places

Mathers

| flynny101

05/03/2026

Dave, Hywaida, Jason, Kylie, Kristo and me

We are not the fastest group out there and don’t intend to break speed record but we go alright. Even taking the time to soak in the experience and take 1001 photos our group of 6 had cruised through Robinson, Cross Creek, Wilsons, and Mill Creek well within the suggested timeframes so we weren’t expecting Mathers to be too big a day.

As it was, it turned into a bit of a mini epic.

No idea why, TBH.

We did have a couple of stuck ropes ( first one the figure 8 block flipped over and caught on the anchor ring) but they didn’t take us long to sort out.

Maybe in our complacency we spent a bit too much time enjoying the slides and jumps in the upper section.

The middle section seemed to go on for-fucking-ever…

End result we were well over the suggested time but still had an absolute blast.

In hindsight a 4th rope in a party of 6 would have made it a lot more efficient.

Anyhoo. This one is a little less descriptive than my usual write up (Most of these ones from NZ are mostly from it all being a blur of awesomeness)

We were frothing to get into it. Mathers was rumoured to be very pretty with lots of slide and jumps.

We make our way from the campground, along the Haast and up into Mathers creek.

The canyon ends at one of the prettiest waterfall Archways going.

It’s recently become a social media hot spot. I can see why

Unfortunately Haast river is infected with Didymo and the increasing crowds of influencers either don’t know or don’t care about cleaning it off their shoes before entering the side creeks. Sadly the pool below the Arch is showing signs of Rock Snot.

While we tried to avoid walking in the water you can pick up cells in the dirt along the banks so we had brought bottles of detergent and scrubbing brushes and paused here to SAY NO TO DIDYMO.

And then up we went.

more gorgeous colours
After an hour or so hauling up we gain the top of the creek and are pretty much straight into it
©Dave
There’s plenty of variety in Mathers. From more open sections like this. to negotiating the flow to deep slot sections

And lots of jumps and slides
and places to lounge around ©Dave
©Dave

And tricky traverses to hanging belays. This was one of our rope jams. Nothing obvious for it to catch on. thankfully a few attempts changing the angle of the dangle it came free
50m down climb?
©Kristo
Team work makes the dream work
©Hywaida
The Super Slaydies synchronised sending ©Kristo
Blurry photo of one of the infinite number of infinity pools in Mathers.

A missed slide opportunity?
So may beautiful pools to chill out in. No wonder we took bit of time

©Hywaida
dynamic duo ©Hywiada

and before we know it… Wait no, that’s not right, I mean eventually spent and almost over it we finally get back to the arch

Jason about to get pummelled in the Arch
Still smiling but ©Dave
Well some of us were smiling. I was hungry and spent ©Dave
Not bad views on the walk out

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On to Imp.

Wilsons Creek

| flynny101

02/03/2026

Jason, Kristo, Hywaida, Kylie and meeeeeee

Woot Woot.

This was the one I was really looking forward to.

Spoiler alert: It didn’t disappoint.

Rated as an A5 in the Kiwi Canyoning guidebook and website a land slide in recent years has resulted in some of the pools silting up a bit. The Hydraulics are still there and you have to know how to avoid/deal with them but they’re possibly not as hectic as they once were. Coupled with stunningly good weather it may have been on the easier end of A4 but I think A4 is still fair.

Of course that silting up has also affected the jumpability of the pools too.

Anyhoo I get ahead of myself.

We had had (hadhad had, had) a lot of fun yesterday in Robinson and Cross Creek, the team had just clicked and was working together with barely the need for verbal communication (Other than jokes and taking the piss) so we were really looking forward to today.

Wilsons Creek has an almost mythical status as the quintessential Haast Pass canyon. Last year, on a road trip in the depths of winter Kylie and I had stuck our noses up the exit chamber and were blown away by the beauty. Finally we were back to do it from the top.

The entry track goes up, and up and up (over 9000! (not really)) then we descend the landslide of certain death to cross a side creek. Then it’s down, down, down a steep razor ridge between the side creek and the Wilsons. At times I wondering if we should be using a rope, or a parachute, but it goes easy enough.

And finally we arrive at the top of the canyon.

Nervous excitement.

Grins.

We suit up.

eat eggs.

and get into it

Jason sets the first anchor.

I head on in

Looking back up to the start of the canyon. Already it’s an awe-inspiring place to be.
Kylie and Hywaida all smiles

Next up

Hywaida on rope
©Kristo

And soon we get to our first hydraulic challenge, the roundy roundy pool.

With the dry weather it’s not pumping too hard but you can still see it would be an issue if you drop into the wrong spot.

The advice is to jump over the swirl, problem is with the silting up of pools we don’t know how deep it is for a safe jump.

Kristo set the rope. Jason lead the way, abseiling part way down before making the leap,

He makes it look simple.

The rest of us follow.

Kristo mid leap
Beautiful, deep schist
You can’t put into words just how insignificant you become when emerged in a place of this grandeur
beauty and power

And soon we get to the “Julie Pool”

Hywaida and Jason showing how it’s done.

Being a little taller is definitely an advantage for bridging out across this one

cheeky monkeys

Next up is the boil. Jason set the rope and I head on down.

I’d watched the Coalition of American Canyoneers video that discusses this hydraulic (16.11 mark) and it wasn’t looking anywhere near as nasty, but still I aimed for their suggested line and dove out with Leo’s voice ringing in my head “Now Swim hard!”

Once again, at these water levels it was fairly straight forward and everyone got across no worries. Still no one got a photo…

It’s then through Star War alley, a truely beautiful section of canyon, before 1 more tricky traverse line to the final abseil.

And then it’s on to battle the tourists in the exit chamber.

all in all an amazing experience with a great team.

more photos below. Click to enlarge them

Mine

Kylie’s

Hywiada’s

Surround yourself with awesome people. Experience Awesome things.

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