well worth the views.

    Reviewed almost 7 years ago

  • 4.0/5

    There is a hut, if you pass it the view is amazing.

    The walk is great if the weather is good.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    Very nice track through different vegetation and stunning views over the valley.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    I did the moderate walk and it was very nice, the view at the end is fantastic.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    It is a little bit steep but the view at the top is amazing.

    I recommend it.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in January 2017

  • 3.5/5

    Well marked track but too long in the forest before the track becomes open with good views.

    Otherwise a good walk with great views.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

  • 4.5/5

    Not too exhausting and at the top you have an amazing views.

    Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    I did a moderate walk.

    This walk is very good and the view at the end is fantastic and very beautiful.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    We did the track in February.

    It is a little bit steep but a really good view at the top. There is also a little hut towards the end for the night.

    Reviewed about 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Amazing view if you continue passed the hut to the Summit!!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Great option if the weather is not co-operating for Avalanche Peak.

    Don't stop at the hut, continue on to the summit, about 30 minutes further for unreal views.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

  • 5.0/5

    Very nice track through different vegetation with stunning views over the valley and the surrounding mountains.

    Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in February 2015

  • 5.0/5

    One of my favourites in my one-year-in-NZ!

    Nice track, lots of variation in views, impressive mountain-views, bit of snow on the top :) perrrrfect!

    Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in October 2012