Highest drop 45m
2x60m ropes are recommended.
2h20m
Public Access
Short, steep granite canyon with interlinked waterfalls and plunge pools. Semi-open, low to medium volume.
This canyon is fully described in the Canyoning in NZ guidebook
Guidebook updates
The book describes the final pitch as 40m, plus a 2m slide into the final pool. The book also suggests a minimum of 2x50m ropes.
Many people reported being caught a bit short with this description. It’s about 45m from the anchors to the final pool, and the slide is more like 4-5m.
Ideally, a pair of 60m ropes allows rope retrieval from dry land below R1. This would be essential if the canyon was done in higher flows, as the R1 pool would be turbulent, and not a safe place to do a treading water rope retrieveal..
Not a trip report, but a comment to say that all feedback earlier than this log has been incorporated into the canyon topo, which is now available for free download since 1 Dec 2025
New anchors installed in places. Upgrades to any webbing. Great jump pools. Canyon looked in excellent condition. 7 years since we were last here, and great to be back.
What an epic wee trip!
Replaced a sling between bolts on one anchor. All others in good condition.
Last rap might be more like 43m (we were about 5m short with an 80m)
Went through 12 March 2017. All bolts in place.
Special place!
Awesome canyon! Someone’s put new anchors on all 4 drops (all 1 bolt with ring, 1 bolt backup), which makes it an easy trip 🙂
decided to take a peek while the neighborhood last week. the tourist track was impassable due to windfall. it was cold and we weren’t very enthusiastic about pushing through.
i hope the “nearest big tree” survived. might want to bring your bolting kit…
According to Philip Beech, from a descent in early Jan 2013;
“Carews water falls and slides are spectacular r1 missing a nut last rap missing nut and hanger. The nearest big tree required 120 m of rope.”
Great fun canyon. Definitely worth it if you have some time to head in. Couldn’t find the first bolt for the handline but just used a tree instead. R2 and R3 bolts were both quite high. My partner might struggle to reach them herself at 5’7. All in great condition though. Slings backing up the bolt were functional but could do with some love. 80m rope doesn’t quite make the last rappel…