Imp Grotto and Cross Creek (2 canyons in one day).

This is a fine day of intermediate level canyoning, for those that like action at a good pace with numerous jumps and slides.  It's a good option in Spring and Autumn when conditions can be cool, we stop for lunch to warm up and refuel, then get back into it.

Imp Grotto Canyon

A beautiful West Coast canyon. The 2hr drive through Mount Aspiring National Park is worth it given the immense beauty of this canyon. The abseils are high and the canyon is narrow with waterfalls that roar, it's a truly forgotten world! 

The trip begins with a steep walk up through the West Coast jungle, with loads of umbrella ferns and podocarp trees. It takes about 15-20 minutes. The abseils here are incredible and up to 40m (120') high, so you will need a good head for heights. The canyon is beautiful and has some truly incredible rock formations. There are also optional jumps from 3-12m (10-36'), smaller slides of 2-4m and some swims up to 10m (30') long.

You're usually in the canyon for 2-3 hours. You'll need a reasonable level of fitness and to be comfortable in the water. You don't need to have abseiled before, but you need to be comfortable with heights to do the 40m (120') abseil.

Lunch and warm up.

Continuing to Cross Creek Canyon in the afternoon, a moderately steep 20-30 minute walk through incredibly green New Zealand rainforest, with amazing Beech trees and sphagnum moss. 

Cross Creek best suits people who love the water and love jumping into it! There are loads of jumps from 3-9 meters (10-30’) These jumps are optional, but the best part of Cross Creek is all the jumping, so it really does best suit people who love to jump! There are also a few abseils (rappels) up to 11m (33’) high,  several slides of 2-4m (6-12’) and lots of swimming through amazing deep pools, up to 15m (45’) long. The relatively shallow canyon walls are beautiful grey schist, with amazing veins of quartz. The pools are deep green and incredibly beautiful. The canyon gets a lot of sun, which makes for amazing colours in the pools.