Posts page - best canyons

Imp Grotto is a very short, but spectacular canyon, with a little bit of everything. The access is quick and easy, providing excellent rewards for minimal effort.

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.

Isabelle Creek Canyon v4a4VI***

70m | 24hrs (2+days) | Public access
Tararua Ranges, Lower North Island

Chamberlain Creeks big sister! Multi-day adventure canyoning with big pitches, great views and jumps

Lower Tree Trunk Gorge v4a3II**

1x 40m rope | 35mins | Public access
Tongarirro River, Kaimanawa Range

Rap in to explore the end of this infamous kayaking gorge.

Te Tipi Stream overview 25m 6hrs/1.5hrs/4.5hrs ( Approach, Te Tipi descent, Rangihau gorge v4a4IV** descent) Public access Te Tipi Stream is another of the headwater tributaries of the excellent Rangihau Gorge v4a4IV**. Te Tipi itself is not the pick of the entry routes to Rangihau, but is described here for completeness. Route description Rangihau Road…

Table Creek v4a3VI**

75m | 12hrs+ | Public
Abel Tasman National Park

A canyoning marathon through the center of the Natioanl

Billy Goat Creek v3a1I

2x20m | 4.5hrs | Public access
Red rocks area, Wellington town belt

Micro mission, close to town, no wetsuits needed

Makarora Gorge v4 a5 or a6

Massive water gorging.. one 30m pitch. Yet to receive a canyoning descent.

Cameron Creek v4, a5 or a6

Big water with a couple of huge drops. More of a gorge than a canyon, yet to receive a canyoning descent.

Makarora Valley, Aspiring

Wardens Creek v4a2III

One large pitch at the end

Arthurs Pass, Canterbury.

Little Mt Peel Stream v3a2IV

A long walk for not much canyon, more like a ‘canyon tramping’ trip.

Little Mt Peel, Canterbury

Cave Stream v1a2I

Caving! non technical ‘underground gorge walk’
Approx 1 hr and can be done without wetsuits.
Cragieburn, Canterbury

Tim’s Stream v3a2I*

A neat little beginners trip, with limestone scenery, couple of short absiels and easy access!

Cragieburn range, Canterbury

Rough Creek v5a2IV**

65m (2x70m)
7hrs45min
Public access

Rough Creek is a steep, vertical alpine descent. Its quick access off the avalanche peak track makes this a classic Arthur’s Pass canyon. The canyon features a series of committing and long near back to back pitches with around 350m of descent in half a kilometre.

Canyoning in New Zealand