Abel Tasman Canyons
Waterfall Creek
My motto has always been "Go big or go home". So in this case, I dragged my uncle and cousin with me on the most intense canyoning trip there is in the Abel Tasman area. I had heard so many great things about canyoning, so I was stoked to try it! They weren't too keen at first, but they came out of the trip loving it.
I'll keep it fairly short and simple. I definitely recommend it to anyone that plans on visiting New Zealand. I'd say it's a must do. So I won't ruin too much for you, I'll let you experience it for yourself :)
The view out there is absolutely phenomenal. For those of you that don't know, I'm slightly obsessed with waterfalls, and they're EVERYWHERE. I'd say that this area was the most beautiful part of the Abel Tasman National Park that I've seen. I'm so glad that we went on this trip, otherwise I would have really been missing out on this country's beauty.
Mark and Lee were awesome guides. On top of making sure all the bases were covered, they made sure that everyone had a great time. Being 62, my uncle is the oldest person to ever have gone on the Waterfall Creek canyoning trip. This was his first time doing something like this, so I'd say it was a little out of his comfort zone. Mark and Lee were very patient and reassuring. Mark is also quite good at making hot dogs, lol. We were well-fed the entire trip, and even came back to amazing hot dogs and beer... can you ask for any more than that!?
One of my favorite aspects of this trip is doing everything on your own. The guides are there to provide instruction and ensure safety, but otherwise, you do all of the work. I'd say it's a very personalized trip, and the trip is what you make it.
I really enjoyed that some parts of the trip pushed me out of my comfort zone, trying new things and being in such a vastly beautiful environment. There were quite a few technical abseils and slides involved, and it they were wicked.
The hike out to the canyon is quite a cumbersome one, and it's not for the faint of heart, but it is so worth it. It's in a fairly remote area, so it's about an hour and a half drive from Motueka, and from the car park, it's an hour and a half hike to the start point of the trip. The trail goes through bush, swamp, hills, and fallen trees. Actually a really awesome hike if you're into hiking!
Excuse my noob video......
