15m | 4.5-6hrs| Public access
Makarora Valley, Aspiring
“Wilson Creek on Steroids” Narrow, high flow, deep, committing, dangerous and beautiful.
Tuke River v5a6VI**** (estimated)
Monster west coast canyon, only descendable in dry summers by an expert team.
Eagle’s Nest v4a3V***
35m (2x60m) | 14hrs | Public
Over 40 raps, continuous canyon, huge day!
Dart Valley, Otago
Holdsworth Creek v4a2IV*
50m | Long day | Public access
Tararua Range.
Long mountain day, with a short 5-pitch canyon section
Sawyer Stream v4a3II**
42m | 3hrs | Public access
Mt Cook, Canterbury
Short, steep and sustained set of waterfalls through a solid sculpted greywacke.
Melita Stream v5a4III**
Best approached by kayak across Lake Gunn, walking around is not recommended due to thick forest and swampy ground. Access on the TR. Lots of absiels in powerful flows. Extremely hard rock: serpentine and diorite, so if you’re taking a drill, (which you should) take plenty of spare drill bits and extra batteries!!! First descent…
Red Hut Canyon v4a2III**
40m | 8hrs | Public access
Sustained waterfalls in with long enclosed sections
Hopkins Valley, Canterbury
Logjam Canyon v3a2III*
30m | Public access
Worth doing the lower section for a short/rest day
Hunter Valley, Otago
Pegasus Canyon v4a3III**
40m | 6hrs | Public access
Hunter Valley, Otago
Big 60 Canyon v5a4III***
55m | 7hrs | Helicopter to Forbes Hut
Another 3 start gem in the Hunter Valley, Otago
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
Scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Hack Canyon v4a2III*
35m | 5hrs | Public Access
Some great pitches in the flow, of a neat canyon.
Lewis Pass Area
Rawle/Raules Creek v4a2II
30m | 7hrs | Public access
More than 25 small waterfalls, in a very low flow gully
Mt Peel Area/Rangitata Valley
East Sabine Awe-Chasm v4a5IV***
15m | 12hrs (3hrs in canyon)
Public access
Nelson Lakes
Diedrichs Creek v5a5IV**
15m (1x60m) | 9hrs | Public Access
Hokitika Valley, West Coast.
High flow jump, swim and scrambling canyon with 5 absiels
Ryolite Canyon v4a1I
50m | Public | 4hrs
Kopu road, Coromandel Range
Long Drop Canyon v4a2II
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