The New Zealand Walks for Wimps series provides essential information about short, relatively easy hikes around New Zealand. Today’s is one of my favourites: the Bealey Spur Track near Arthur’s Pass. Don’t confuse it with the Bealey Valley Track, which I promise I’ll tell you about another time! Click on the map markers at the bottom of this post for more great easy NZ walks!
I can’t believe I almost didn’t do the Bealey Spur Track. Of course I probably never would have known what I’d missed, but just the same. Wow.
Why was I going to skip it?
Well, every 6 – 7 years or so is a mast year, meaning the beech trees produce an overabundance of seeds, which causes a massive increase in the rodent population. And this was the year. There were mice in my hostel, and I spoke to one girl who said two had gotten into her tent at night. And lucky me, one decided that my car would be a great place to hide out. In the tiny village of Arthur’s Pass there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about this, so I was pretty anxious to get to a bigger town so I could buy a mouse trap!
Also, I’d spent the past two nights in Arthur’s pass, and was leaving that day. I was feeling a time crunch, having so, so much still to see on the West Coast and then everything that there is on the Northern part of the South Island, including my favourite beach, which I was simply not willing to miss.
So I almost didn’t go. But after my initial shock at finding half my food nibbled on, it was turning out to be a brilliantly sunny day, and I knew that those days were not so common up in the mountains. So I went.
The Bealey Spur Track begins with a steep walk up a road from the car park for about 500 metres to the start of the track. From there it climbs steadily through beautiful forest until the path emerges into the open and continues onto a ridge, with trees on either side that part occasionally for a view of the steep gorge on one side, and a gentler slope down to the braided Waimakariri river on the other side.
After a little while on the ridge there’s a spectacular viewpoint looking up, down and across the Waimakariri valley.
From here the track continues steadily upwards, through open grassland and a swampy area over a boardwalk, then up through more forest, until it finally reaches the rustic Bealey Hut, which was built in 1925 for sheep musterers.
From here the view is blocked by trees and the track goes no further, but if you want you can continue on through the grass up the hill for a while. I chose to eat my lunch in the sunshine and then turn back.
Although I keep saying the track goes ‘up’, most of it is a fairly gradual ascent and not difficult. And the views make it entirely worth the effort, so don’t skip this track!
Have you hiked the Bealey Spur track? What did you think? What other trails would you recommend in Arthur’s Pass?
Are you looking for another easy walk nearby? The Rakaia Gorge Walkway is stunning and not too far, or head over to the West Coast for the Punakaiki – Pororari River Loop!
If you enjoyed this post, why not pin it?
Stunning pictures, Jenny! My personal favourite, and Grandma’s is the long valley scene where you have written about the nibbled food.
I’ve done this hike twice. First time was in winter, with some snow, and we didn’t go as far as the hut. Second time was in autumn, no snow, and we went beyond the hut to the ridge. No marked track beyond the hut, but it’s obvious where to go; the track does get steeper (after an initial boggy bit) but I was able to do it – slowly – and it was at the time my biggest climb (from memory around 900m total gain to the ridge). We wanted to spend time walking along the ridge, but daylight was an issue, so we turned back. One of the magical moments was seeing a kea fly straight toward us, and then below us, and seeing the magnificent colour of its plumage from above. Definitely a good walk, and doable for beginners with a bit of fitness and determination.
Ahhh next time I will go beyond the hut! And that kea sighting sounds unforgettable!
Hi Jenny, I reckon you could amend your note that Bealey Spur is a ‘bit exposed so take a hat’- in changing weather it can be treacherously exposed, people have died being up there unprepared. Hikers need to take warm clothes, wet weather gear, and enough food to stay overnight if they have to. This applies even on a fine day.
Beautiful pictures!
Thanks,
M
Thank you Megan, these are all very good points. I hadn’t thought about that since the weather was so glorious on the day I went, but I could see how it could be a dangerous and slippery path in wet or stormy weather. I’ll add that to the post!