Phoebe Canyon, West Matukituki Valley

Nic and I were feeling a little water-logged from the full conditions up near the divide, so we retreated to Wanaka hoping for slightly drier canyons.

After some ringing around for info and permisison seeking, we started off on a trip to Phoebe Canyon.

The walk in was a reasonably steep scramble, but without too many 'uncontrolled dirt slides' we made it into the stream.

The canyon began very abruptly just a little way downstream and we were immeadiately committed to this deep, steep and dark canyon.

There were some good bolts and some sketchy bolts, plus a few pitches with no bolts. Though we had our hand drill kit prepared, there was always just enough to rig from during the descent.

Despite seeming like less water, the steep vertical character of the canyon made for some impressive rappels and water features. On most pitches the view from the top was very intimidating, but during the pitch you only got blasted for a short few meters. The water usually shot out from the wall at some point, allowing you to sneak under and descend without getting pummelled. There were still plenty of hydraulics at the base of the falls, requiring some careful rope management and hard swimming.

After 6 hrs and about 12 drops to 35m, we completed the trip. Pleased to be done, but very glad to have visited.

Nic scrambling out from a little 'cave' caused by rockfall

Phoebe is deep, dark and pretty cold...

Nic manages to rap away from the water on this pitch

Dodging the harsh water jet

Inspecting 'the mother of all slides'

Entering the subterranean section

A log jam not too far from the end

Wilsons Canyon

A return to a Haast Pass classic.

Today Nic and I went through Wilson's. It was nice to visit a known canyon after yesterday's adventure.

There was a fair bit of water still around, making for a few dangerous hydraulics, but most of the trip was uneventful with a bit of care.

All the anchors were in good condition, though many of the 'jump' pools were so silted up that they weren't even swims any more.. a few new logs and a few new boulders show you how quickly canyons can change....

We managed to stick a rope near the end of the trip, resulting in some jumaring for Nick, but other than that it was a very beautiful and enjoyable trip.

Nic at the start of Wilsons Canyon

Through the darkness

Deep in Wilson's

Nic jugs to free a stuck rope

Exploring a 'new' rock

Time for a shower

Mather Canyon, Haast Pass

With High water raging everywhere in the Haast Canyons, it seemed like a perfect time for a first descent.. :(

Chucky, Jethro and Nic cruised up into Mather stream to go check out the canyon. We'd spied the canyon exit (including a huge natural arch) that looked awesome, but knew the water was far too high for a proper descent.

In the upper stream we rapped and jumped our way through the U shaped gorge, but when the stream turned into proper slot canyon, we had to make a brave retreat. Twice we climbed up and over the canyon sections. Jethro made some great leads up overhanging dirt...

Definately worth coming back with a power drill on a low water day..

Finally in the canyon after 2hrs bush bashing

Plenty of water in the U shape section

Some great pools for jumping

And still plenty of water..

Jethro and Nic contemplate the entry to the 1st Slot section

Nic up climbing to start our 1st escape maneuver..

A nice side feature away from the main flow

The float down the Haast River to Pleasant flat

was a nice mellow way to end the adventure

Pudding Hill Stream

After a lacklustre morning at Mt Peel, Grant and I decided to flesh out the day with a recce of Pudding Hill Stream.

We parked at Scott Saddle, descended the track then strolled upstream. To our amazement, there was a full on horizontal canyon section. We upclimbed everything, staying relatively dry, but there were plenty of wet options. The canyon was non technical but very beautiful. Could be a worthwhile day trip from Mt Hutt Skifield and out to Scott Saddle..

Descending from Scott saddle

Grant enters the canyon

Through the dark section

Exiting back downstream

Rata Stream, Mt Peel

Grant and I went for a little looksee into Rata Stream to figure if there might be another canyon worth visiting..

After some steep walking on a track and equally steep bush bash descent, we made an un eventful descent of the stream. There were two drop that we absieled, but with lots of scrub, not much water and no canyon, the trip wasn't worth repeating. Still, it was a fun wander...

Grant 0, Bush lawyer 1

Grant scrambles through loose rock and scrub

Chucky on the first drop


Rata Falls

Waitaki Valley Adventures

After being dismissed from the Mt Cook area by poop weather, we retreated to the Waitaki Valley for some little adventures on the way back to Timaru.

Benmore Peninsula Walk

Blue Glacial fed waters of Lake Benmore

Chucky scrambles around on the 'Deep Stream' walk


Visiting 'Elephant Rocks' near Duntroon

Twin Stream Heli Hike

Thumbed a ride in a Squirrell from Glentanner up to the Twin stream crag, Ben Ohau range. It was a great 5 min flight in, followed by a 4 hour stroll back down to the road. Thankfully the weather here was much nicer than up the road at Mt Cook!

Pip and the Squirrel

The Twin Stream Crag

Strolling through mid valley towards Lake Pukaki

Negotiating the lower Matagouri terraces of Glentanner Station

Upper Tui Canyon

The weather was still terrible in the divide, but sweet on the foothills. We'd wondered if there was any canyon above the section that we'd found, so had a good excuse for a short extra scouting mission.

Toine and I walked further upstream above the first bridge and scrambled down a side creek to enter Glentui stream. Here it was very small and very un-canyon like. However about five minutes below the bridge, it began to get promising. To our delight, a small drop with small (2-3m) gorge walls had us stopping to put on wetsuits. We slid and jumped this 3 meter fall and hoped there would be a few more obstacles.The stream was slightly canyoniferous but within 5 minutes we'd arrived at the normal start to the trip.

It was good fun descending the rest of the canyon again, finding a few new places to jump from and slide. Toine suggested one slide that looked rather tenuous to me, but he rapped, checked and jugged the drop before announcing 'lets do it!'. Toine slid the drop and the smile on his face told me it was all good... After my turn, he tried to slide another way, managing to smash into one of the rock walls and leave a 'shunt' imprint on his hip! (Ouch).

Still a great canyon, but still only a short one..

The 'new' slide

On R1

Toine checks out the pool depth

Sharplin Falls, Mt Sommers

The weather was really terrible, so we decided to return to a previous Canyon. Whilst the rain poured down on the divide, we sneaked in a great day of canyoning through Bowyers stream

Rain in the mountains, sunshine on the plains..

Toine enters the gorge

Passage sous blocs

The weeping wall

Beautiful rainbows in the canyon

Tui Canyon, Mt Richardson

Toine was really keen to check out this canyon, so suggested a quick trip through after work on Tuesday.
With knowledge of the canyon, we just had a rope, torches and first aid gear to carry in one small pack. We suited up at the carpark, then strolled the 7 minutes to the start. We were a little tempted to have a look further upstream, but as we had minimal gear thought we’d just do the known section. There was more water than a few weeks ago, which made the Abseils more interesting.

Toine was really impressed by this little canyon. It really is a great trip to introduce people to canyoning with. Nice and close to town, easy to access, short and fun.

Chucky on R2

More water = more fun

Toine got ANGER


Tree wrestling

Nice narrows