Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → ⊗ Wilson Creek Canyon

  ⊗ Technical Route ⊗
♦ Intrepid Top Pick!

Warning: Do Not Attempt Without Proper Training – click here for details

Location: Haast Pass area, Otago, New Zealand

Time Required: 5 – 8 hours

Distance: 4.3 miles (0.6 miles technical)

Elevation Gain/Loss: 650 feet

Rappels: up to 9, lengths up to 17 m/50 ft

Jumps: Mandatory to 3m, optional to 10m

Red Tape/Notes: If you’re doing canyons in New Zealand, get a copy of Dan Clearwater’s guidebook Canyoning in New Zealand (available here and here). This is a swift water canyon (4C2 III /v4a5 III), with numerous water hazards even in normal flow. If you do not have whitewater canyoning skills, do not attempt this canyon on your own – instead book a trip through one of the local canyoning guide companies, like Deep Canyon. You will need a thick wetsuit (7mm) because the water is very cold. This canyon is currently didymo free – please keep it that way.

What’s Nearby?: Lake Alta and the Remarkables, Rob Roy Glacier Valley Track, Mt. Aspiring Packrafting, Robinson Creek Canyon, Cross Creek Canyon, Bendigo Ghost Town

Wilson Creek is a beautiful and incredibly fun canyon. The approach has you trekking up a steep hill through native forest with lots of pleasant little flat sections in between the steep bits – these flat sections are perfect for appreciating the vast quantities of moss and all the shades of green around you. A steep descent down the other side of the ridge adds a little spice to the start and then you’re off into the wonderland of the canyon, sliding, jumping, and rappelling in incredible blue water (if it’s cloudy the blue won’t be as breathtaking, but the canyon will still be really fun). Side note – several years ago when we were driving through Haast Pass, we photographed the exit of this canyon and said “it looks like there are some epic canyons through here. We should investigate and come back!” (the last pictures on the Haast Pass entry). Mission accomplished…now let’s do more!

Epic Travel → Asia & the South Pacific → New Zealand → Otago → ⊗ Wilson Creek Canyon