Casey Hut Bikepack, Off road cycle tour or Bike2Bunk.
Easy 4wd track up the valley. many camping areas on the way. NOTE the hut has burnt down, check DOC web first. Camping is always allowed. see links at base of this page for DOC info etc.
Nearest town:
Arthurs Pass is the nearest town. This is an Alpine village with two good pubs and a camping ground. There is also a shop open in the day time and some great motel like accommodation. See Links.
How to get there:
If you are cycling only then from Christchurch there is a bus and a train to Greymouth, these will both drop you off in Arthurs Pass. To get to the start head east toward Christchurch. Once at the Mount White Bridge turning turn left. The turning is about 10km after the Bealey pub, also another great place to stay. Once on the dirt road after MT White Bridge stay on the track that goes along the shore of the Waimakariri. The other track takes you to the Hawdon shelter which is a super to camp. The track along the shore takes you to the Andrews shelter which like the Hawdon is a nice place to camp even though it doesn’t have a fire place. The track starts about one hour’s cycle after the Andrews Shelter. The start is easy to miss as it s just a DOC sign on a gate.
If driving head towards Arthurs pass and turn right at MT White Bridge just after the Cass turning on the right. Follow the dirt road to the start passing Andrews shelter on the way.
Accommodation at start and fun (pubs) at start:
Accommodation at Arthurs Pass ranges from tent site and back packers to motels. Also on offer if you have 4 or more people in your party is holiday Accommodation rentals. There are two good pubs here.
If you are camping then Hawdon and Andrews shelters are both good places to camp. They are basic but do have long drops.
See links.
Terrain:
4wd tracks. The track has loose rocks, embedded rocks, fun puddles to wet those peddles and lovely grassy smooth bits to ease those sore bits. From the gate at the start is a steep sharp down then some of that lovely smooth grass. After a few km it starts to get rocky and raises a couple of hundred meters to offer some fabulous views of the Poulter River and surrounding mountains.
The down is super fun and panniers have their staying on powers tested here. Once at the bottom it is flattish all the way to the hut. There are a few more rocky bits, there are a few more puddles and there are lots of grassy bits. There is a fence to lift the bikes over about 8km from the hut. The last few hundred meters to the hut are up a river bed, pushing is the best option here. The hut sign is a small one and says no bikes, take the river bed just after the sign it’s easier than pushing the single track in the trees.
Difficulty:
It’s billed as an easy ride that the whole family can do. It is if the family are all keen and fit cyclists. On the track you will come across deep puddles, rocks, steep sections, single tracks a fence and small river crossings. The bits in between are easy. So it takes about four hours with panniers, back packs may be quicker and if you do it on a day trip with a full suspension bike it will be a lot quicker and heaps of fun.
Vehicle options:
We took an off road recumbent and an upright bike with panniers and both were just fine. Since there is a little pushing over the rocks a back pack pannier combination may be the answer. Trailers would be possible. A good idea for a trailer would be to have the bag in the trailer a back pack so on the pushing rocky bits you can wear the back pack.
Weather requirements:
Dry weather is required, swollen rivers are always a danger. Wind would make you slower but wouldn’t cause any danger. The hut is near a river so even in a draught you will have water.
Time on stages:
Its 4 hours to the hut. Coming back is a little faster due to more down hill. There are some lovely sheltered bushy areas on the way back that would make for a super lunch spot, these will add to the time if visited. Time will vary a little from person to person.
Accommodation type once there:
The overnight stay is at Casey hut. It has a heater, cushioned beds and roof water. There are plenty of camping areas near the hut.
Side trips things to see:
From the Casey you can cycle, run or tramp the 6km to the Poulter hut. Past there running and walking are your only options. Also from the Casey you can run or walk to the Halleluiah flats, very pretty area. This track leads back to the Andrews Shelter.
On the way to the hut there are some pinnacles on the other side of the Poulter, these would be worth a visit if the river is down. They make a nice picture.
Accommodation at end:
See Accommodation at start.
Links:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/page.aspx?id=45422https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/canterbury/places/arthurs-pass-national-park/things-to-do/tracks/casey-saddle-binser-saddle-route
Conclusion:
This is a super fun ride with not to much up hill work. The views are good so take that camera. Also if you do it there is a feedback form at www.vorb.org.nz or www.groundeffect.co.nz.
This is a trial track and may close in March 2010, so do it now have fun and tell DOC.
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