Highest drop 25m
Public access
3.5-4.5hrs
Interesting route finding through a boulder-choked gorge. One short beautiful narrows section.
The lower part of the canyon has had the boardwalk removed after being destroyed by rocks. So now, after the last waterfall, you head down the stream to gain the new Sharplin Falls track on the true left at a new bridge. Stay on the new track until the next (downstream) bridge. Get back into the stream and continue until you reach the Dukes Knob track 2 minutes before the car park.
The canyon is extended further so it has 6 pitches and is well worth the visit.
Note: after the May 2021 floods, the pools in the CanyonTopo are not yet deep enough to jump (just yet). The gravel is being slowly washed away. Check out the depth before you leap.
Download a copy of the CanyonTopo for Sharplin Falls
Lots of boulder hopping before R1 and lots of ‘false’ weeping walls before you find the (very obvious) weeping wall at R1.
Two downclimbs posed a challenge before R1 with either slippery rock leading into a pool of turbulant water, or a tight V slot with decent force from the water. Used a handline for both (last person down just coached through without a handline by previous people).
Pool at R2 was deep enough for a jump from the lower level after the abseil but probably not from the upper level (where the bolts are).
Generally lots of slippery rock and didymo spotted. A few handlines used to access anchors as a precaution.
Looking back at data, ECAN flow gauge for Bowyers Stream at Route 72 was 1.3m3/s.
https://www.ecan.govt.nz/data/riverflow/sitedetails/68822
All anchors in good condition (didn’t check R5 TL double bolts though).
Bowyer gauge at 1.9, water levels on the way down after rain the day before. Smaller jumps from lower ledges all good, still shallow in places. Great day out.
All anchors good (didn’t always check both sides when there was a route split/option though). Bowyers gauge ~2.8. There was a little cruxy V slot downclimb before the first abseil which was quite pushy/rocky in the flow, we used a handline off a boulder for that. Small jumps ok but big R2 jump not deep enough (for us at least).
CanyonSAR Canterbury team run through the canyon. All anchors in great condition. Flow at get-in 2.1cumecs. All jumps into the big main pool we missed as the gravel is once again too high and will need to clear. Jumps after the final rappel into the pool from the TL side are great. Good trip through – water temperature 10 degrees. Gloves were good!
Fun straightforward trip. All anchors were in good condition. Normal water flow and
A LOT of didymo/slim. None of the big Jumps are good to go yet.
Pretty cool canyon, we did a body belay out to one anchor TL. Didn’t do any traverse lines. Flow was moderate imo. Steep approach but well worth it.
ALOT of algae around making it super slippery! Prettymuch the whole way. It took away a bit of the fun making it a little challenging walking in places. Otherwise all anchors in good nick.
Sling for handline replaced behind tree above Cauldron, and sling on tree replaced above cauldron. Maintenance check on all anchors.
All jumps good, though shallower than usual.
Quick trip through. Water quality -very clean/clear.
Have donated my flipline sling to Canyon Gods at anchor on R4, which was looking a bit weathered. Otherwise, straightforward awesome trip. Some pools are deep enough to shallow-water jump from lower ledges at this point.
Canyon seems in good condition. Nothing hard and fun to climb around all the big boulders. All anchors were in good condition!
Felt rather different to the topo map, it seemed rather easy, we suspect it’s changed a bit after the flood last year (2021). All the jumps were filled in with gravel, but there was anchors at every point we wanted them.