Tag: Aspiring

The General v5a3VI****

One of the most committing, sustained and narrow canyons in NZ. 44 pitches, super solid dark schist, deep, narrow, sustained. Don’t forget the “Slot of Doom”, with a handline to access 3 pitches (one including a deviation) on a 45m drop. If it had jumps it might be a 5 star canyon…

Robinson Creek v4a3II***

25m (2x30m)
2.5-3 hrs
Public access

A relatively short canyon, with a more open upper section with pools, jumps and swims. Then the canyon closes in for several drops, including a very impressive pitch into a giant cavern.

Eagles Nest – alternative start v4a3V***

The character is the same as the classic Eagles Nest. No added difficulties are encountered in this alternative entrance route. Anchors: 10mm ss wedge bolts and hangers and 5 mm dyneema with Tebylon half ring Longest abseil in this bit 35 m, but eagle’s nest is advised to take 2*60m rope First descent: Dutch Canyoning…

Alzheimers v4a2III

see page 442 of the guidebook

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

Mather Creek v4a4III***

27m
6-7hrs
Public access

Plenty of variety: high jumps, low technical jumps, perfect slides, back to back absiels and beautiful narrows.

Boulder dash v2a3II

Mostly downclimbing and a couple of abseils. Zero Stars.. First Decent : early 2025, Dutch Canyoning Expedition – Erik Birkhoff, Erwan Coq, Pepijn Hoeksema, Bas Hetterscheid, Britt Joosten, Bram de Vries.

McBride Burn

Not really a canyon – descended by a Wanaka CanyonSAR team in February 2023 as part of a search and rescue operation for a missing hunter. Photos courtesy Patrick Timm

Margaret Burn v5a5III***

High volume, glacier fed and mostly underground… Dart Valley, Aspiring National Park.

de Havilland drop v4a2II

Descended during a search and rescue exercise. Not worth repeating.

Powder Flask Canyon v5a3IV***

45m | 6.5-10.5hrs | Public access
Makarora Valley, Aspiring

Low water, beautiful rock & pools with lots of jumps. Exit via high flow Fish River.

Fish River v4a5IV***

15m | 4.5-6hrs| Public access
Makarora Valley, Aspiring

“Wilson Creek on Steroids” Narrow, high flow, deep, committing, dangerous and beautiful.

Eagle’s Nest v4a3V***

35m (2x60m) | 14hrs | Public
Over 40 raps, continuous canyon, huge day!
Dart Valley, Otago

Logjam Canyon v3a2III*

30m | Public access
Worth doing the lower section for a short/rest day
Hunter Valley, Otago

Pegasus Canyon v4a3III**

40m | 6hrs | Public access
Hunter Valley, Otago

Big 60 Canyon v5a4III***

55m | 7hrs | Helicopter to Forbes Hut

Another 3 start gem in the Hunter Valley, Otago

Imp Grotto v4a3II***

40m (2x45m)
2.5 hrs
Public access

Imp Grotto is a very short, but spectacular canyon, with a little bit of everything. The access is quick and easy, providing excellent rewards for minimal effort.

Wilson Creek v4a5IV***

17m (2x40m) | 4-8 hrs | Public access

Haast Pass, Aspiring NP

Very deep schist slot canyon with many beautiful turquoise pools and significant flow. A serious undertaking in anything but very low water conditions.

Cross Creek v3a2II***

22m (2x25m) | 1-4 hrs | Public Access.

One of the most fun canyons in NZ. Beautiful slides, jumps and rappels in very cold water.

Makarora Gorge v4 a5 or a6

Massive water gorging.. one 30m pitch. Yet to receive a canyoning descent.

Cameron Creek v4, a5 or a6

Big water with a couple of huge drops. More of a gorge than a canyon, yet to receive a canyoning descent.

Makarora Valley, Aspiring

Captain Chaos v4a2III*

60m
Lowflow river with some cool (but not continous) canyon sections.
Dart Valley, Otago

Templeton Creek

Apparently explored by locals: Nothing down low. Looks good up high but too far to be bothered walking up..

Ithsmus Peak Canyons

There appear to be 3 canyons coming off Isthmus Pk and into Lake Wanaka – accessible only by boat. Have good shape, canyon exits similar to Camp ck and Waterfall Ck just to north. However the rosehip and bracken make the approaches too formidable many.

Hester Pinney Waterfall v3a4IV**

26m
8-10h
Public access

Highlights are the enchained potholes with technical jumping. A slightly longer approach to a long, varied and low-flow canyon with scenic views towards Mt Aspiring.

Boundary Creek

Some canyon features and lots of swimming. Worth more visits to figure out where the goods are.

Lake Wanaka, Aspiring

Bay Burn

Apparently its been checked out by locals, who say they found nothing of interest. No idea how high they started though. No photos available.

Estuary Burn

Apparently its been checked out by locals, who say they found nothing of interest. No idea how high they started though. No photos available.

Bells Creek

Apparently its been checked out by locals, who say they found nothing of interest. No idea how high they started though. No photos available.

Raspberry Creek

Apparently this has been done a fair few times, and regarded as ‘not bad, although a bit dirty’. The canyon is on Mt Aspiring station, so permission is required for access. Plenty of other better canyons in the area; this record is mostly for historical recording purposes.

Lodge Creek

Not an official name, just close to the ‘Lodge’ on the Topo map. Apparently its been checked out by locals, and it was apparently an ok canyon, but it got hit by a slip in the 90’s which ruined it. Who knows, it might have cleared out by now… Surrounded by private farmland, see WAMS website for…

Macpherson Creek

Apparently its been checked out by locals, who say they found nothing of interest. No idea how high they started though. No photos available. Surrounded by private farmland, see WAMS website for details.

Bent Burn

Apparently its been checked out by locals, who called it ‘blocky’ (ie, lots of big blocks in the river bed, not really a canyon). No idea how high they started though. Surrounded by private farmland. Check out the WAMS website to see the public walking access options. No photos available.

Siberia Hut Canyon

Has been descended a fair few times, ends in the ‘swimming hole’ of Siberia Hut, so you can expect some observers when you arrive. No info on the canyon, but from the valley you can see a bunch of stacked waterfalls… I’d be taking a drill and at least 2x60m ropes and a staunch bushbashing…