Access to this track begins on the Mt White Road, the turn off is 24 km east of Arthur’s Pass on State Highway 73 then follow the gravel road for about 5 km until reaching Andrew’s Shelter. Camping is permitted at the shelter, where there are long drop toilets and water from Andrew’s Stream, making a great option for getting an early start, as it is 24.5 km from the shelter to Poulter Hut in the upper Poulter River, taking about 8 hours of hiking.
Andrew’s Track starts next to the vehicle bridge over Andrew’s Stream, only a minute or so walk from the shelter, and initially heads straight into a steep climb gaining height above the stream below then entering beech forest, beware of wasps during the summer months. After this first uphill grunt, the gradient levels, while still climbing to near 900 metres, before dropping slightly to reach Andrew’s Stream again at around 700 metres and entering Hallelujah Flat, taking around 2.5 hours from the shelter.
At the far end of Hallelujah Flat, Casey Saddle is crossed, where old boardwalk marks the saddle, there is a new marked and cut track that climbs slightly to the east before rejoining the final section of boardwalk and a descent down to Surprise Stream.
The track reenters beech forest where an old Arthur’s Pass National Park sign suggests it is 1 hour to the Poulter Valley below, however, with windfall and some old track damage to negotiate this is more likely 1 hour and 45 minutes.
A final climb in this section before you see the Poulter River flats below and the track descends down to meet them.
When the track emerges from the beech forest, a sign is reached and from here you can continue down valley for 15 minutes to reach Casey Hut (built in 2005 to replace the old Lockwood hut that was unfortunately burned down), or head west and continue up the Poulter River to access Trust/Poulter Hut, Poulter Hut and Minchin Pass, Worsley Biv and Poulter Biv.
It takes 1.5 hours to get from this signed junction to Trust/Poulter Hut, with this section of trail making for relatively quick and easy travel as it follows an old 4WD track through tussock river flats.
In the distance a structure can be seen as you head up valley, don’t be fooled like we were, it’s actually a weather station rather than the hut.
Trust/Poulter Hut is slightly off the track in a bush clearing with a stream for water running just in front.
Reading the timings on the DOC sign back at the junction, it is easy to be fooled into thinking that Poulter Hut is only 30 minutes beyond Trust/Poulter Hut, however, it is more realistically 45 minutes depending on where you choose to cross the Poulter River.
Beyond Trust/Poulter Hut the 4WD track continues for another couple for kilometres before petering out at the river. It is tempting to cross the Poulter River here, however, it is easier to continue on the tussock river flats of the true right until these run out and you should be able to see a large orange triangle on the true left of the river. You will need to pick the best crossing point at the time as the river can change course each year, with rain it can rise, and even run under ground when there has been little to no rain appearing to be empty.
Once across the river, pick up the track at the orange triangle and follow this for about 5 minutes until reaching Poulter Hut. The hut sits in a large clearing with ample space for tents, water is from a tank and a long drop is not far away.
A marked track from the western side of the hut ventures up Minchin Stream, passing a lake, biv and pass of the same name, before dropping down to join the Taramakau River.
Alternatively, a lone orange topped waratah in the tussock on the eastern side of the hut indicates the way further up the Poulter River taking you to Worsley Biv then on to Poulter Biv.
To get to Worsley Biv, you need to cross Minchin Stream and Poulter River, then you can follow orange cruise tape that marks the way up river towards Worsley Biv. When you reach Trudge Stream, the best place to cross is the gravel bar where the stream meets the Poulter River, about 100 metres beyond the stream a large stone cairn indicates you have just about reached the biv, look left and you will see it in a bush clearing. Worsley Biv has 3 mats on a single platform, fire pit out front, long drop, water from a small stream in front and a hut book that dates back to 1988.
The stats:
Andrew’s Shelter to Poulter Hut
24.5km
7.5 hours to 8 hours
Andrew’s Shelter to Hallelujah Flat 2 to 2.5 hours
Andrews Shelter to Poulter River junction sign 5.5 hours
Poulter River junction sign to Trust/Poulter Hut 1.5 hours
Trust/Poulter Hut to Poulter Hut 40 to 45 mins
Poulter Hut to Worsely Biv
2.5km
30 – 40 minutes
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