45m pitch for R6/7 combined (or 30m pitch for R6)

Public access

9.5-10.5hrs

2.15 hrs walk in / 6-7 hrs in the canyon / 1.15hrs walkout

This canyon is a river and should ideally descend in low flow as a canyon. As a guide, the Waimak – Below Otarama – was running under 50 cumecs on the ECAN website. The major jumping pools had little to no recirculations.

Have a strong team used to swimming in a river and extra sling just in case you need to build an anchor.

Follow the Edwards Hut Track until you are at the top of the canyon and can see the hut.

It has 8-9 pitches (several of which are jumpable) but lots of interesting bouldering, downclimbs, smaller jumps, and mandatory swims. Additional bolt anchors were installed in January 2024 and February 2025, and all abseil bolt anchors now have two bolts.

A few hydraulic features are easily avoided, but a slip while climbing or traversing could get you in trouble. Belays are recommended for the lead canyoner for these sections and for accessing some anchors.

The only sequence feature is the large siphon at R2. Climb onto the TL to a single bolt for a belay and climb 8m to the anchor. Rap into a flat pool with 15m of rope out and swim with the flow around the corner, exiting on the left at the top of a 7m drop. Pull the rope from there, then downclimb/jump the waterfall.

If it all gets too much at any point, there are multiple escapes on the true left back to the track, but in reality, these would be long and steep. There are many swims and floats, so be prepared to be in the water for much of the time. The canyon is very COLD (even on a mid-summer day), so bring your thick wetsuit 5mm plus layers.

First kayak descent October 2012.

Equipped by Tom Johns & John Harris February 2020.

Topo by Grant Prattley & Nola Collie 2024 – it’s uploaded as an image in the Photos below.