Full-Day Routeburn Canyoning Adventure from Queenstown

Go beyond the famous Routeburn Track and plunge into a wild canyon hidden deep within one of New Zealand’s most spectacular wilderness landscapes. Canyon Explorers is the only canyoning operator permitted to operate in the Routeburn Valley, giving you access to a remote part of Mount Aspiring National Park that most visitors never experience. Walk through native forest along part of the world-renowned Routeburn Track before descending into a canyon within the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Te Wāhipounamu area. This is a challenging canyoning adventure, with higher jumps and abseils, crystal-clear pools, waterfalls, ziplines, natural slides and narrow rock passageways. Two experienced guides lead every trip, providing expert instruction and support throughout the experience. A percentage of every trip also supports the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust and its work protecting vulnerable native wildlife.

Travel from Queenstown into the spectacular Routeburn Valley for a full-day canyoning adventure in one of New Zealand’s most dramatic wilderness settings. After checking in at the Canyon Explorers base in central Queenstown, you’ll travel to our canyoning base to be fitted with specialist equipment. Then enjoy a scenic drive along Lake Wakatipu, through Glenorchy and into Mount Aspiring National Park. From the Routeburn Valley, walk approximately 25 minutes through native forest along part of the world-famous Routeburn Track to reach the canyon. Once inside, abseil beside waterfalls, leap into crystal-clear pools, zipline above native bush, squeeze through narrow passageways and slide down natural rock chutes. Your experienced guides will lead you through each challenge while you explore this remote alpine environment. After the canyon, relax in the Routeburn Valley with a picnic lunch and hot drinks before returning to Queenstown. This is a physically demanding adventure suited to guests with a high level of fitness and confidence in deep water. The minimum age is 15, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.