2x50m 3h15 total trip Public access A short canyoning adventure for beginners. Generally low flow – but you’ll need to swim across the Hokitika River, or bushbash up from the Hokitika Gorge track. If the main river flows are low, and you’ve got the floatation in your packs – a float through the Hokitika Gorge…
Category: 0 Star Canyons
Canyons which might be worth a look if you happen to be in the area and have done everything else nearby.
Alzheimers v4a2III
see page 442 of the guidebook
Boulder dash v2a3II
Mostly downclimbing and a couple of abseils. Zero Stars.. First Decent : early 2025, Dutch Canyoning Expedition – Erik Birkhoff, Erwan Coq, Pepijn Hoeksema, Bas Hetterscheid, Britt Joosten, Bram de Vries.
Dugga Dugga Canyon v4a2IV
It hosts some nice abseils and slides but not enough to make it a noteworthy canyon.
Jonno’s Canyon v3a2III
More features than maybe you’d think, but not really worth the effort to descend. First known descent in 2017, followed by a series of descents by people thinking they were the first explorer. ;0) A good reason to put up canyons even if they aren’t fantastic, so others can explore elsewhere!
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.
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.
Rawle/Raules Creek v4a2II
30m | 7hrs | Public access
More than 25 small waterfalls, in a very low flow gully
Mt Peel Area/Rangitata Valley
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
Billy Goat Creek v3a1I
2x20m | 4.5hrs | Public access
Red rocks area, Wellington town belt
Micro mission, close to town, no wetsuits needed
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
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
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.
Paton Stream v3a2IV
50m
7hrs
Private access
Tairua Valley, Coromandel Range
An old dam site and one decent 50m pitch with a great view
Lil’ arch canyon
A fun little scramble up without wetsuits: there’s apparently a little arch about the same elevation as the one in nearby cross creek.
Starvation Stream access to Rangihau Gorge
Not worth the effort. Go to Bulls Run instead!
Un-named Stream access Rangihau Gorge
This stream was descended when exploring ways to access the Rangihau Gorge. It had a few bits of canyoning, but wasn’t really worth it.
Deep Creek v1a1I
0m
1hr
Public access
Short scramble and wade, worth a wee look if you are in the area with a little spare time.
Premier Creek v2a2III
25m
6hrs
Long, slippery waterfall tramping trip at the head of the Waiorogomai Valley. Only 4 pitches with lots of river walking in between.
Sleeping Dog v4a2I
60m
Public access
Alternative entry to Sleeping God canyon. Has loose rock at the top and is not recommended.
Greyneys Creek v3a2II
20m
Public Access
3hrs
A sizeable walk, a lot of boulder bashing, and 1 waterfall. There are better alternatives in the area.
Army Creek v3a1II
30m
Public access
2-3 significant pitches before it joins with Navy creek.
Devil’s Creek TL fork
Only one abseil, not worth the effort
Foster Creek v2a3I
No absiels
Public access.
A short side trip from Doom Creek
Johnson Creek v1a3I
Stream walking, with some jump potential if you scramble up the gorge sides.
Deep Creek v1a1I
No absiels
10mins
Public access
Worth a splash if you are in the area without your canyon gear!
Bealey’s Black Canyon v4a2III
35m
Public access
5hrs
Bealey River is a steep alpine descent. Its scenic approach has great views of the peaks and valleys of Arthur’s Pass.Anchors are mostly bolted. The rock is fractured and loose in parts as the area is subject to multiple large avalanches in winter off the side of Mt Rolleston. Leave any descent to later in the season to let the avalanche debris melt.
Little Deep Creek v4a2II
Public access 4hrs A few pitches to 40m or so, with a few wee slides and contrived jumps.. Not very continuous, lots of boulder scrambling. Not really worth repeating. You can take a look at the original topo notes for Little Deep Creek if you’re keen.
Blue River South Branch
1 great waterfall into the Blue river, but not really a canyon,
Makarora, Otago
East of Navigator Canyon
Public access Drops upwards of 70m on Map Has been descended, but apparently is not really worth doing. Download info for East of Navigator Canyon, Owhango
Mangarua Stream
Report by Rowan Peck Mangarua Stream, 6th April 2013. Starts from the Waitawheta Tramway track at an obvious bridge, 5.8km or about 1.5 hrs walk from the Franklin Road end. To access from the top, head south from Daly’s Clearing Hut keeping the ridge (off track). Start point 37 30 7.13 / 175 42 56.14, Explored up…
Canoe Creek, v3a2II (0 stars)
First Descent, Toine Houtenbos and Rikki Brown, 4 May 2014. Access: Lake Head track, East of Lake Rotoiti, about 2hrs to bottom of canyon, (4.5km) Possibility of Water Taxi drop off. “Access is pretty rough. About 1.5hrs [from the lake], three wasp stings and a sketchy traverse later, we ended up in the upper reaches…
Lower Canyon Creek
Despite looking very impressive from the valley floor, there doesnt appear to be anything of interest. I’ve walked up from the bottom. It’s just a gravelly stream for the first bit. We lost interest about 200m into the gorge (it was winter and we were on a MTB trip!) there’s very little overall elevation drop…