Hiking the Milford Track | New Zealands Great Walks | Episode 4

[@exDamascus]

Exquisite! Your editing is superb.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you, we really appreciate that!

[@mathewmacpherson857]

I have watched a few of your films these last few days and I have to say that they are the best in their genre. I am surprised that Tourism New Zealand haven't offered you jobs yet..Your films are that good.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you so much for your continued support Matthew, it really means a lot 🙏. We're not in NZ anymore unfortunately, so I don't think they'll be reaching out 😅 The producers of the NZ Mountain Safety Council videos did reach out to us though, and they'll be using a small portion of our footage in their new Paparoa Track video coming out in a few months! That's exciting 😁

[@BrutalCool8]

Watched it with a great pleasure! Thank you!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Marina 🙏

[@paulmason6860]

Stunning photography. Beautiful music. Really enjoying your videos.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Paul, really appreciate the support! 🙏😊

[@zinny54]

Thanks for taking us along.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for joining!

[@corinnelacroix5796]

You are Marvelous..as this track!!! Thanks for that....

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Corinne! 🙏❤️

[@peterferan4389]

Beautiful camera work and tasteful music....bravo

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for your kind words Peter! I spend a ridiculous amount of time trying to find suitable music. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but glad to hear in this case it worked out 😄

[@schumdav]

Excellent video of the Milford Track. Cheers.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you! ❤️🙏😊

[@hikingzone]

Chris & Dayna Thank you for sharing

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching 🙏

[@rexbrown2988]

I have watched a few Milford Track videos over the years and yours is easily the best . Beautiful

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Rex, really appreciate it 🙏❤️

[@WalkingEng]

Fantastic video work, it looks stunning there

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Steve! It's definitely up there with the greats of the world

[@JuanVargas-sd6lv]

Amaizing, thank you 🙂

[@ChrisandDanya]

Glad you liked it!

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

What a beautiful and inspiring account if a lovely hike. Love the fact you take it slow. I'm tempted now to give a try. Keep producing such marvellous videos. Good luck to you both

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's not too difficult of a hike, would definitely recommend giving it a go!

[@jaxrcexplorer]

Awesome video, awesome photography! I really like the way you put it all together... thanks for sharing! 👏👍👍

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching! 😁🙏

[@tarawaukeri8928]

The wooden statue is female and apparently highly ranked. Top tier content! Chur!!!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Tara! 🙏❤️

[@bhaskaranm.v.2161]

Lovely video. Greetings from Nepal🇳🇵🇳🇵🇳🇵

[@ChrisandDanya]

Would love to visit Nepal one day!

[@bhaskaranm.v.2161]

@@ChrisandDanya you are welcome to the land of Mt. Everest.

[@nath5440]

Nice one guys! Sign me up! sending the link to this one to a few hiking buddies to see who is up for a trip across the pond.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Cheers Nath! I could give you a years list of hikes to do in NZ haha. This place is insane!

[@DHIRAJDC]

Amazing man , I watched Full … i am Going to NZ this nov but hopefully next time i will do this hike

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you 😁🙏❤️ You'll have an awesome time in NZ, it's such a beautiful country!

[@tantiansin6541]

Always enjoy your video of NZ.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Tan 🙏❤️😊

[@soniakeepa5127]

Hi, I’m a NZer and have found your videos. I’ve just started tramping and have the bug big time. Looking to invest in gear, interested in what packs you used, size etc.Will be showing your videos to my family so they can get as excited as me and join me on these amazing adventures

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Sonia! We responded to your other comment regarding gear, etc. Let us know if you have any other questions 😊

[@pinep759]

Nice video amazing view

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Pine! Glad you enjoyed it 😊🙏

[@jonathanfarmer5593]

Moose you are killing it what a great video keep up the work and showing us what nature has to offer 👍👍👍

[@ChrisandDanya]

Cheers bud, means a lot! 🙏

[@timbates4wdadventures]

Amazing video guys. Stunning country and im really looking forward to hiking Milford Track in November.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Tim 🙏 You'll have an amazing time on the trail!

[@EugeniaDzusova-ux2on]

Great video. Now I have a new dream haha

[@ChrisandDanya]

We hope that dream comes true! 😊🙏

[@angelicamason1650]

What a stunning track...the forest, the mountains, the waterfalls. Thanks again for another amazing video.

[@ChrisandDanya]

To be honest, the video doesn't even do it justice! You feel very small during the entire walk as the mountains tower above you

[@Kevindia-bk8kv]

the scene at 21:52 is epic !

[@ChrisandDanya]

Sutherland Falls! The whole track is epic tbh 😅

[@Kevindia-bk8kv]

@@ChrisandDanya lol I have walked multiple great walk before so maybe i am immuted to the beauty of most of the scene 😅

[@Noeline999]

Absolutely stunning scenery. Woykd love to see some of it but I couldn't do the whole walk.

[@ChrisandDanya]

The hike isn't that difficult overall to be honest! It's really just the 3rd day that has a decent climb + decent, but you'd be distracted by the spectacular views anyways 😅. Guided walks are always a good alternative as well!

[@wombatbreath]

I watched the first upload with no oddities visible... great videography makes these treks very watchable. I'm reminded of my Kepler trip - sadly I've yet to do the Milford. Cheers from Freo

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching! I think it was just KZbin doing some weird playback stuff which happens sometimes, doesn't happen for everyone. I noticed a couple transition mistakes in the middle so decided to re-upload We were pretty lucky getting a spot on the Milford at last minute! It was only half full that weekend as a big group didn't show up. This year will be interesting with international tourim allowed again!

[@ABCABC-fn4fg]

thankyou

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for watching!

[@taylortucci2665]

Guys, that was an incredible video! Thanks so much for taking the time to make it, you've got me feeling so hyped to walk this in a couple of months!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for taking the time to watch it! We know it's a long one 😅 Enjoy your time on the trail, you'll have such a wonderful trip

[@johnhallford239]

Too many wonderful things in/about this video to be able to get them all in on a comment section. You took scenery that i didnt think could be improved upon, but managed to make it even more incredible with the work/editing/music you put into the video. Incredible video. If I may, a question about the last bridge you crossed at 28:57. That is a serious debris field. The bridge looks like a removable/temporary set-up. Was there another, more permanent version washed away in a flash flood or is that a normal set-up due to the huge rainfall in the area? Thank you for sharing another adventure.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Hey John, thank you so much for the kind words ❤️🙏. I spent a lot of time on this video to get it just right, but I still feel like some improvements could be made 😅 I believe there are quite a few temporary bridges along the Great Walks that they remove at the end of April before winter comes; I'd guess that is one of them

[@johnhallford239]

@ChrisandDanya Makes sense logistically and environmentally. Thanks. As for improving upon this video, I'll have to take your word for it. It was great.

[@sparklepea]

Did this walk in the late 80s mid summer I’m shocked by the lack of snow on the peaks on the walk down the pass all I can remember were the rumbles of avalanches

[@ChrisandDanya]

Sounds beautiful!

[@welcome_Moscow_walks]

Beautiful views! Thanks 😊

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching! 😊

[@renequinn]

What an incredible track, and amazing video Chris and Danya!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks B, can't wait to tackle one with you!

[@donnamarier3286]

Really enjoy your videos! We did Milford Track last year and are planning to return to NZ in the future. You mentioned a couple other tracks you found just as nice, can you let us know your other favourites? Thanks 🇨🇦

[@ChrisandDanya]

All the other great walks in the area are amazing: Routeburn Track, Kepler Track and Humpridge Track. If you plan on going to the West Coast at all, then the Paparora Track and Heaphy Track are also amazing. Depends which areas of NZ you are planning to go to be honest! For non great walks, we really enjoyed Breast Hill in Wanaka, you don't even have to do the whole thing to get great views, could just do a day hike. Gillespie Pass is great, but logistically challenging. The Tableland Circuits in Kahurangi National Park near Nelson are so good, in fact, all the hikes in Kahurangi National Park is great. Others include Mt Owen, Mt Arthur, Mt Patriarch. Are you guys from Canada? We're moving back there in about a year and can't wait to get into the hiking trails over there

[@donnamarier3286]

@@ChrisandDanya Thanks for the info! Yes, live in the Niagara Falls area. We have the Bruce Trail, but not quite as majestic as MT! Lol

[@ChrisandDanya]

We'll look up the Bruce Trail! We've never been over to the Eastern side of Canada. Hope to make it over someday

[@thomasonthetrail]

Great shots! What camera(s) and lens(es) are you using? I'm looking to upgrade from my Sony A6400 but a bit hesitant to make the jump to full-frame because of the weight, bulk and cost... Thanks :)

[@ChrisandDanya]

We're using a Panasonic GH6 with 12-60mm f2.8-4, 9mm f1.7 and 50-200mm f2.8-4. We also use a GoPro Hero 10 for a lot of the follow shots, but will be upgrading that to either a new action camera or the DJI Pocket 3. If you're planning to take the kit hiking then APS-C or MFT really do produce excellent results. There's not too many options in the APS-C market these days besides Fuji and the new Sony A6700. That would likely be the easiest upgrade for you to make, so you wouldn't have to buy into a new system. However, if you were interested in MFT, then I can't recommend the Panasonic G9 II enough. I wish I had that over the GH6

[@zaiENT1]

Tourism nz should pay you

[@ChrisandDanya]

I know right! 😂

[@mrt7121]

Did the Milford back in 2005 when it booked out in days, not minutes. Good to get a reminder of how amazing it is. The videos I took with my 3.2 megapixel camera haven't stood the test of time! Out of interest if Milford is top 3, what are your other 2? Loving your work. Keep it coming! I have to get out there via other peoples youtube clips until my kids are old enough to enjoy a good pair of muddy boots!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Booking out in days rather than minutes!? What a time to be hiking! 😂 I would love to see your video from a 3.2 MP camera! It's amazing how far camera technology has come Top 3 hikes so far have been Milford Track, Larapinta Trail in Australia and the Gillespie Pass. Routeburn Track, Humpridge Track, West Coast Trail in Canada, Overland Track in Australia are definitely up there though! Top 3 will probably change once we head up the West Coast and into the Marlborough Sounds Thanks for watching and hope your kids lace up their boots soon!

[@bushtracking2024]

Another great video, subscribed to your channel after watching your Larapinta video. It helped me to plan my trek. My wife and I are booked for Milford in January. Did you do a pack unpack video for this trip. Be interested to hear/see what you packed. I’m questioning whether to take a tent in the event of an emergency. Was what you packed very different to what you took on the Larapinta ?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for the continued support, it means so much to us! I kind of botched the music in our Larapinta videos, so appreciate you sticking around after that series 😅. Will probably do a re-edit of those at some point! You will have an amazing time on the Milford Track, it is such a great track. Haven't done a gear break down since our Larapinta video, because I thought it hasn't been warranted. The Larapinta Trail was quite a unique trail especially for Australia; so thought it would be good for that specific trail. A lot of our gear has changed since then, but the basic concepts from that video still apply. I don't think a tent for the Milford Track is required. They take a manifest of who is on the track every morning and get one of the hikers to carry it with them to the next hut, where they will do a role call. If you're not present, someone will come looking for you. Also, camping is not allowed on this specific trail. I would definitely advise carrying an emergency bivy/tarp just incase, as this is always good practice. You can pick one up from Torpedo 7 or any other outdoor gear shop before heading out on the trail. You'll also pass guided huts before reaching your hut, so if you run into any issues, there's always someone not too far away In terms of what we packed, we always take a rain jacket, warm jacket like a down vest/jacket, fleece for a mid layer, a pair of clothes we hike in and a pair of clothes we sleep in. Our sleeping quilts, pillows, first aid kit, emergency bivys, water filter, head torches, ear plugs, pooh kit, Garmin inReach Mini, hat, etc. Generally what you would take on most trips. That area gets LOTS of rain, so taking a pack liner, possibly rain pants could be a good idea. On Great Walks they provide gas at the huts, but we still prefer to take a cooking kit incase we want a coffee or something along the trail. You also don't have to wait for the burners to become available when you want to cook All of this has made us realize we should probably do an updated gear video 😅; we'll add it to the list! Any questions, don't hesitate to ask!

[@bushtracking2024]

@@ChrisandDanya thanks for the reply and info

[@Hikaholics]

This is an incredible video! How fun would it be to hike together one day 😛 Can't wait for the next episode of the Great Walk series! I can totally imagine why they call it the finest walk in the world. All the bird shots are so pretty! And the view at 18:02 absolutely stunning. Love from Europe!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks guys!!! Would love to go on a hike with you guys in Europe! Not sure when we'll get over to that part of the world unfortunately 😓. We have been discussing a Europe adventure though! It'll be a while for our next Great Walks episode, because we still need to walk the next one 😅; got three planned for this Spring/Summer though! Plenty of videos to come before that

[@Hikaholics]

@@ChrisandDanya That would be so cool. We have so many places to show you. Looking forward to your next content!

[@ChrisandDanya]

@@Hikaholics Have you guys hiked all across Europe, or have you focused on a few areas so far?

[@Hikaholics]

@@ChrisandDanya We hiked in a lot of places across Europe. But a region we want to explore more is Eastern Europe, haven't been there that much yet!

[@kefudeng]

Thank you very much, really enjoyed your video. Just one suggestion though, the background music volume is probably too high, which has overtaken the natural sound like the falls, streams. Other than that, everything is perfect. This is the best Milford track video I have ever watched!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for your honesty Kefu! I definitely agree with your comments on the audio! It's something I'm constantly trying to improve on. If I bring the music + ambient noise up to the same level, they fight with each other and it just sounds like noise. I tend to lean in favour of the music as I find it more important to keep the viewer engaged, etc. Definitely something I'll work on 🙏

[@pinep759]

Excuse me what camera do you use for video so amazing

[@ChrisandDanya]

For this video we used the Panasonic GH6 + GoPro Hero 10

[@aleksandartsvetkov4512]

Very good videography indeed. Could you specify the equipment used - camera and lens(es)?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Aleksander! This was the first video we recorded with the Panasonic GH6. Lenses were the Leica 12-60mm f2.8-4 + Leica 25mm f1.4. The other camera we used was a GoPro Hero 10 Black for the ultra wide shots. I did have a Lowa 10mm f2 len, which I would have preferred to use over the GoPro. But it wasn't working with the GH6 and I forgot to test it before leaving the house 😅

[@aleksandartsvetkov4512]

@@ChrisandDanya Thanks for the detailed answer. :-)

[@ChrisandDanya]

Any other questions, just let us know!

[@lucygraham211]

Great video, thanks for sharing! Can't wait to do this track in Jan 😊 Random question, but can I ask what brand/model is Danya's blue half zip?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching Lucy! I believe the blue half zip you're referring to is Danya's Kathmandu pullover fleece. It's just one of the cheap $40-50 dollar ones and is very versatile!

[@paulwalker8566]

Amazing views and great videography. I am a little concerned what MacKinnon Pass would be like for people not good with heights😊. Thoughts?

[@ChrisandDanya]

You'll be fine Paul! The path up/down MacKinnon's Pass is very well maintained and wide enough that you never feel like you're getting too close to the edge. When you're actually up too, it is very wide open and your not near the edge at all You'll be distracted by the stunning views anyways! 😅

[@paulwalker8566]

Beaut many thanks. Keep up the great work👏

[@ChrisandDanya]

Happy hiking!

[@KiwiBred]

Fantastic video, tremendous videography. Easily the best Milford Track video on KZbin. Brings back great memories of hiking the Milford Track back in 2018. I'm curious though....you mention towards the end that the Milford is one of your three favorite hikes you've done. What are the other two?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Mike, really appreciate the kind words! It seems are favourite hikes in NZ are constantly changing and perhaps has a bit of receny bias. I would say the Routeburn Track is definitely up there; it's got so much in such a short track and it's very accessible. Paparora Track was pretty amazing, some of the most beautiful first we've hiked through. We just finished the Abel Tasman and really enjoyed the easier track with fantastic coast views. At the time we finished the Milford I probably would say Milford, Routeburn and Humpridge, but that's probably changed now

[@lifeofmaharaaz8525]

Hey man , can you please give your camera setup , lenses plz

[@ChrisandDanya]

Panasonic GH6 with 12-60 f2.8-4, 50-200m f2.8-4 and 9mm f1.7. Then we use a GoPro Hero 10 as a secondary camera

[@lifeofmaharaaz8525]

@@ChrisandDanya Thanx man . The shots are awesome … I was just curious and worried about most of the part not allowed for drones . 😕

[@ChrisandDanya]

@lifeofmaharaaz8525 yeah unfortunately NZ drone laws are very restrictive and it's pretty much pointless trying to fly them

[@cristinadoaga7469]

In what month of the year did you do this route?🤗

[@ChrisandDanya]

April 😊

[@jamessidsnelson3879]

What’s the best way to book great walk huts?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Have to book them through the DOC website. You can look up the hut and then click the Book Now button

[@jamessidsnelson3879]

@@ChrisandDanya oh sweet! I’ll have a look thanks a lot. Love the content btw

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks James! 😊🙏❤️

[@meesbuurman9578]

What camera do you use?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Recently upgraded to the Panasonic GH6. This was the first video we shot with it

[@edwardbishop1176]

Music a bit to loud

[@ChrisandDanya]

Appreciate the feedback Edward! 🙏

[@SysterEuropa]

Please, no talking. The video, music and ambience is too beautiful and peaceful to ruin it by talking.

[@mayadelacey]

The way you mangled the pronunciation of “Te Anau” 😮 You can listen to the pronunciation on Google. A bit disrespectful!!

[@ChrisandDanya]

The ranger at Mintaro Hut was the first time we had ever heard anyone pronounce it and that's when we realized we've been saying it wrong. An honest mistake, not disrespectful. We generally do look up how to pronounce things correctly when doing narration, but this audio was recorded on the trail. For whatever reason we never realized we were pronouncing it incorrectly (even though it's obvious now)

[@Frank-rx8ch]

Yeah like I'm a Maori not a Marry

[@cristinadoaga7469]

Unreal beautiful 🥹 How much I want to get here too 🌟

[@ChrisandDanya]

Hope you get to experience it one day!