70m
5-7hrs
Private land, permission needed
Author: Dan Clearwater
Brumms Creek v4a3III*
35m
4hrs20min
Private land on the access route: permission required.
‘U’ Shaped fault line canyon with plenty of short to moderate rappels.
Raven Canyon v5a2IV**
110m (3x60m)
8.5hrs
Public access
An adventure canyon; multiple rappels, handlines and downclimbs often back to back. Relatively open, steep stream.
Tui Canyon v3a2I*
17m
1-2hrs
Public access
Short and sweet, with easy access and low flow: this is probably the most descended canyon within range of Christchurch!
Waterfall Creek v4a4III**
30m
6-8hrs
Public access: Courtesy call to guiding company requested.
More open, granite slab canyon, with lots of technical downclimbing and some excellent slides up to 17m.
Red Granite Creek v4a4III***
40m
7hrs
Public access.
A fantastic, open granite canyon with big waterfalls and big pools. Jumps galore into west coast coca-cola coloured pools.
Andrews Stream v2a2I*
10m
20mins
Public access.
Moderate flows, short but sweet. Suitable for experienced canyoners to introduce beginners to the sport.
Green Gully Creek v4a3III**
2x60m
A whole day, including 4WD approach
Private land: permission required
Beautiful 4WD approach, a thick scrub bash approach and a great, consistent canyon. Lots of medium jumps and slide and good absiels.
Goldilocks Creek v3a2II*
28m
3.5hrs
Public access
Great introduction to vertical canyoning – low water flow, user friendly features and anchors, and can exit almost anywhere.
Banks Creek v1a3I*
No absiels
Public access
Nice lower gorge and some jumps, worth climbing up after a trip to Devils Creek.
Devil’s Creek TL fork
Only one abseil, not worth the effort
Foster Creek v2a3I
No absiels
Public access.
A short side trip from Doom Creek
Johnson Creek v1a3I
Stream walking, with some jump potential if you scramble up the gorge sides.
Middle Wakamarina v1a4I*
Float trip
Public access
Big jumps (from the rim) and long swims. Able to combine it with several of the other canyons/gorges in the area.
Devils Creek v3a2II*
25m
4hrs
Public access
Varied and scenic waterway with a handful of nice features, separated by plenty of walking.
Juicy Falls Canyon v4a3IV*
67m
9h30
Public access
Medium flow canyon with beautiful steep, clean abseils. Steep sidewalls in most places. Overall a good, challenging vertical canyon.
Lower Wakamarina Gorge v1a4I**
No rappels: float trip
1.5hrs
Public access
Medium Volume float trip with lots of jumping opportunities, usually combined with Doom Creek.
Evans Creek v3a3V*
30m
10-11hrs
Public access
A remote, adventurous canyon that is made doable in a long day by the Project Janzoon trapping lines. Probably only worth the effort if you like the idea of exploring a rarely seen beautiful part of the park. You could potentially do Evans, Table, Waterfall over a few days.
Doom Creek v2a3II**
7m
2-3hrs
Public access
Low volume horizontal slot canyon with a few down climbs and swims. Good for beginners. Lots of options in the valley for combining with other trips
Campbell Creek v1a3I**
10m (1x20m)
2.5hrs
Public access
Easy access to a mellow, but fun and very beautiful stream. Lots of medium to small jumps.
Zig Zag Creek v4a3III**
55m (2x60m)
6-8 hrs
Public Access
Steeper, more open schist canyon, with 14 drops and a few jumps.
Memorial Canyon v4a2II*
50m (2x60m)
3hrs
Private land: permission required
Multiple rappels in an open lower flow canyon. The obvious must do canyon when viewed from Memorial Hut.
Hells Gates Canyon v4a4III**
40m (3x40m)
4hrs
Private land: permission required
Spectacular in nature; many features encountered during descent are at the nominated overall grade and would be harder if the flow was even slightly higher than low summer flow.
Birdcage Canyon v4a3III**
45m (2x50m)
3hrs
Private land: Permission required
An exciting aquatic canyon in an alpine environment with the comfort of a hut and all you have driven in by 4wd at arm’s reach. Great when combined with Memorial Canyon.
Allez Canyon v4a2IV***
52m
Private land: Permission required.
Heli-access to a very steep and committing canyon, with about 16 pitches.
Vass-oconstrictor v5a3IV***
155m (75m max pitch)
5-6hrs
Private land: permission required
Heli-access to a very steep canyon, with about 20 pitches. Multipitch descent of the main drop with the longest pitch about 75m.
Major Mayhem Canyon v5a3IV***
95m (60+35 pitches)
5-14hrs
Public access
Big, exposed waterfalls in the upper section, with a relentless narrow slot canyon below. Lots of delicate logjams!
Twin Creek v5a2III***
35m/40m/70m (2x60m)
3-6hrs
Public access
A long alpine canyon (3 sections), with good access and great views accross to Mt Rolleston.
Mill Creek v4a4II**
27m
3hrs
Public access
A very high volume canyon, with huge pools, big jumps and dangerous water features.
Temple Col Canyon v4a2III*
50m
4h45min
Public access
Steep and inescapable after the first drop. Some very beautiful waterfalls, very sheer and steep rock walls and views to Mt Rolleston.
Griffin Creek v4a5IV***
29m (2x60m)
9hr30
Public access
Big, watery, beautiful, long, technical.. Jumps galore into pumping whitewater. Huge pools, powerfull waterfalls… This canyon is a pure gem in NZ!
Falls Creek v5a5IV****
80m (25+55m) | Public access | 4-6hrs
The Fiordland mega-classic – big features, big water, big smiles.
Falls River v4a5III**
22m
6hrs
Public access
Water taxi access to a moderate to high flow canyon. A short sharp vertical section followed by a more open, fun and mellow section. Lots of jumps and big pools.
Whataroa Falls Canyon v4a3I*
40m
5hrs
Public access
A short and sweet canyoning trip 40 minutes from Tauranga. Low commitment trip great for less experienced canyoneers with good off-track navigation skills.
Disclaimer: canyons change!
Canyoning is a dangerous sport. The risks include serious injury or death. Anyone undertaking this sport does so at thier own risk and carries all the associated responsibilities. The information provided here is a record of the sport of Canyoning in NZ. The Canyon information provided may not be accurate and cannot be relied upon….
Taipo Creek v3a1II*
35m (R30 + DC5m)
3 hrs
Public access
Steep waterfall stream with numerous small – medium abseils concentrated in 500m of streamway.
Halpin Creek v4a2III*
75m
8hr30min
Public access
Halpin Creek is a steep alpine descent. Its scenic approach and descent has impressive views of the peaks and valleys of Arthur’s Pass. The finale is a long, exposed pitch with some sharp rock near the top requiring care — another adventure right off the highway.
Ruapae Falls v4a2V*
37m 2x50m
12hrs
Public access
Waterfall tramping, lots of short drops, boulder scrambling with a final gorge section and drop over Ruapae Falls.
Usually done in two days, with an overnight at Herepai Hut
Black Miller Canyon v3a2II*
20m
1h45m
Public access
Black Miller Stream is a short fun canyoning trip which is not difficult in normal flows & so is an excellent trip for experienced canyoners to introduce beginners to the sport or to break up a road trip through Kaikoura with a short diversion.
Deep Creek v1a1I
No absiels
10mins
Public access
Worth a splash if you are in the area without your canyon gear!