45m (2×50)
14hrs
Public Access
Very long, steep, committing mountain stream with some nice narrows. A significant undertaking.
Category: 2 Star Canyons
Woolshed Creek v3a3III**
15m
5hrs
Public access
A relatively benign sustained aquatic slot with a few nice short rappels and a couple of fun slides and jumps.
Holts Creek v4a4IV**
40m
11-12hrs
Holts Creek is a big day in a remote alpine canyon. It is bolted but come with natural anchor rigging materials. The upper canyon starts with pool drop waterfalls. The only escape is a scree mid-canyon before giving way to enclosed steep walls. On the way down make sure to look back up the canyon at the spectacular series of waterfalls.
California Dreaming v4a2II**
40m
3hrs
Private land: access permission required.
A very pretty, low flow granite canyon with some stunning big rappels. A great beginners/intermediate half day out. Can be combined with neighbouring Fred’s canyon.
Surly Creek v4a3III**
30m
Adventure canyon
Public access
Pretty good trip but quite a bit of down climbing and boulder hopping.
Kaumira Canyon v3a3II**
20m | 3hrs |Public access
One of the classic beginner canyons of the Canterbury region. Some nice short/medium pitches, big pools and jumps.
Birch Creek v4a4IV**
17m
11-12hrs
Public access
Wilderness adventure canyon, medium gradient, with a little bit of everything. Normally done with a base camp in the Lower Landsborough Valley.
Waterfall Creek v4a4IV**
70m
5-7hrs
Private land, permission needed
Raven Canyon v5a2IV**
110m (3x60m)
8.5hrs
Public access
An adventure canyon; multiple rappels, handlines and downclimbs often back to back. Relatively open, steep stream.
College Canyon v3a3III**
30m
Heli access to Forbes Hut
Public land
Plenty of jumps and fun abseils make it a little gem worth getting into and a 5 min walk from the exit of the canyon to Forbes hut make it all to easy.
Protuberance Canyon v4a3IV**
40m(?)
Heli access
Public land
Fergusson Canyon v5a4VI**
60m | Heli access | Public land
Hunter Valley, Otago
Waterfall Creek v4a4III**
30m
6-8hrs
Public access: Courtesy call to guiding company requested.
More open, granite slab canyon, with lots of technical downclimbing and some excellent slides up to 17m.
Green Gully Creek v4a3III**
2x60m
A whole day, including 4WD approach
Private land: permission required
Beautiful 4WD approach, a thick scrub bash approach and a great, consistent canyon. Lots of medium jumps and slide and good absiels.
Lower Wakamarina Gorge v1a4I**
No rappels: float trip
1.5hrs
Public access
Medium Volume float trip with lots of jumping opportunities, usually combined with Doom Creek.
Doom Creek v2a3II**
7m
2-3hrs
Public access
Low volume horizontal slot canyon with a few down climbs and swims. Good for beginners. Lots of options in the valley for combining with other trips
Campbell Creek v1a3I**
10m (1x20m)
2.5hrs
Public access
Easy access to a mellow, but fun and very beautiful stream. Lots of medium to small jumps.
Zig Zag Creek v4a3III**
55m (2x60m)
6-8 hrs
Public Access
Steeper, more open schist canyon, with 14 drops and a few jumps.
Memorial Canyon v4a2II*
50m (2x60m)
3hrs
Private land: permission required
Multiple rappels in an open lower flow canyon. The obvious must do canyon when viewed from Memorial Hut.
Hells Gates Canyon v4a4III**
40m (3x40m)
4hrs
Private land: permission required
Spectacular in nature; many features encountered during descent are at the nominated overall grade and would be harder if the flow was even slightly higher than low summer flow.
Birdcage Canyon v4a3III**
45m (2x50m)
3hrs
Private land: Permission required
An exciting aquatic canyon in an alpine environment with the comfort of a hut and all you have driven in by 4wd at arm’s reach. Great when combined with Memorial Canyon.
Mill Creek v4a4II**
27m
3hrs
Public access
A very high volume canyon, with huge pools, big jumps and dangerous water features.
Falls River v4a5III**
22m
6hrs
Public access
Water taxi access to a moderate to high flow canyon. A short sharp vertical section followed by a more open, fun and mellow section. Lots of jumps and big pools.
Kauaeranga Gorge v2a3III**
Highest drop 5m
Public access
6-7hrs
Interesting tramp to a spectacular gorge, with a number of classic narrow canyon sections and numerous small jumps and swims.
Yards Gully v4a2IV**
Private land: permission required.
No further info available, other than it was surprisingly good, with some narrow steep and deep sections.
Tunakohoia Canyon v4a2II**
32m Public access 6.5hrs Tunakohoia is a little gem of a canyon nestled in the hills behind Te Aroha Township. Generally low flow, this is an ideal winter trip as you are not required to spend long periods in the water. The canyon is a lot of fun after some rain when the flow increases…
North Falls Canyon v5a2IV**
Highest drop 80m Public access 6hrs A great vertical, reasonably low flow canyon. The three impressive 80m waterfalls are clearly visible from the road. The canyon is well worth the drive to get there. Download the North Falls Topo First descent: Pete Choate, Oscar Hadley, Stuart De Haas, Lee Den Haan, Richard Bramley 30/11/2017
Chandler Stream (Lower) v3a3II**
Highest drop 16m Public Access 3 hrs Probably the best bang for your buck trip in the region. The lower section of Chandler Stream is quite short but of high quality: continuous, beautiful and enclosed. Reminiscent of Haast Past canyons. Download the Chandler Stream Lower Topo
Takahe Stream v5a3IV**
Highest drop 61m (2x50m ropes, hanging re-belays) Private access up the Wilberforce valley. Notes on access in the canyon topo. 5-8hrshrs Some big pitches, with hanging re-belays in a beautiful greywacke canyon. All parties visiting this canyon should bring a drill, bolts and the knowledge to upgrade the anchors present. Log any maintenance as a trip…
Hut Stream v5a3IV**
Highest drop 88m (Multipitch waterfall with 2x60m ropes) Private access, notes on permission in the topo All parties visiting this canyon should bring a drill, bolts and the knowledge to upgrade the anchors present. Log any maintenance as a trip report so we can bring this great canyon up to the best possible anchor standards 🙂…
Peak Creek v6a4IV**
50m (2x60m) | 8-10hrs | Public access
Test piece of the top of the south
Muir Creek v4a3III**
There is more information on this canyon available, but I’ve not had time to process it. This page is a ‘place holder’ designed to indicate the canyon has been descended. More info will be posted once I get round to it! Happy Canyoning! Chucky
Eager Beaver Canyon v4a2IV**
Max drop approx 45m 9hr Public Access Waterfall tramping trip. Low volume, several 30-45m drops. This canyon is fully described in the Canyoning in NZ guidebook. Below is a video from Tony Gazley, from a Wellington Tramping and Mountaineering Club trip to the canyon. WTMC does a few canyoning trips in the area; get in…
Johnstone Canyon
From Jame Scholtok via KiwiCanyon Facebook page; “Today (13/12/2017) was my birthday 🙂 and last week decided it was time for Me and the boys should celebrate in style with a first ever canyon descent of Johnstone creek off Mt Richmond. We meet at my house at 6am this morning and packed the last of…
Kiwi Jacks Creek v3a3II**
Max drop 20m. 2h45m round trip. Public access.
Waiohine Middle Gorge v1a4VI**
No ropes, Difficult tubing/floating 2 (long) days or 3 (more reasonable) days round trip. Mt Holdsworth Rd end, up over Mt Holdsworth to Mid Waiohine Hut, down the gorge to Totara Flats then back to Mt Holdsworth Rd end. Assess the flows at the Waiohine Gorge flow gauge I haven’t been down it yet, so refer…
Granity Creek v3a3III**
Highest drop 20m 7-8hrs Public Access Tricky off track walk into the head of a granite stream with some waterfalls. Then plunges into a very deep and impressive marble slot canyon for an hour or two. This canyon is fully described in the Canyoning in NZ guidebook. [Update 28 March 2016: First descent by; Andy…