Hiking the Copland Track to Welcome Flat Hut w/ Natural hot pools! | New Zealand

[@zaiENT1]

never stop making these you 2, Danya your patience does not go unnoticed and neither does yours brother.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Cheers buddy, means a lot 🙏❤️

[@vignettesdevoyage]

Lovely scenery - it's peaceful to watch this.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you, it is a beautiful part of NZ (although, all of NZ is beautiful 😅)

[@apteryxowenii3085]

Oh wow. Thank you for this video & by far the best impressions of this outstanding walk. This brought back so many memories!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching and thank you for the kind words 🙏❤️ It is an amazing track

[@philmusson1265]

The mushroom shots are always much appreciated. Great video!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Love the mushrooms! 🍄 We'll eventually grab all our mushroom shots from across NZ and make a mushroom video 😅

[@alanbrassil5074]

Nice work team once again.....beautiful work! And the “teleport” back from the hut.....no doubt there’s an academy award pending for that creative burst 😉. Thanks again for sharing.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Alan 🙌🙏❤️

[@ervinslens]

Absolutely stunning cinematography my friend. This trail is simply amazing, what a cinematography! Love it! 👌👌👌

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Ervins, really means a lot 😊🙏❤️

[@barbaracameron-smith7093]

Loved this vid. So nostalgic, having walked the Copland from the east to the west back in early 1970s. 'Luxury' these days, by comparison re shelters on offer.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Would have loved to see what the track was like back then! We are definitely spoilt with the huts these days ☺

[@nath5440]

stunning! as always beautifully filmed and edited.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Nath, appreciate the continued support ❤🙏

[@learnwhispering]

Great Video thank you. You did the Track justice. Ive literally spent months up there, love it! 💞💞

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you 🙏 It is a beautiful part of NZ ❤️

[@peterferan4389]

Thank you both for taking me to a place I will never go. Not sure if wearing a woolly beanie in a hot pool will ever catch on as a fashion statement

[@ChrisandDanya]

Beanie and hot pools is the Canadian way 😅

[@naturalflow157]

My dear friend, thank you so much for creating this beautiful video, it is truly soothing and relaxing to watch after a long and stressful day at work. As I find life lately being quite difficult and overcoming obstacles, however thanks to your video that just takes all the problems away and brings me to a more present state of the mind and I can focus on having a great weekend :) Thank you so much and wish you all the best :)

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you for your kind words Natural Flow 🙏❤️ Hope this week is treating you better. Just know you'll be stronger from overcoming these obstacles in your way 🙏

[@sabyasachibanerjee124]

Beautiful views. Nice and slow. Something that allows us to appreciate the entire journey. Also enjoyed the mushroom footages. Also very much appreciate that You decide to call it quits if the circumstances/situation warrants. Great video!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for the continued support! 🙏😊

[@honeybee592]

Amazing video! Thank you! This is one of my favourite tramps. Those hot pools are worth it!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Deborah! I don't think the video really does it justice, but we tried our best 😅

[@sal8527]

DUDES! We did this track out to Douglas Rock about 30 years ago. Spent the night at Douglas Rock. Middle of the night we heard a freight train outside. Went out in the AM and found it was that same avalanche you guys saw. We went up a ways from the hut where you could watch the river of snow cascading down. Can’t believe I now have a film record … sort of…thank you!!

[@ChrisandDanya]

That's so cool! Glad you got to relive it in some sense

[@sal8527]

@@ChrisandDanya Yeah because when you get to be my age you start wondering whether some of the cool stuff in your life really happened or you just imagined it lol. 😂

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's all real! 🙏❤️

[@tammyjohnson1624]

Wow!! I just watched this video...this is the most amazing trail. So beautiful!!! Your videos are getting so good, congrats on your efforts 👌

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Tammy, that means a lot to us! 🙏❤️

[@bertusbredenhann7215]

Stunning guys thanks for sharing

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for watching Bertus!

[@olivebranch.777]

Another awesome track and awesome video thanks guys for making this for us to watch. Appreciate the effort💙🙏👍👍

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks for coming along with us! 😊

[@raddaz9b]

Thank you for sharing this guys, really capture the real beauty of such an amazing location. Brings back so many great memories from hiking the Copland track 17 years ago 😊.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it 😊

[@Victoria._._]

Awesome trip! Looks like a beautiful track and great weather. Beautiful shots, especially liked the mushrooms. 😊

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks Victoria 🙏. We're always searching for those fungi! Sometimes they are SO small haha 😅

[@rozh55]

Wow wow wow! Epically stunning! West coast best coast! And what was the beautiful last piece of music please?🤗

[@ChrisandDanya]

believe the last song was Oleika Sunset by RYVOLI

[@raysastravels914]

Thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful video. Thank you. I've been up that valley many, many times and crossed the Copland Pass east-to-west a couple of times. The last time was almost 40 years ago so watching this was incredibly nostalgic for me. That new, large hut, at Welcome Flats wasn't even there when I was last up the Copland. The old hut was much smaller and probably a bit more homely. Someone had written a line form a Bob Dylan song on the door. It read, "Come in she said, I'll give you shelter from the storm". How I truly love that place! I should head back eh. Thanks again.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Sounds absolutely amazing Ray! Can't imagine how much the trail has evolved over all those years. The hut is definitely massive now! Did feel a bit cold and empty since there was barely anyone there when we went. Something small and homely would definitely be more inviting. We hope you get the chance to walk up the valley again! 😊

[@serverlan763]

Whats it like going through the pass and down the other side? Do you need and ice axe and Rope?

[@raysastravels914]

Yes, ropes, crampons and axe recommended. Access to the ridge going up to the pass from the Hooker Valley is very tricky now so I suggest you talk with Aoraki National Park officers when you’re planning. I heard the pass was closed at one stage.

[@tarrasacid1612]

I somehow stumbled upon your channel. You guys really have ticked off the best of NZ. This is one of my favourite hikes. As good as your filming is, it still does not capture just how big the mountains are around you.

[@ChrisandDanya]

100% agree! I actually don't think the footage we captured was that good; you can never really do it justice! Thanks for watching and thank you for the kind words 🙏❤️😊

[@johnhallford239]

Oh sure, just keep rubbing it in. Look at my view this morning; forest, waterfalls and a glacier. Doesn't everybody have this view? :-) It was all beautiful, but when you two first got to Rock Hut, nestled in that small glade with forest around it and the waterfall in the background, I had to stop the video and just stare. You need to clip a few frames from there and turn them into puzzles, post cards, picture in a frame, something. I love the edit work on the jump from Rock Hut to standing in front of the bridge. That was masterful. I can only imagine how much time it took to get it that precise. Nicely done!! Thank you for another great video.

[@ChrisandDanya]

That actually wasn't a waterfall behind Douglas Rock Hut that was an avalanche! I meant to put text in the video, but forgot too 😅. The "teleport" is pretty easy to do 😂. Just take the same shot in two different spots while trying to stand in the same spot within the frame, then line it up in post. Movie magic! 😂

[@johnhallford239]

@Chris and Danya I should pay better attention. I just assumed when you said you saw an avalanche, you didn't film it or didn't include it. Guess I better wipe off the glasses and go view it again. It was still beautiful, but with a completely different perspective. How cool to be there at just the right moment to catch that on video!

[@ChrisandDanya]

Came down right when we arrived! I filmed the shot of us arriving at the hut afterwards 😂. Also, to be fair, it does just look like a waterfall, hence why I wanted to include text haha

[@Capfka]

Loved your comment about Douglas Rock Hut being "the end of the trail". 50-odd years ago, my father took me up the ridge from the Hooker Valley and over the Copland Pass. The scramble from the pass down to the hut was, shall we say, exciting? But it was the beginning of the trail for me! Then my uncle, who was supposed to pick us up from the west coast end got the day wrong and we had to camp overnight, just when I needed some nice food and a soft bed! I was 14 or 15 at the time, and that was the start of my tramping career. Yet anjother great vid. You do it very well.

[@ChrisandDanya]

What a great story! Would love to do the Copland Pass one day, but need to get some mountaineering experience under our belts first. Can't image what NZ looked like back then!

[@AndrewBarclay-u4e]

Some of the best footage I've seen

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you 🙏❤️

[@cristinadoaga7469]

Your videos are so magical ❤

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Cristina! 😊🙏❤️

[@Lukas_Oida]

NZ`s beauty is unmatched! Really looking forward to come back

[@ChrisandDanya]

NZ is ridiculously beautiful. Going to be sad when we leave!

[@hyunkisong1988]

great vid!! ❤❤

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Hyunki 🙏

[@angelicamason1650]

Always love your videos. Getting better all the time - sensational shots, tasteful music and of course the stunning landscape. Thanks so much.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Angelica 😊, means a lot to us! ❤️

[@AbelandVictoria]

Mate lovely shots of them mushrooms. Super crisp. Subbing for more mushroom shots or similar type of thing.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thanks guys! 🙏 We've been using your channel to gauge what trails are like in the Nelson/Tasman area. Can't wait to start getting out there and exploring!

[@AbelandVictoria]

@@ChrisandDanya where are you thinking of going?

[@ChrisandDanya]

We've done the Travers Sabine Circuit, Abel Tasman and two loops/circuits in the Tablelands so far. 1000 Acre Plateau is really high on the list, as is Mt Owen and thinking about Mole Tops in Nelson Lakes as well. Outside of that, we're completely open to suggestions! Can you recommend anything in the Richmond Ranges or other hikes in Nelson Lakes, or any other areas you recommend? We have 3 day weekends, so overnighters or 3 dayers are ideal

[@AbelandVictoria]

@@ChrisandDanya hurry up and post your vids man. You sitting on all this content. I want to see it. Cobb valley has heaps of loops and lakes and tracks lots Of options in there. Also heaps of tracks near mt Owen. Kiwi saddle hut along the Arthur range to John Reid hut is stunning. You got Instagram? I can message u easier on there

[@ChrisandDanya]

Instagram is @chrisanddanya as well, might be easier to chat on there The Tablelands loop we did last weekend started from the Cobb Reservoir, did have a look at the Cobb Valley, looks pretty nice. I'll have to check out Kiwi Saddle Hut to John Reid hut, haven't heard of that one before It takes me a few weeks to edit one of our videos because I procrastinate so much haha 😅 We've got such a massive backlog of videos

[@pj3635]

I just did this trip 2 weeks ago. Although a little more of a sprint. I made a vid of it but nowhere near as good as this. I can still smell the trees and the hot pools were amazing

[@ChrisandDanya]

I'll have to check out the video when I get a chance! Glad you had a great trip

[@CaryMercer]

Excellent work, guys. Looks like you had a great time out on this trail. I hiked it by myself in late January of this year staying one night at the Douglas Rock Hut. It wasn't on my radar to hike, so I'm glad a hut warden told me about it when I was doing the Northern Circuit in Tongariro. I think the Copland was one of my favorites, and I could see it getting more popular. Those sandflies were sure bad at the carpark, though. 😆

[@ChrisandDanya]

Sounds like you had a great hike too Cary. It would have been great to stay a night at Douglas Rock Hut! It's definitely a popular hike, but not as busy as other popular trails because it's located on the West Coast and not as easy to reach. Hopefully it stays that way 😅 We've been trying to do the Tongariro Northern Circuit for the last 3 days, but the weather has been really bad. We're running out of time, so just going to attempt the Alpine Crossing tomorrow instead. Really looking forward to it; Tongarario is such a beautiful place!

[@CaryMercer]

@@ChrisandDanya Yeah, it has been an extraordinarily rainy summer for the North Island, but you probably know that. I hiked the Northern Circuit between January 8th-9th and thankfully the weather was pretty nice on the second day. I'm hoping for the best weather for you guys. Make sure you go early...I must have passed over a hundred people going up to the Crossing when I was going down. 😆 I'm a big Lord of the Rings fan, so I was over the moon hiking in Mordor.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Had to cancel again unfortunately. Woke up at 530 am and the weather report had gotten worse. Winds gusting to 70 kmh and visibility at the Red Crater was very poor at < 200m right when we'd be crossing. Such a shame as it's a beautiful day around the crossing, just this massive cloud hanging around it. Ah well, we'll have to come back another time! It has been a strange summer indeed 😅

[@sharathvarghese2176]

Thanks for sharing, what an Epic trip!! Amazing shots and excellent making. Even though it takes extra time to capture the video it's worth it. What camera have you used?

[@ChrisandDanya]

Making this videos is a huge part of why we love hiking so much, so it's no burden to us. It's awesome to be able to share it will everyone! ☺ We currently use a Panasonic GH6 with a few different lenses and a GoPro Hero 10 Black

[@lasselarsen2914]

Are there a lot of hot springs in New Zealand? I would love to watch more videos that include hot springs ☺️

[@ChrisandDanya]

There's definitely other hot springs, but not sure if there are any other that you can hike too. I'll have to do some research!

[@shayepearson559]

This inspires me to go see more of New Zealand all these views are like 2 hour drive from me

[@ChrisandDanya]

Are you based in Wanaka or further up north of the West Coast? Would definitely recommend it!

[@MopokesAdventures]

Absolutely stunning. Makes me want to get back ASAP!! Quick question...I noticed you're not wearing gaiters but you do have something coming out of your boots that aren't socks. Are they waterproof socks you're wearing? Thank you for your wonderful videos.

[@ChrisandDanya]

They are just cheap Kmart running tights I got for $20. Been trying them instead of hiking pants

[@serverlan763]

Did you see any Deer or Chamois on that hike?

[@ChrisandDanya]

We didn't! We saw a Chamois in Franz Joseph once. Other than that, we've only seen deer on Stuart Island surprisingly. We met one hunter who was carrying one out from the Tablelands in Kahurangi National Park

[@OutdoorsmanDave]

Beautifully composed, where are you getting your lovely music please?

[@ChrisandDanya]

We get all our music from Musicbed. Can get a free month here - www.musicbed.com/invite/kcEgg Any videos you post while the free trial is active can be montized for life

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

Awesome video, love your channel, you have inspired me to come to NZ later this year! (The waist packs you guys have look to be a really good size, can you share what brand they are?)

[@ChrisandDanya]

Wow Jestronix, thank you so much!! NZ is such a beautiful country, you won't regret visiting at all. Let us know if you have any questions! The waist packs we use are from a US cottage company called Waymark Gear Co. I just had a look at their website though, and I couldn't find the product for some reason 😕. They aren't anything special though to be honest, any bum bag will do. Even something cheap from Kmart or something like that.

[@jestronixhanderson9898]

@@ChrisandDanya thank you, love the Channel , Japan and NZ are our two top of the list destinations first up :) Snowdonia also looks great.

[@ChrisandDanya]

I've seen a lot of photos of Snowdonia and it does look amazing! Japan is our favourite place to visit as well. We're planning on going back a third time in 2024

[@teepatchong5668]

Nice video. I'm like you non-stop taking photos and videos, annoying my wife and son as we hike in NZ.

[@ChrisandDanya]

It's so beautiful it's hard not too!

[@rubyfraser4362]

What time of the year did you go? I'm doing in Jan

[@ChrisandDanya]

We did it in October 2022. We wanted to have some snow on the peaks

[@rubyfraser4362]

Cool! I was just curious how cold it was. Since I'm going in peak summer, there won't be any snow and I figure I don't need to wear many thick warm laters, but I could be wrong!@@ChrisandDanya

[@ChrisandDanya]

@rubyfraser4362 it was colder in the morning and evenings, but during the day it was fine. It'll likely be hot during summer, but also better to carry a warm jacket just in case. We almost always take a fleece + down jacket/vest no matter the weather

[@rubyfraser4362]

Okay sweet as! Thank you :)@@ChrisandDanya

[@ChrisandDanya]

@rubyfraser4362 have a wonderful time! Hope you don't mind heights, because some of the craziest swing bridges are on this track 😂

[@stanmackowiak908]

This is why I go tramping, in one video. Awesome.

[@ChrisandDanya]

Thank you Stan, glad you enjoyed it 🙏❤️