When you’re looking to explore the spots less-travelled, and find treasures tucked away in forests, a canyoning experience will tick your boxes. The various canyons around New Zealand are spectacular, deep crevices between rocky cliffs. Incredible clear water teems through these canyons with pools and waterfalls that make for great canyoning. Get geared up and swim, jump and rappel down these New Zealand canyons. Don’t just hike through the outdoors in New Zealand! Try your hand at canyoning with a guided canyoning experience in one of the beautiful places.
1. Gibbston Valley
Jump out of your comfort zone and into the cold waters of the Gibbston Valley Canyon. The scenery here will be a highlight. Your experience kicks off with a 10 minute walk into the canyon, and enjoy around 2 hours of jumping, sliding and floating through the beautiful freshwater. Canyoning New Zealand offer a half-day guided experience here, so you can dip your toes in without needing any canyoning experience. Not a bad detour from the wineries in Gibbston Valley!
2. Queenstown
When you’re seeking adrenaline-rushing adventure in Queenstown, canyoning in Queenstown Canyon will rock your world. Slide down rock slides and float through narrow passage ways. There’s even a canyon zipline! Don’t let the cold deter you. Full wetsuits are provided so you can jump and splash around. If you’re on the fence about giving canyoning a go, don’t let the promise of thrill and adventure put you off either. These half-day guided experiences are for a range of ability levels and the guides can help tailor the level of ‘challenge’ involved in your adventure. A love for being in the water and pushing yourself is all that’s required!
3. Sleeping God Canyon, Coromandel Peninsula
The Sleeping God Canyon offers the ultimate thrill-seekers canyoning experience, with a descent of over 300 meters. The vertical drop is loaded with waterfalls, ‘natures slides’ and deep pools for plenty of abseiling, sliding and cliff jumping. This canyoning experience is no easy feat and takes a keen person or group looking for a challenging adventure. Sleeping God Canyon is near Thames, in the Kauaeranga Valley. A chat about the area’s history sets the scene and allows you to grasp the beauty and rich history of the Coromandel, that you’re about to explore in depth! Though a warmer part of the country, you’ll still get rugged up for your day of adventure in the canyon.
4. Mount Aspiring National Park
If you’ve been you know, and if you haven’t been, you must. Mount Aspiring National Park is one of the best New Zealand National Parks, with a variety of natural wonders. Canyoning in Mount Aspiring includes moss-covered rock faces, plenty of greenery and amazing waterfalls for abseiling! This national park is a World Heritage Site, so enjoying a guided experience here can be a great way of ensuring your visiting the area in a responsible way. Get here from Queenstown or Wanaka with Canyoning New Zealand.
5. Abel Tasman National Park
Unlike many other New Zealand canyoning spots, Abel Tasman canyoning starts on a golden sand beach. Plus, the water is not completely freezing! Torrent River is a popular choice, with all the good stuff among beautiful granite and forest. Other spots in Abel Tasman include Blue Creek, Waterfall Creek and Falls River. The team at Abel Tasman Canyons have got it all covered for you.
Tempted to hang around? Check out our Top 6 Things to Do in Abel Tasman National Park.
6. Routeburn Canyon
The Routeburn Track is known to be an absolute paradise, with beautiful, rugged scenes at every turn. Did you know that you can escape past the track and into the valley to the Routeburn Canyon? Well, only on a guided tour, of course. Huge walls of stone and powerful waterfalls in this remote setting, make for a great full day experience. Venturing to places that are usually inaccessible is a truly incredible feeling. Another bonus – a guided Routeburn canyoning experience includes a scenic drive from Queenstown to Mount Aspiring National Park along the Glenorchy Road.
7. Wanaka
Deep Canyon run canyoning adventures in the beautiful Wanka. Naturally sculpted rock formations, moss-lined pools and incredible waterfalls, all bringing together some of the best canyoning in New Zealand. With options for beginners through to fanatics, canyoning here comes highly recommended. Committing to big jumps and rappelling down rumbling waterfalls, it’s a day of adventure like no other.
8. Piha Canyon
Piha, west of Auckland, is a popular surf and swimming spot. But have you ever tried canyoning in Piha? Abseiling down a rock face has to be the best way to explore this beach town. Piha canyon is tucked behind Piha beach. Waterfalls in this steep valley are plentiful. There’s even a cave to explore. AWOL Canyoning run a night canyoning experience, which is sure to be unforgettable. Are you convinced to ditch your spot on the beach and have a go at canyoning yet?!
Cover Image Credit: Canyon Explorers.
