New Casey Hut completed in Arthur's Pass NP....the end of the saga!

...new Casey Hut to officially open on 22nd August 2020...

Fantastic news for Canterbury trampers, the long overdue replacement for Casey Hut has finally finished its protracted build. The original Casey Hut burnt to the ground in late 2015 and DOC Arthur's Pass did not have the finances to build a new hut. 

Casey Hut No. 1, Arthur's Pass NP circa 2014....

Casey Hut No. 1 was a Lockwood kit set design from the 1970's so lots of varnished wood inside...one of my favorite types of back-country hut. Unfortunately all that varnish means these go up like a fire starter if sparks or embers get loose inside.

Another photo of the old Casey Hut No. 1, Poulter Valley

The consensus at the time was someone forgot to shut the firebox fully or they left hot ashes in a bucket which tipped over and caught fire.

The Casey Hut site after the fire which destroyed the hut

The money for the new hut ($250 000) was a donation from some local trampers...all I can say is you are bloody legends!!!

I have discovered that the two donors are Robert Birks and Sharon English...in conjunction with the Nature Heritage Fund, DOC and FMC. From myself and others who love Arthur's Pass NP and the Poulter River in particular I would like to thank you whole heartedly. I appreciate what you have done...

The beers/wines are on Jon if I ever run into you somewhere......

The new hut is a 12 person version with a large veranda and deck around the outside of the hut and large capacity water storage.  The new hut is about 500 meters east of the old location on a slight rise with excellent views of the Poulter River valley and closer to Casey Stream.

Red X marks the approximate location of the new Casey Hut....

I will be visiting the hut when it is finished as I have long wanted to have another go at the Casey-Binser Circuit Track and I would love to bag the six huts further up the Poulter Valley. These are Poulter Biv, Worsley Hut, Poulter Hut, Minchin Biv, Trust/Poulter Hut and Ranger Biv. There is an additional hut down valley on the true left of the Poulter called Turnbull Biv but I have previously visited this hut.

Concept drawing of the new Casey Hut in Arthur's Pass NP...

I look forward to the new hut appearing on the next iteration of the New Zealand topomap series...

Here are some photos of the hut under construction...

State of the new Casey Hut in May 2020...

State of the new Casey Hut in May 2020...

Nice veranda on that hut...it just needs a couple of benches to make it complete!

The end of the rebuilding saga....

Woohoo...the new Casey Hut is due to officially open on the 22nd August 2020. It will be great to once again have a hut halfway around the Casey-Binser Route. I have been anticipating this for some time and will absolutely be planning a trip this year to the area.

It looks like a really nice hut and with its new position looking up and down the Poulter River is in a prime location.

Right...time for a Poulter River bash...!!!