THE ROUTEBURN CANYON
06/10/2015
Routeburn Canyon: canyoning in a world heritage area. The routeburn canyon is one of our full day canyoning options. The trip begins with a stunning drive down Lake Wakatipu, through Glenorchy, and up the Dart River Valley. Views of the lake, Mount Earnslaw, and Mt Aspiring national park abound. Then a hike along the famous Routeburn Track brings you to the start of the canyon. The sound of rushing water rises slowly from the forest, signaling that adventure is near. As you come round the last bend, sapphire blue water cascading down slate grey rocks pops out against the lush temperate rainforest. You look down into the canyon and wonder, 'How are we going to get down this thing?'
After the safety talk, a quick hike up the canyon for a surprise slide starts things off. The guide helps you into position and sends you on your way. A splash into the refreshing water gets things moving. Back to the bridge, and another slide off the big rock drops you into the canyon proper. Scramble over the rocks, and your first abseil awaits you around the next corner. More scrambling and its time for a practise jump. Stick the landing, its only waist deep! The ba-dunk-a-dunk slide comes next, this one a bit more technical with a twist and a turn. Cable falls awaits immediately after, and this is where the practise jump pays off. Then a technical scramble brings you to the top of our guided abseil.
The guided abseil is a cross between a zipline and an abseil where you control the speed and the guide rope controls your descent angle. At the bottom, you are greeted by a guide and a cheeky slide off a waterfall. Another climb up and around the pool and you have a 4 meter jump. Next up is an exciting double drop. A guided slide down a churning tunnel of water lands you in a moving pool where you have to swim to the guide and pull yourself out with the help of a rope. Then a leap over a fast flowing spout of water has you landing in between rocks and boiling whitewater. WHEW, we're ready for the last bit of canyon.
The cauldron is the affectionate name given to the last bit of canyon, a big double drop with two abseils. You start with a technical scramble to the first drop. You are abseiled down and then dropped into the cauldron. This pool has water crashing down from above and behind you, flowing through the cauldron itself, and a cascading down a waterfall in front of you. No time to relax as you look for the line across the exit that is your staging point for the next abseil. Arms over the blue tape, legs underneath. The guide clips you in and you make you way to the bottom of the waterfall. What a trip! You may be out of the canyon, but you're not done yet! A zipline over the water is your last bit of excitement before the hike out back to the van, and lunch. If that all sounds like fun, then come on out and join us!
