The Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route goes through some stunning mountain scenery
Hiking the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route In Arthur's Pass National Park
The Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route is a two-day hike in Arthur’s Pass National Park. It is mostly valley walking, but involves crossing two relatively easy saddles.
With a mixture of forest and open river flats, completing the Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route is a great way to see native wildlife and some spectacular mountain vistas.
Getting to the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
The Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route starts from Andrews Shelter Campsite on Mount White Road. This is roughly 5km from the junction with State Highway 73, which crosses Arthur’s Pass. Although it is an unpaved road, it is in good condition and suitable for non-4×4 vehicles (I was driving a Suzuki Swift rental car).
There is plenty of space to park at the start of the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
This hike forms almost a complete loop; the start and end points are a 30-40 minute walk apart along Mount White Road. This makes the Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route a logistically straightforward hike compared to many other end-to-end walks in the area.
Hiking the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route Day One: Andrews Shelter to Casey Hut
The track starts next to the road bridge over Andrews Stream, and soon heads steeply uphill on some of the sharpest gradients of the whole Caesy Saddle – Binser Saddle Route. There are some lovely views back across the Waimakariri Valley, so take the time to stop and enjoy the views.
The views back to the Waimakariri Valley on the way up to Casey Saddle are worth savouring
The gradient lessens as the track climbs and then sidles down through the forest back to Andrews Stream. There were few views across this section, but plenty of wildlife, with korimako, tomtits, piwakawaka and robins all making appearances, often within touching distance.
This friendly South Island Robin wasn't scared of us at all
The scenery opened up once the track dropped back down to Andrews Stream, and Castle Hill stood proud at the head of the valley. I had a quick stop by the stream for lunch, but had to move on quickly due to the insatiable sandflies.
The grassy river flats led across Hallelujah Flats all the way up to the wide Casey Saddle, which is so gradual as to be easy to miss. After a short stretch of track through scenically scattered bog pine, we descended along the narrow Surprise Stream valley. This soon led into the final climb of the day, through the beech forest to a traverse high above the Casey Stream gorge.
Casey Saddle is very wide and flat
A more open patch of forest allowed views across to the Poulter Range, before we descended to the river flats where Casey Stream meets the main Poulter Valley. From here it’s a 15-minute walk to Casey Hut, which sits on a terrace just above the main valley floor. The hut isn’t obvious from the valley-bottom track – check your map!
The mountains looked spectacular through the trees on the descent to the Poulter River valley
I was hiking with the accident-prone and injury-saddled Tom, and it took us seven hours to reach Casey Hut from Andrews Shelter.
Casey Hut is a modern hut, with great views, on the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
The original Casey Hut burnt down in 2015, and the modern 12-bunk replacement was opened in 2020. With a woodburner, solar-powered LED lights and plush new mattresses, this has to be one of the fancier DOC huts I’ve stayed in.
The verandah wraps around two sides of the hut, with an outdoor sink at one end and expansive views across the Poulter River and distant mountains. It would be a great place to sit, if it weren’t for the voracious local sandflies.
Scroll through to view the inside and outside of Casey Hut, on the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
Hiking the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route Day Two: Casey Hut to Andrews Shelter
After travelling south along the Poulter River valley for a short distance, the track ascends a grassy slope away from the main river, where it continues round the back of a forest-covered hill. The open grassy area between the trees provides a picturesque foreground to the distant mountains.
The Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route rejoins the main valley after crossing through a short section of forest. From here, the travel is easy all the way to Pete Stream, through wide open river flats, with the odd stream crossing and a short climb up and over a forested bluff.
The grassy river flats south of Casey Hut make for quick travel
At Pete Stream, the Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route leaves the Poulter Valley, climbing steeply up a series of terraces before traversing above Pete Stream and tracking west, up through the beech forest to Binser Saddle. This is the most pronounced and prolonged climb of the Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route.
Looking back towards the Poulter River on the way up to Binser Saddle
From the 1,085 metre high Binser Saddle, it is easy travel down to Mount White Road, from which it’s a 30-40 minute road walk back to the car at Andrews Shelter Campsite.
It took me six hours and fifteen minutes to get from Casey Hut to Andrews Shelter, but only part of that was with Tom, and the rest I walked pretty fast.
Practicalities of hiking the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
As the Casey Saddle – Binser Saddle Route is a loop, no shuttle or other track transport is required. With a 30-40 minute road walk, you can easily link the start and end of the tracks together.
Casey Hut must be booked in advance on the DOC website. It costs NZD25 per person per night.
Getting away from the Casey Saddle - Binser Saddle Route
Drive away in your own car. Cheap rental cars can be picked up in Christchurch, and the unpaved road from Andrews Shelter to SH73 is in good condition.
Maps
I’d recommend downloading the NZ Topo50 app on your smartphone and using it for navigation. Otherwise, print one from topomap.co.nz.
Visited: April 2026