Imp Grotto is a beautiful canyon with some long abseils/rappels very beautiful and easy, located on the West Coast, a 2 hr drive from Wanaka, or 30 min from Haast township.

We travel up the lake, then over Haast Pass, through the Mt Aspiring National Park. It is a very scenic drive, with great views of forests, major rivers, glaciated mountains and lakes. It’s a great way to combine a scenic tour of that area with a canyoning adventure!

The trip begins with a steep walk up though west coast jungle, with loads of umbrella ferns and podocarp trees. It takes about 15-20 minutes.

Imp Grotto is a shorter canyon, but is a little more difficult and spectacular than the other

entry level trips.

• Between 2 and 4 Abseils (rappels) up to 40m (120’) high.

• The 40 meter abseil is absolutely incredible, but requires a good head for heights and good swimming ability.

• Up to 4 optional Jumps from 3-12 meters (10-36’)

• Some smaller slides of 2-4m (6-12’)

• Some swims up to 10m (30’) long.

The amazing canyon walls are deep, narrow and have incredible formations. The shapes of the rock in this canyon have to be seen to be believed.

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 40 m abseil.

High water flow / double guide rates may apply with consultation, usually early season, $400 per group.

Cross Creek

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 lots of sun in the middle of the day, which makes for amazing colours in the pools. 

You’re usually in the canyon for 3 hours.