The General v5a3V****

One of the most committing, sustained and narrow canyons in NZ.  44 pitches, super solid dark schist, deep, narrow, sustained. Don’t forget the “Slot of Doom”, with a handline to access 3 pitches (one including a deviation) on a 45m drop. If it had jumps it might be a 5 star canyon…

Robinson Creek v4a3II***

25m (2x30m)
2.5-3 hrs
Public access

A relatively short canyon, with a more open upper section with pools, jumps and swims. Then the canyon closes in for several drops, including a very impressive pitch into a giant cavern.

Mather Creek v4a4III***

27m
6-7hrs
Public access

Plenty of variety: high jumps, low technical jumps, perfect slides, back to back absiels and beautiful narrows.

Wilson Creek v4a5IV***

17m   (2x40m) | 4-8 hrs | Public access

Haast Pass, Aspiring NP

Very deep schist slot canyon with many beautiful turquoise pools and significant flow. A serious undertaking in anything but very low water conditions.

Cross Creek v3a2II***

22m (2x25m) | 1-4 hrs | Public Access. 

One of the most fun canyons in NZ.  Beautiful slides, jumps and rappels in very cold water.

Ore Stream v4a5IV***

31m (2x60m)
5-6hr
Public access

One of the highest flow canyons in the Haast pass area. Steep, rough, technical, dangerous and beautiful.

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!

Alf Creek v4a2IV***

Fox Glacier, was explored by Jeroen Verhees and others early in the 2025/26 season. There’s no topo yet, but it has some steep and open waterfalls, one sequence over 100m tall, with hanging pools looking out across the glacier. Access by helicopter. The only canyon in NZ (so far) that’s above a glacier.

Crate Creek v3a2II

~15m max pitch (1x40m recommended) 4hrs Public access. From the bottom it looks very promising, white granite boulders and very clean water. But only 2 pitches and numerous downclimbs. A very cool place but not much canyoning for the 1h30 walk up. First descent: Amy Burney, Ben Fletcher, Christian Miller, Jordan Wright, in late May…

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Divide Creek v2a2I*

“(so epically close to the road and pops out on routeburn track…) and really fun as warm up or after heavy rain…” More info coming… First descent: Tim illes, Dani Schiavinato

Hutt Creek v3a5

“very brief with a horrendous pourover and 2 easy raps 3m jump, 3m rap, 50m rap….  Again epic access. Really just a cool waterfall rap with breif canyon before… We need to put some more bolts in to mitigate the pourover… Again fine in low conditions /medium conditions, but pour over would be scary in…

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Black Mirror Canyon v4a2II**

More info coming soon… A great ‘easy’ canyon in the Eglinton First Descent Tim Illes, Dani Schiavinato, Andy Magness

Murcott Burn v4a4III**

More info coming: 3m rap, 3m slide, 3m rap, 18m rap, 3m rap, 32m rap, 58m rap, 15m rap….  Big catchment – needs dry conditions for a safe descent. First Descent Tim illes, Hans-peter Anderson, Will Hamilton

Maruia No.5 v3a1III

Explored in early 2025 by Sach Knight and Christian Miller. 9 pitches and feels very canyony, but full of logs and there are no swims. Public access, biggest pitch ~30m. Approach on TR to 720m contour.

Riordons Creek v3a1III*

16m max pitch (2x20m recommended) 4-5hrs Public access. Low flow, enclosed in places, with 9 pitches. Natural anchors and some bolted anchors. The reasonably friendly access and abundance of small pitches and downclimbs makes this a good adventure canyon. First descent: Amy Burney and Christian Miller, April 2026. Photos by Amy Burney & Christian Miller.

Margaret Burn v6a6VI****

More like a cave than a canyon, Margaret Burn is one of the most spectacular, narrow, deep, committing and high-flow canyons in New Zealand.

The Neck Creek v4a2IV*

45m (2x50m rope) | 5-6hrs return | public access. Waterfall absiels, scrambing and downclimbing in a pretty gorge.

Homestead Creek v4a2III*

6-7hrs round trip | public access

Steep, adventure canyon with a big 120m multi-tier cascade.

Pembroke Creek v4a4IV***

38m | 8.5hrs | 7km boat or kayak from nearest road.

Slides, slots, bedrock and views – what more could you ask for?

Upper Sylvia Stream v4a3IV*

20m max pitch (at least 1x60m recommended) 6.5hrs Public access. Some small jumps and 4 pitches. Walk downstream for 40 minutes to reach the lower Sylvia Stream canyon. A worthy addition to the trip, makes it more of a day out when the lower canyon is over so quickly. First recorded descent: Amy Burney, Ben…

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One Mile Creek v3a3III

20m max drop ( 1x50m rope) 5hr return trip Public access A very short but beautiful canyon, unfortunately very difficult to get to. Explored by Conor Handley, Ben Fletcher, Amy Burney, and Christian Miller, Feb 2026. Photos and topo provided by the FD team.

Solitude Creek v3a3III**

20m max pitch (at least 1x60m recommended for ease of retrieval) 3hrs round trip with two helicopter rides, or 11.5hrs…. Public access. Solitude Creek is a fun canyon with Haast Pass vibes. It has 8 straightforward rappels ending in big deep pools – many of which can be jumped. A unique feature is The Lonely…

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Mackay Creek v4a2III**

12m max drop (1x40m) | 4hrs return | public access. Scenic deep slot with 10 pitches, in low flows.

Rahu Left Canyon v3a3II*

10m (1x30m rope) | 2hrs return | Public land

A relaxing trip with big green pools and some very good jumps. Easy access and fun, not very technical.

Klondyke Canyon v3a3II**

15m (1x40m rope) 2h20m public access.

A playful canyon in a shallow mossy gorge, with a couple of fun abseils and lots of small jumps into big pools.

Carew Creek v4a3I*

45m (2x60m)
2h20m
Public access

Short, steep granite canyon with interlinked waterfalls and plunge pools. Semi-open, medium volume.

Minnow Creek v4a2II

2x50m 3h15 total trip Public access A short canyoning adventure for beginners. Generally low flow – but you’ll need to swim across the Hokitika River, or bushbash up from the Hokitika Gorge track. If the main river flows are low, and you’ve got the floatation in your packs – a float through the Hokitika Gorge…

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Tiropahi Canyon v4a6III**

27m | 4-5hrs | public access. Charleston area.

High volume gorge with one compulsory rappel. Challenging return route.

Basin Creek v4a3II*

15m max drop (2x 30m) 3h30h total duration 1h/1h30/1h approach/descent/return Public land A short canyon with a particularly impressive pitch. Mostly low angle in a bedrock gorge with beautiful blue pools. First descent: Amy Burney, Ben Fletcher, Christian Miller, and Lulu Jordan – November 2025. Thanks to Christian for the topo and images.

Chauffeur Canyon v4a2V*

As of August 2025, this canyon has not yet had a full descent Max drop 27m A long approach means that its likely to require 1 to 2 nights for the full round trip. Chauffeur Canyon is the name given by the first canyoning explorers, to a section of Te Tanae Rangiharakeke Stream in the…

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Fawn Falls v4a3II**

25m max drop (1x60m rope) 3h15m total (1h/1h30/45m approach/descent/return) Public access A short and fun canyon with some good pitches and jumps. A good adventure, particularly given the reasonably fast approach. First descent Christian Miller, Amy Burney, Conor Handley, Ben Fletcher May 2025. Images courtesy Christian Miller. Topo by Amy, Ben, Conor, and Christian.

Easy Creek v4a1III*

Excellent canyon for the novice canyoneer who wants to do a big waterfall!

Crane Creek v4a4IV**

A long, reasonably high flow trip with some impressive features. Couple of bigger drops with lots of messier features in between.

Low Creek v5a4III**

A relatively open descent alternated with two distinctive enclosed sections which require some technical and aquatic rigging.