Excellent canyon for the novice canyoneer who wants to do a big waterfall!
Tag: Fiordland
Pīwakawaka falls canyon v3a2II**
A steep, sustained series of absiels with beautiful pools and generally lower flows. | Tutoko valley
Waterfall Creek v5a3III**
Vertical canyons with beautiful drops. Eglinton Valley
Dragon’s Den v5a4IV***
3-star, high flow canyon with 10 abseils up to 80 meters height. Dragon’s Den follows a medium to high volume stream through two technical crux sections which give the canyon it’s grade. The highlight is the spectacular 80m waterfall with a grand view across the Pyke river valley. First descent: Dutch Canyoning Expedition 08 &…
Alabaster Creek v4a4II**
Alabaster Canyon is a beautiful, cosy canyon. With just 220 meters altitude difference and a 1-hour hike in from the camp spot it’s a beautiful canyon in Fiordland, the combination of enclosed waterfalls with green covered moss. The first 120 meters of altitude hides about 13 beautiful smaller abseils that are technical and playful. The…
Swan Creek v4a2IV*
Swan creek has an open and sunny character. one of the easier descents in the Pyke Valley
1 Creek v3a2II
First descent: Dave Vass, Tristran (?), Alain Rohr 2007 Approach, steep on the true right. “We didn’t descend the last waterfall, because it was more than 60m high, and overhung” Apparently they exited the canyon via a heinously steep and loose escape… Bring a bigger rope if you’re going to finish this one off… Alain…
Knobs Flat Creek v4a2III
First descent, Alain Rohr and Antoine Chabanais 2005 Approach, true left, steep, to roughly 700m contour Some nice absiels, with a good level of water. Descent notes found in the depths of Dan’s hard drive… Park at the camp ground cross the river and the swampy flats.. make for the canyon Can see the final…
28 Birthday Creek v3a2III
First descent, Alain Rohr & Antoine Chabanais 2005 Approach, true left to around 800m contour, steep! Lots of absiels, with a good level of water.
1063 peak stream
Nearly no water, overgrown and we could see 1 waterfall of 30 meters but barely any water. Checked by the Dutch Canyoning exped 2025
Kakapo Canyon v5a3IV***
2x60m | 9-10hrs return | Public access
Tutoko Valley, Fiordland
Humboldt Creek v5a5IV**
Aquatic canyoning then big wall exit over the 4 leaps of Humboldt Falls (275m)
Swamp Creek v5a5VI***
Partially explored high volume serpentine canyon in the Hollford Valley
Chasm Creek v6a5VII***
80m max drop 4-6 days round trip, including an 8 pitch climbing approach and a bivvy in the canyon More images and info to come…. Chasm creek in Fiordland first descent a gorgeous deep gorge section and some beautiful open waterfalls after the gorge section as well! . The approach for this canyon went by…
Whio Creek Canyon v4a4III***
20m (2×30) | 7h15m | Public access
Jumps and slides through enchained granite potholes, not far from Milford Sound
Little Humboldt Creek v5a3III**
3x60m | 8hrs | Public access.
Nice short canyon then a 265m bigwall finish.
Canyon Creek v5a3IV**
2x80m | Full day | Public Access
A high-quality remote canyon accessed by boat accross Lake Te Anau
St Pauls Canyon v4a3III*
60m| Half day | Public Access
Awe Burn Valley, Lake Manapouri
About 10 pitches in relatively low flows
Giant Gate Falls v5a5III**
Access up the true right, to a short but spectacular canyon on the edge of the Milford Track. A large catchment, very high rainfall an extremely deep canyon make this a very very serious proposition. Giants Gate Topo – quick notes Start @ 200m contour at mouth of canyon 5m DC on TR to shallow…
Melita Stream v5a4III**
Best approached by kayak across Lake Gunn, walking around is not recommended due to thick forest and swampy ground. Access on the TR. Lots of absiels in powerful flows. Extremely hard rock: serpentine and diorite, so if you’re taking a drill, (which you should) take plenty of spare drill bits and extra batteries!!! First descent…
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
Scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Unnamed stream
scouted by Joe Budgen, nothing of interest
Falls Creek v5a5IV***
80m (25+55m)
Public access
Very high volume Slot Canyon, with an 80m entrance drop into a cauldron, with spray so feirce you might consider wearing goggles. Also a “black hole” (torches not needed) about halfway through.
Smithy Creek
Just from the look on the Topomap. One very large waterfall seen in Google Earth, location correlates to a very steep section seen on topomap. Looks open, bouldery below the major drop, can’t seen in above it. Very large catchment. Probably very committing. Public Access from highway Download research sheet Smithy Creek
Murcott Burn
Looks interesting on Topo. Good track access. On google earth, one major open fall seen at first major steep section. Looks like there is a bit of debris below the marked slip. Lower section below the forks could be interesting… Public access Download research sheet for Murcott Burn
Pass Creek
Just the look on the Topo and the ease of access. Alain R says he saw something ‘interesting’ from a scenic flight over the stream.. “pass creek is done. i did it with sott,jeff and a french boy. you don’t need a rope there. it’s nice about all the different kind of rock you pass….
Frenchy Cascade Creek v4a2III
From Alain Rohr. Access: 1h30 to walk up on the TR (very steep at the beginning.) Drop into canyon via slippery downclimbs and gravel Descent: 3hrs Description: DC6m,DC3m,DC7m,R1:10m,R2:50m(nice),R3:12m,R4:23m. Classic section at the end. Download research sheet Frenchy Cascade Ck