20m max pitch (at least 1x60m recommended for ease of retrieval)

3hrs round trip with two helicopter rides, or 11.5hrs….

Public access.

Solitude Creek is a fun canyon with Haast Pass vibes. It has 8 straightforward rappels ending in big deep pools – many of which can be jumped. A unique feature is The Lonely Siphon (a benign siphon in normal conditions) that swallows the entire flow under a rock bridge.

The canyon’s proximity to commercial helicopter transport makes it a great option for a first heli-canyon trip!

First descent: Linden Brown, Rata Lovell-Smith and Phil Palzer. The canyon was used mostly by kayakers for a few years before it was bolted and documented as a canyoning route in 2026.

First bolted descent: Alex Motyka, Alex Thexton, Christian Miller, Harry Day, Hereward Cooper, Joseph Cruikshank, Michael Banyi, Sarah-Jane Petts. January 2026.

Thanks to Phil for inviting a canyon team to bolt it up during the Hokitika Festival 2026, and to Alex, Christian and the bolting crew for pictures and topo

Heli canyoning advice

• Contact the Heli company a couple of days in advance if possible – they’ll have other bookings to fit around you.
• Have a method of contacting them for pickup either a pre-determined time, or via Inreach/Sat texting.
• Come prepared to walk out (head torches, extra food etc) – on the coast it is common for cloud to build during the day. Although the terrain is fairly low and likely to be passable by the heli, if it gets drizzly and the cloud base lowers, you might find the heli can’t come and get you.
• Listen carefully to the safety briefings and don’t rush – you’ll agree to a price and pay for that – so there’s no pressure to do things ‘fast’ to save money or time. Do it extra slowly, do it safely.
• Have fun 🙂