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

Next up

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.

And soon we get to the “Julie Pool”

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

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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