35m | 5hrs | Public Access
Arthurs Pass
Great low-flow beginner canyon
Goat Hill Canyon v4a4IV*
30m | 10hrs | Public access
Taramakau Valley, Westland
Scenic alpine approach, high quality slot sections, but with a fair bit of boulder bashing.
Imp Grotto v4a3II***
40m (2x45m)
2.5 hrs
Public access
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 v3a2V*
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.
Tairua River – 2nd Branch v2a1III
Private land access
2x 10m pitches
Coromandel Ranges
Puketutu Stream v3a2III
Private land access
A couple of waterfalls 1 x slide but otherwise a very average day out carrying gear. This was a biggish day for not much canyon
Rangihau Gorge, via Moss Creek Campsite v4a4IV**
2x60m ropes/7-13hrs/Public Access
Coromandel Peninsula
The Full Rangihau Gorge, from source to road end. A really long day, but very well worth it.
Oteao Falls v3a3III**
*CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE*
30m (1x30m, 1x50m)
5h45m
Private access – see topo
Coroglen valley, Coromandel
Jumps, slides, pools and raps, a high quality day out in the upper north.
Gamblers Canyon v4a1IV*
60m (2x60m)
3.5hrs
Public access
Golden Bay, Top of the South.
Steep, low flow v-profile canyon.
Wairere Falls
Tapu to Ngati Hinerangi
Canyoners are asked to refrain from descending this canyon
Muriel Creek v4a4IV**
20m (1x60m + throwbag)
10hr
Public access
Hokitika gorge
Long and physical. A big approach followed by an adventurous canyon with a mix of down climbing, abseils, and jumps.
Rangihau Lower Gorge v3a3II**, via Bulls Run Canyon v3a2II*
33m/6hrs/Public access
Coromandel Peninsula
Classic of the area; steep to start, then watery to finish.
Cupola Creek v4a5IV***
15m (2×20 & throwbag)
12.5hrs
Public access
Travers Valley, Nelson Lakes NP
Magnificent slot canyon with bullet hard rock.
Tiny T Canyon v4a2II
47m (2×60)
3h45m
Public access
Arthurs Pass
Low flow side canyon from Temple Basin
Paget ridge canyon v3a2I
25m
2hrs
Public access
Lake Tennyson, Clarence Valley
Short, simple intro trip.
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Neilson Creek
Lower section explored by Joe Budgen, just boulders with no bedrock or canyon features.
Brag Creek
Explored by Joe Budgen up to the 300m-400m contour, open and bouldery with no sign of bedrock or canyon features.
Captain Chaos v4a2III*
60m
Lowflow river with some cool (but not continous) canyon sections.
Dart Valley, Otago
Dundas Creek
Explored by Joe Budgen: “Entered at 1000m and found nothing of interest all the way back to the road…”
Mill Creek
Explored by Joe Bugden et al.
Mick Creek
Explored by Joe Bugden et al, nothing found of interest.
Paton Stream v3a2IV
50m
7hrs
Private access
Tairua Valley, Coromandel Range
An old dam site and one decent 50m pitch with a great view
Brunton Stream v3a2IV*
23m
10hrs
Private access
Tairua Valley, Coromandel
13 pitch adventure canyon
Agility Creek v3a2III*
32m
7-8hrs
Public access
Arthurs Pass area
Steep, vertical alpine descent, well worth the walk.
Wakefield Canyon v4a2IV**
80m (3x80m)
7hrs
Public access
Mt Cook
Unnamed creek
Canyoning teams flying in via Helicopter did a fly past and reported “just a boulder pile, not worth a look”