45m pitch for R6/7 combined (or 30m pitch for R6)
Public access
9.5-10.5hrs
2.15 hrs walk in / 6-7 hrs in the canyon / 1.15hrs walkout
CAUTION: As of March 2026, the major pools are filled with gravel due to recent flooding. Many of the jumps on the topo don’t go at present. They will clear eventually. Make sure you check before you leap – as you should anyway.
This canyon is a river and should ideally descend in low flow as a canyon. As a guide, the Waimak – Below Otarama – was reported to be running under 50 cumecs on the ECAN website. The major jumping pools had little to no recirculation.
Have a strong team used to swimming in a river, and an extra sling just in case you need to build an anchor.
Follow the Edwards Hut Track until you are at the top of the canyon and can see the hut.
It has 8-9 pitches (several of which are jumpable) but lots of interesting bouldering, downclimbs, smaller jumps, and mandatory swims. Additional bolt anchors were installed in January 2024 and February 2025, and all abseil bolt anchors now have two bolts.
Note: the white cord on the Anchors is Dyneema (Aspiring) and rated at 15 kN. As a loop it breaks at 18.5kN with a double fisherman’s. See the testing of the cord here as a loop: https://overtheedgerescue.com/canyoning/rock-thread-vthread-testing-2021/
A few hydraulic features are easily avoided, but a slip while climbing or traversing could get you in trouble. Belays are recommended for the lead canyoner for these sections and for accessing some anchors.
The only sequence feature is the large siphon at R2. Climb onto the TL to a single bolt for a belay and climb 7m to the anchor. Rap into a flat pool with 15m of rope out and swim with the flow around the corner, exiting on the left at the top of a 7m drop. Pull the rope from there, then downclimb/jump the waterfall.
If it all gets too much at any point, there are multiple escapes on the true left back to the track, but in reality, these would be long and steep. There are many swims and floats, so be prepared to be in the water for much of the time. The canyon is very COLD (even on a mid-summer day), so bring your thick 5mm wetsuit and layers.
First kayak descent, October 2012.
Equipped by Tom Johns & John Harris, February 2020.
Double bolted and topo by Grant Prattley & Nola Collie & James Abbott, & Aaron Dawson, 2024 – it’s uploaded as an image in the Photos below.
Great day out. Jumped R1. The canyon has been significantly impacted by the last floods, so less floating, more walking, but it was fast travelling on new gravel deposits. Less jumps.
Dyneema anchors (White) all in good condition. Will upgrade next season.
Water temperature dropping as late season.
Highlight of a pair of whio ducks surfing the rapids.
Needs another good flood to bring all the jumps back. Still an awesome trip! 4 is a good number.
Great caynon – probably new favourite AP canyon (that or lower twin stream).
Blots all in good condition. Would recommend bringing some bail tape for the anchors – we added some bail string (blue) to back up the older string on the anchors (white).
A few of the jumps didn’t go this time, a bit of gravel in them. Worth checking!
The Topo is great and very helpful, however, we thought a couple of the walks were in slighlty different order – 10 min walk after R2 and J7m – and next 10 min walk before R5.
Accidently found a Whio nest on the way – so we tried avoid as much as possible and let the ducks get on with it. Great to see them having some success though!
Great canyon, very scenic, nice and punchy, would recommend!!
Upgraded anchors so time taken longer than usual. Will be back next season. Beautiful blue deep pools, good flow. Water temperature is cold so dress accordingly. Lots of good jumps.
Quick walk out on track.
A year since we re-bolted/upgraded anchors. Everything in great condition. Awesome day out, lots of jumps done. Some gravel had moved on the last massive pool. Water temperature in spite of a hot day was chilly. Wear layers.
Everything in perfect condition. Jumps are all good. Getting to the bolts requires confident scrambling. This may be due to the thought out bolt placements to keep them away from the flow of water when the levels get high. The water was higher than when we descended last year. It looked more like John and Tom’s photo this time. Awesome canyon!