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Copland Valley and Pass
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DescriptionThere is a strong connection between Te Runanga o Makawhio and the Copland Valley. Perhaps not so much with the alpine pass itself but certainly with the hot spring at Welcome Flat.
European explorers learned of routes toward the east and were interested find a way between Southern Westland and Canterbury. In 1892 renowned Explorer Charlie Douglas set out on a systematic survey of the region. His brief was to find a feasible route that tourists might use to reach the Glaciers of South Westland from the Alpine regions of South Canterbury. Douglas didn’t recommend the Copland Valley and Pass but others did and in 1895 a route was forced by Fitzgerald and Zurbriggen, two pioneer mountaineers.
In the decades to follow the Pass became a major tourist route. Bridges, huts, shelters and many miles of track were constructed. Hundreds of people made the crossing and unfortunately some perished in the attempt. Guides were engaged to assist people to make the crossing of the Pass , a daunting region of steep snowfields and tricky route finding. Guided parties were mostly under the care of guides employed by the Hermitage or either of the Fox or Franz Josef hotels. In the 1950’s and 60’s after the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park had been established Copland Pass Guiding was undertaken by employees of the National Park. Young Rangers spent many hours shepherding travelers over the Copland Pass. In this way the task of making and mending the track and that of guiding became the responsibility of the National Park Ranger Service.
European explorers learned of routes toward the east and were interested find a way between Southern Westland and Canterbury. In 1892 renowned Explorer Charlie Douglas set out on a systematic survey of the region. His brief was to find a feasible route that tourists might use to reach the Glaciers of South Westland from the Alpine regions of South Canterbury. Douglas didn’t recommend the Copland Valley and Pass but others did and in 1895 a route was forced by Fitzgerald and Zurbriggen, two pioneer mountaineers.
In the decades to follow the Pass became a major tourist route. Bridges, huts, shelters and many miles of track were constructed. Hundreds of people made the crossing and unfortunately some perished in the attempt. Guides were engaged to assist people to make the crossing of the Pass , a daunting region of steep snowfields and tricky route finding. Guided parties were mostly under the care of guides employed by the Hermitage or either of the Fox or Franz Josef hotels. In the 1950’s and 60’s after the Aoraki Mt Cook National Park had been established Copland Pass Guiding was undertaken by employees of the National Park. Young Rangers spent many hours shepherding travelers over the Copland Pass. In this way the task of making and mending the track and that of guiding became the responsibility of the National Park Ranger Service.
Photograph
!["Copland accident draws criticism" - Newspaper clipping](/img/placeholder.gif?1772743620 ""Copland accident draws criticism" - Newspaper clipping")
Links
Copland Valley and Pass. National Parks and Reserves Rangers Archive, accessed 22/03/2026, https://parkrangersnz.recollectcms.com/nodes/view/886