10m (1x30m rope) | 2hrs return | Public land
A relaxing trip with big green pools and some very good jumps. Easy access and fun, not very technical.
Category: 1 Star Canyons
Carew Creek v4a3I*
45m (2x60m)
2h20m
Public access
Short, steep granite canyon with interlinked waterfalls and plunge pools. Semi-open, medium volume.
Basin Creek v4a3II*
15m max drop (2x 30m) 3h30h total duration 1h/1h30/1h approach/descent/return Public land A short canyon with a particularly impressive pitch. Mostly low angle in a bedrock gorge with beautiful blue pools. First descent: Amy Burney, Ben Fletcher, Christian Miller, and Lulu Jordan – November 2025. Thanks to Christian for the topo and images.
Lower Trovatore Canyon v3a1II*
10m max drop ( 1x30m rope) | 2hr return |Public access
Chauffeur Canyon v4a2V*
As of August 2025, this canyon has not yet had a full descent Max drop 27m A long approach means that its likely to require 1 to 2 nights for the full round trip. Chauffeur Canyon is the name given by the first canyoning explorers, to a section of Te Tanae Rangiharakeke Stream in the…
Easy Creek v3a1III*
Excellent canyon for the novice canyoneer who wants to do a big waterfall!
Swan Creek v4a2IV*
Swan creek has an open and sunny character. one of the easier descents in the Pyke Valley
Al Dente v4a2IV*
See Page 442 of the guidebook
Alpocalypse v3a4III*
See page 442 of the guidebook
Al Gorge v3a3III*
A relatively short canyon with a beautiful enclosed section. Anchors: 10mm ss wedge bolts and hangers and 5 mm dyneema with Tebylon half ring Longest abseil is 40m First descent: Dutch Canyoning Expedition 14-3-2025Erik Birkhoff Erwan Coq Bas Hetterscheid Pepijn Hoeksema Britt Joosten Jaap Sikkema Bram de Vries Loys van Asten
Broken Creek v4a2IV*
Broken creek first full descent: Jeroen (Stretch) Verhees, Edgar Fella, Morgan, early 2025 Lots of medium length pitches and fairly low flows. Adventure canyon! More info to come!
Goat Creek v3a2IV*
26m (1x60m rope) | 5-6hrs return | public access
Adventure canyon with some good pitches near Greymouth
Kapakapanui summit creek v4a1III*
50m max drop (2x50m ropes)
3.5hr/2.5hr/2hr = 8hr Public access
Arch-duchess canyon v4a3IV*
30m (2x40m) | 11hrs | Public Access | Lewis Pass area
A long walk in to a beautiful arch absiel.
Rope Creek v4a3IV*
Max drop 31m Public access 2hr approach / unknown descent time / 1.5hr return Exploration by Jeroen Verhees et al, December 2024 Upper Rope creek: Jeroen (Stretch) Verhees, Billy Norton, Henry Rotherham (fox guides) and support from the top from Jack Kyle (franz guide) Middel and lower Rope creek: Jeroen (Stretch) Verhees, Billy Norton First…
Upper Waihohonu Canyon v2a5III*
2x30m | Full Day | Public access | Mt Ruapehu, Central North Island.
High water canyon with small abseils and committing gorges.
Slotatote Canyon v4a5V*
40m | 14hrs | Public access | Mt Ruapehu Central North island
A 7km slot with high flow and a few good pitches.
The Contributary v4a1III*
2x50m 5hrs Public access
Murupara area, Central North Island
Te Punga Ngaro v4a2IV*
2x50m 9hrs (2/6/1 approach/descent/return)
Public access, Murupara area
Flop n Drop (lower) v1a3II*
No compulsory raps | 4hrs | public access
Just jumps and slides on Mt Ruapehu
Camp Creek v4a3III*
15m | 5hrs | Public access
Lake Brunner area, West Coast
St Pauls Canyon v4a3III*
60m| Half day | Public Access
Awe Burn Valley, Lake Manapouri
About 10 pitches in relatively low flows
Haehaenga Stream (2nd tributary) v3a2III*
30m | 7 hrs | Public Access
Te Aroha, Kaimai Ranges
Lake Mavis Canyon v4a2IV*
45m|13hr|Public Access
Edwards Valley, Arthurs Pass
Steep alpine canyon, with lots of small to medium pitches.
Lagoon canyon v4a2IV*
Public access
Steep, low volume, alpine canyon, Gorge walk finish
Waimakariri Valley
Lagoon Saddle Canyon v4a2III*
Highest drop 47m Public access 6hrs This canyon is a rewarding day out with some great abseils in a straightforward multi-pitch canyon. The canyon anchors are bolts with a few naturally rigged. The upper canyon starts with two abseils back to back. There are plenty of escapes all the way down. The highlight is the…
Blue Creek v3a1II*
18m 2x30m | 4hrs Public access
Mt Owen, Kahurangi National Park
Mostly dry marble slot canyon. Very scenic!
Holdsworth Creek v4a2IV*
50m | Long day | Public access
Tararua Range.
Long mountain day, with a short 5-pitch canyon section
Logjam Canyon v3a2III*
30m | Public access
Worth doing the lower section for a short/rest day
Hunter Valley, Otago
Hack Canyon v4a2III*
35m | 5hrs | Public Access
Some great pitches in the flow, of a neat canyon.
Lewis Pass Area
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.
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…
Tim’s Stream v3a2I*
A neat little beginners trip, with limestone scenery, couple of short absiels and easy access!
Cragieburn range, Canterbury
Gamblers Canyon v4a1IV*
60m (2x60m)
3.5hrs
Public access
Golden Bay, Top of the South.
Steep, low flow v-profile canyon.
Captain Chaos v4a2III*
60m
Lowflow river with some cool (but not continous) canyon sections.
Dart Valley, Otago
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.
Bealey Chasm v2a4I*
Public access
Blue pools, slides and jumps in among big rocks in this gorge. A PFD for the swims plus a short rope to aid downclimbing.
Graham Stream v3a2III*
30m (2x35m)
7-8hr
Public access
A steep, vertical alpine descent using mostly natural anchors makes this a classic Arthur’s Pass canyon.
Freds Creek v4a2II*
30m
Unknown duration
Private land: Permission Required
Lake Brunner, Westland