30m (2x40m) | 11hrs | Public Access | Lewis Pass area
A long walk in to a beautiful arch absiel.
Swamp Creek v5a5VI***
Partially explored high volume serpentine canyon in the Hollford Valley
McBride Burn
Not really a canyon – descended by a Wanaka CanyonSAR team in February 2023 as part of a search and rescue operation for a missing hunter. Photos courtesy Patrick Timm
Chasm Creek v6a5VII***
80m max drop 4-6 days round trip, including an 8 pitch climbing approach and a bivvy in the canyon More images and info to come…. Chasm creek in Fiordland first descent a gorgeous deep gorge section and some beautiful open waterfalls after the gorge section as well! . The approach for this canyon went by…
Doughboy Creek v5a4IV**
Long, high flow canyon with open and enclosed sections.
Margaret Burn v5a5III*** (Lower)
High volume, glacier fed and mostly underground… Dart Valley, Aspiring National Park.
Secret Falls Canyon v4a2II**
55m | 4.5hrs | Public access
Milford Sound, Fiordland National Park
Harwood’s Hole v5a2IV***
A cave on a canyoning site?? Arguably the best caving day trip in all of New Zealand. Perhaps one of the best in the world!? The 200m hole gets all the attention, but the cave itself is very beautiful and lots of fun. Because the cave can be done as a pull-through trip in a…
Impassable Gorge v3a3VI***
20m (40&10m ropes) | 2-3 days | Public access
A huge weekend adventure canyon, one of the test pieces of the Tararua’s
Whio Creek Canyon v4a4III***
20m (2×30) | 7h15m | Public access
Jumps and slides through enchained granite potholes, not far from Milford Sound
Rope Creek v4a3IV*
Max drop 31m Public access 2hr approach / unknown descent time / 1.5hr return Exploration by Jeroen Verhees et al, December 2024 Upper Rope creek: Jeroen (Stretch) Verhees, Billy Norton, Henry Rotherham (fox guides) and support from the top from Jack Kyle (franz guide) Middel and lower Rope creek: Jeroen (Stretch) Verhees, Billy Norton First…
Little Humboldt Creek v5a3III**
3x60m | 8hrs | Public access.
Nice short canyon then a 265m bigwall finish.
Upper Waihohonu Canyon v2a5III*
2x30m | Full Day | Public access | Mt Ruapehu, Central North Island.
High water canyon with small abseils and committing gorges.
Makahikatoa Canyon v1a3II
Most of a day and lot of effort for a really beautiful but very short section of gorge. Mt Ruapehu, Central North Island
de Havilland drop v4a2II
Descended during a search and rescue exercise. Not worth repeating.
Slotatote Canyon v4a5V*
40m | 14hrs | Public access | Mt Ruapehu Central North island
A 7km slot with high flow and a few good pitches.
Huckatote Canyon v4a5III
30m | Full day | Public access
Mt Ruapehu,
A long slippery river walk, with high flows and some cool waterfall pitches.
Neavesville Canyon v1a1I
Mostly stream walking, a few waterfalls which can be easily climbed around.
Parsons Creek v4a2IV**
60m (3x60m) 5hrs Heli access. Mt Cook, Canterbury
The Contributary v4a1III*
2x50m 5hrs Public access
Murupara area, Central North Island
Te Punga Ngaro v4a2IV*
2x50m 9hrs (2/6/1 approach/descent/return)
Public access, Murupara area
Flop n Drop (lower) v1a3II*
No compulsory raps | 4hrs | public access
Just jumps and slides on Mt Ruapehu
Flop n Drop (upper) v3a3II**
15m max drop (1x40m rope recommended) 2hrs/2 + 2hr/1hr (Approach /upper + lower section / return) Public access An ideal beginner canyon to have fun down and learn ropework. None of the drops are too committing, you can scout everything on the way up and there are a ton of slides! Those heading to the…
Camp Creek v4a3III*
15m | 5hrs | Public access
Lake Brunner area, West Coast
Canyon Creek v5a3IV**
2x80m | Full day | Public Access
A high-quality remote canyon accessed by boat accross Lake Te Anau
St Pauls Canyon v4a3III*
60m| Half day | Public Access
Awe Burn Valley, Lake Manapouri
About 10 pitches in relatively low flows
Son of Gloomy
Descended by the French Aotearoa Exped in 2017, whilst scouting the Gloomy Gorge area. Second descent in Feb 2024 by Andrew Humphreys, Charlotte Workman et al. First descent French Aotearoa Expedition 2016/17, whilst in preparations to descent Gloomy Gorge. Second known descent, Andrew Humphreys, Dale Strang, Charlotte Workman et al March 2024. Andrew and his…
Haehaenga Stream (2nd tributary) v3a2III*
30m | 7 hrs | Public Access
Te Aroha, Kaimai Ranges
The Slide Hustle v1a3II***
No mandatory absiels – a slide-fest! 6hrs round trip (2hr/2.5hr/1.5hr) Public land This canyon is all about the slides. FOURTEEN of them in total, up to 16m long, plus the option to climb back up and lap a sweet section of five slides. Three start sliding bliss on Mt Ruapehu. First descent, James Judd, Sacha…
KiwiCanyons needs volunteers..
17m (2×40) | 6hrs | Public Access
Haast Pass (insert the area name here)
Paste the canyon’s character summary here.
Lake Mavis Canyon v4a2IV*
45m|13hr|Public Access
Edwards Valley, Arthurs Pass
Steep alpine canyon, with lots of small to medium pitches.
Lagoon canyon v4a2IV*
Public access
Steep, low volume, alpine canyon, Gorge walk finish
Waimakariri Valley
Lagoon Saddle Canyon v4a2III*
Highest drop 47m Public access 6hrs This canyon is a rewarding day out with some great abseils in a straightforward multi-pitch canyon. The canyon anchors are bolts with a few naturally rigged. The upper canyon starts with two abseils back to back. There are plenty of escapes all the way down. The highlight is the…
Rakautara Stream
First descent by Canterbury Canyon SAR Team during a search operation. A handful of small absiels, some swims and little jumps in a relatively open streamway.
Rolleston River
First descent by West Coast Canyon SAR during a search operation, March 2021. Two absiels from bolt anchors, some sections of nice canyon and some sections of open riverbed scrambling SAR team leader Canyon ends at the confluence with the stream coming from Lake Florence. No futher information available at this time.
Florence Canyon
First descent by Canterbury CanyonSAR team during a search operation in March 2021 No further information available at this time.
Giant Gate Falls v5a5III**
Access up the true right, to a short but spectacular canyon on the edge of the Milford Track. A large catchment, very high rainfall an extremely deep canyon make this a very very serious proposition. Giants Gate Topo – quick notes Start @ 200m contour at mouth of canyon 5m DC on TR to shallow…
Powder Flask Canyon v5a3IV***
45m | 6.5-10.5hrs | Public access
Makarora Valley, Aspiring
Low water, beautiful rock & pools with lots of jumps. Exit via high flow Fish River.
Blue Creek v3a1II*
18m 2x30m | 4hrs Public access
Mt Owen, Kahurangi National Park
Mostly dry marble slot canyon. Very scenic!
Dickson River v3a4IV***
1x60m rope | 11hrs | Public access
Mikonui Valley, West Coast
One of the top canyons on the coast.