Camping at French Ridge Hut | Wanaka, New Zealand

[@barbaracameron-smith7093]

Totally agree re 'why walk when you can cycle'. We walked in and out to the expanded/renovated Aspiring Hut in October 2023. A long time since I visited Aspiring Hut and French Ridge Hut in 1972. Thanks for sharing.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching! It'll be a few years till we're back in NZ, but we're looking forward to seeing the renovated Aspiring Hut!

[@wombatbreath]

Fabulous stuff - the Matukituki just never gets old!

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's such a good base. We miss Wanaka a lot 😭

[@Frank-rx8ch]

While man gets old not so with God's creation.

[@richardcaldwell9160]

Stunning, but I am totally exhausted after all that hiking. Thank you

[@ChrisandDanya]

😂 I'm sorry to put you through that

[@masodimontagna3771]

Fantastic landscapes and nature.. thanks for the video ☺like46👍🙏

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching Maso 😊🙏❤️

[@AthollMoir]

Loved the Robin & Kias!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Our favourite NZ birds!

[@KiwiAdventures]

Your camera skills and editing is top-notch! This is probably the most beautiful and cinematic hiking video I have seen. Wish I discovered your channel earlier!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you so much for your kind words, it means so much to us 😊❤️🙏

[@LD88888]

Insane views! I am speechless! Thanks for the high quality videos!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for watching 🙏❤️

[@sambarr7826]

4.30 minutes. I feel you! Having done that route to F.R.H. over 40 times, 30 in winter, i have wept blood after that crossing.. 60 times! Oh the humanity. . Then that ascent. Bring on your quality stuff kids. Lovin'it!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Oh man, I can't imagine doing that climb over 40 times! Once was enough for us 😅💀

[@angelicamason1650]

Wow! NZ is insanely beautiful. Love your video.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Angelica, great to hear from you again! 😊🙏❤️

[@MopokesAdventures]

Really stunning video mate. I was making my partner aware of the video when I started playing it last night. She is currently having problems with her left knee. She said to me "I won't be walking anywhere until I get this knee fixed". Immediately after her having said that you looked at the camera/us and said "why walk when you can cycle?" It was hilarious as the timing couldn't have been better.

[@ChrisandDanya]

😂😂😂 Thanks for watching and hopefully your partners knee feels better soon! Have a look at Hooker Hut, that's a great and easy overnight hiking which shouldn't effect her knee too much

[@epesampaga9894]

Wow so beautiful

[@ChrisandDanya]

Agreed 🙏❤

[@teepatchong5668]

Amazing mountains and snow. New Zealand is a stunnning. Thanks for the video.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching! Going to be sad when we go 🥲

[@jeffoldroyd8236]

I always look forward to your vids. It’s great to get a small taste of NZ’s beauty through you. Wish I lived there again

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Jeff, that really means a lot 😊🙏❤️ We're leaving NZ in about 5 weeks and going to miss it so much 😭

[@jamespayne9061]

What a masterpiece! Truly captivating!! Great job guts!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you James 😊🙏❤️ This video isn't even live yet 😅! I was wondering how people were watching it, then I realized I added it to a public playlist 😂 Hopefully I can publish it tomorrow; I'm still waiting for a couple songs to clear copyright

[@kenfitzpatrick933]

Great video Guys awesome quality really enjoy the Content Thanku. Cheers Ken.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching Ken! 😊🙏❤️

[@deendistel853]

Amazing!!! This one is on my bucket list now for New Zealand😍

[@ChrisandDanya]

The whole Matukituki Valley is amazing, you guys will love it 🤩

[@patchadams9282]

Kia ora Team, it's been a real privilege watching and experiencing your videos, something I won't be able to do myself. Have thoroughly enjoyed living vicariously through your experiences. Nga mihi nui mo nga mea katoa e oku hoa. (many thanks for everything friends) Keep safe in the Aotearoa outdoors.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for coming along with us🙏❤️

[@AbelandVictoria]

Nice work👍

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks buddy 🙏

[@ginganutjob]

Nice, I'm hoping to be heading up there and to Liverpool in July

[@ChrisandDanya]

Nice, you'll have an awesome time!

[@shahriarXplorer]

Incredible hike !

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's a good one! 😊

[@zachcake6231]

French ridge was one of the best hikes I've ever done! We are heading out to do Cascade saddle over new years this year!

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's such a great hike, I don't think this video captures how beautiful it is up there tbh

[@zachcake6231]

@@ChrisandDanya I think it's so hard to capture! That hike up was absolutely brutal, it's amazing how up it was haha. So worth it though, all the keas, walking up the to the snowline. Though the only thing that I think was misleading is it's a "fully serviced" hut with no toilet paper, me and my friend learned the important lesson of always bringing it that day haha

[@ChrisandDanya]

Yeah, we always bring toilet paper no matter what 😅

[@patovalar]

Congrats!! I just discover your channel and I absolutely love it, the shots, the editing are awesome!! Hopefully soon can do something similar here in Tasmania. Thanks for the video and share such a beautiful place in New Zealand!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for the kind words Pato, it really means a lot 🙏❤️ We're moving back to Australia in a few weeks and definitely have some plans to visit Tasmania while we're back!

[@craigbutlandphotoandfilm]

Came across your channel the other day and been tryna watch every one. Love the videos, based out of Queenstown also ✌🏻

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Craig, appreciate the support! 🙏 Maybe stop before you hit the Australian videos; they start to go downhill fast 😅😂

[@honeybee592]

Amazing video! That elevation is neverending, right?! So glad you had great weather and kea 😊

[@ChrisandDanya]

This is the hike we compare all future climbs too 😂 We definitely lucked out with the weather!

[@edwardxiang5500]

Where is the nearest car park please? I hope one day 🎉 I can go there , such nice place , thanks for sharing

[@ChrisandDanya]

Nearest carpark is Raspberry Creek Carpark, which is about 1.5 hours from Wanaka

[@joeltkin]

Absolute legend of a view. Out of curiosity, why didn't you guys stay within the hut?

[@ChrisandDanya]

We had always planned to camp up there because we always enjoy the privacy of the tent more and we wanted to stare at the mountains/stars. I believe the hut was full as well when we got up. It was a long weekend and a bunch of mountaineers were occupying it for the weekend

[@nathanbates1260]

Your guys tent Copper Spur 2 ? Im keen to get one but unsure. Has held up well in the Kiwi elements? And any damage from the naughty Kea? Awesome footage thanks for sharing

[@newzealandrelaxinghikes]

BTW. This track is insane and require a lot of climbing. It is very easy to fall down and die there. 😱 I did that with 15kg backpack and spent almost 4 hours on those 2 km just to make it safe.

[@newzealandrelaxinghikes]

Views are amazing BTW

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for your input 🙏

[@newzealandrelaxinghikes]

@@ChrisandDanya I did quite pessimistic input 😆 (I love your videos for positive mood!) BTW. Did you see a huge hole almost on the track just after bush line. That hole is about a meter wide and some meters deep. Can be covered by snow in winter.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Nothing wrong with being more cautious! Don't remember seeing that hole to be honest, but we were pretty distracted from the views and pain 😅

[@newzealandrelaxinghikes]

@@ChrisandDanya Maybe that was covered by snow or maybe I am just more paranoid person! :) Also, I was talking with a couple looking similar to you around March this year. Did you stay in White Horse campground in tent and then next day it was rain (snow) forecast. That couple went to Muller Hut for a couple of nights. Were that couple you?

[@max_stewart]

Amazing footage! Was wondering what sort of camera gear you use for your filming?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Max! We use a Panasonic GH6 for the main camera and a GoPro Hero 10 for the secondary camera

[@윤도링-p9w]

oh hi your video is very awesome so I'll go to the NZ thank you. i have a some Q. Have i must reaservation campsite in there?? 😊

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you 🙏❤️😁 Highly recommend New Zealand, you won't regret it! You do need to pay to stay in the hut ($40) and it's first come first served, so you're not actually reserving a spot..if all the bunks were taken, you'd have to sleep on the floor. There's usually a small $5 fee to camp around huts, but this one is run the NZ Alpine Club, not DOC, so it's a bit different. I can't remember if we paid a fee or not to camp. Best call up DOC in Wanaka and ask

[@윤도링-p9w]

@@ChrisandDanya Thank you. I love your videos so much that I'm going to follow the route. Thank you! I recommend mountain trekking in Benf, Canada It was a great experience 😍

[@ChrisandDanya]

We're moving to Canada next year and won't be too far away from Bamff!

[@maciejsiedziako680]

What was the music used in the video? Why didn’t you stay in the hut?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Music used: - Story by Adrian Disch - Hold On To Me by The Neighborly - You Remind Me by Danica Dora Have also added them to the description of the video. We always planned on camping, because we prefer the privacy of a tent. It was also a long weekend and we thought the hut would be really busy. Pretty sure even though you have to pay for this hut, you are not reserving a bed. You pay and then hope there is space when you get there.

[@laksitha89]

Awesome!! ❤ btw, which camera do you use to take footage?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Panasonic GH6 & GoPro Hero 10

[@laksitha89]

@@ChrisandDanya Thanks. Footage looks so sharp. At first, I thought the whole thing was shot on GH6. Didn’t notice any difference at all. Great job guys!!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Laksitha 🙏❤ Still learning, but glad to hear we are making progress ☺

[@rai_eman]

why cant we download this video to watch offline

[@rai_eman]

plz manage that

[@ChrisandDanya]

That has nothing to do with us, that's KZbin. Pretty sure you need KZbin Premium to watch videos offline

[@zaiENT1]

"Woops i wasnt recording" fark i would've thrown a rock at you if i was danya 😂😂

[@ChrisandDanya]

Happens a few times every trip, but I was just psyching her out this time 😂