Copland Track to Welcome Flat Hut

The Copland Track will have you exploring the wild Copland Valley, lush rainforest, the glacial turquoise Copland River and swing bridges that lead you into the alpine basin of Welcome Flat, where you’ll find natural hot pools to soak in after a day of walking. 

The trailhead is 26 km south of Fox Glacier off SH6. After turning off, drive 150 m down the gravel road to the car park and make sure to close the gate behind you.

18km from the Carpark to Welcome Flat Hut

The walk starts with a river crossing, so I would suggest waiting to put your hiking boots on until after this unless you’re happy to walk the entire 18 km with wet boots! The track then enters the lush forest, where it’s mostly well formed but there are a few boggy sections, particularly near the beginning of the track.

Along the way, there are plenty of picturesque bridges to cross and beautiful moss covered forest to explore. There are also small sections of walking along the riverbed of the glacial turquoise Copland River, which makes for some pretty special scenery.

If you don’t want to tackle the full 18 km in one day, Architect Creek Hut is located roughly halfway between the car park and Welcome Flat Hut. It’s a standard 2-bunk hut and doesn’t require booking.

Welcome Flat Hut is what I would call a very fancy hut experience!  The hut has its own heating system, flushable toilets and water from the tap. There are 31 bunks, and it gets booked out regularly, so I’d definitely recommend booking ahead.

And of course, the natural hot pools have to get an honorable mention! These are just a very short stroll from the hut and have an incredible view of the Sierra Range, the perfect spot to soak your legs after the walk in.

The Copland Track is exposed to heavy rainfall and river levels can rise quickly. Heavy rain warnings can result in the track being closed at short notice, so make sure you check the latest track and weather conditions before you leave.