Sharplin Falls v3a3III*

Highest drop 25m

Public access

3.5-4.5hrs

Interesting route finding through a boulder-choked gorge. One short beautiful narrows section.

The lower part of the canyon has had the boardwalk removed after being destroyed by rocks. So now, after the last waterfall, you head down the stream to gain the new Sharplin Falls track on the true left at a new bridge. Stay on the new track until the next (downstream) bridge. Get back into the stream and continue until you reach the Dukes Knob track 2 minutes before the car park.

The canyon is extended further so it has 6 pitches and is well worth the visit.

Note: after the May 2021 floods, the pools in the CanyonTopo are not yet deep enough to jump (just yet). The gravel is being slowly washed away. Check out the depth before you leap.

Download a copy of the CanyonTopo for Sharplin Falls


8 Trip reports Log your trip

  1. nola collie says:

    CanyonSAR Canterbury team run through the canyon. All anchors in great condition. Flow at get-in 2.1cumecs. All jumps into the big main pool we missed as the gravel is once again too high and will need to clear. Jumps after the final rappel into the pool from the TL side are great. Good trip through – water temperature 10 degrees. Gloves were good!

    • Date -02/11/2024
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -All in good condition
    • Group size -5
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -1/3/5
  2. Ben Fletcher says:

    Fun straightforward trip. All anchors were in good condition. Normal water flow and
    A LOT of didymo/slim. None of the big Jumps are good to go yet.

    • Date -19/10/24
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -All in good condition
    • Group size -2
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -1/3/0.5
  3. AdamB says:

    Pretty cool canyon, we did a body belay out to one anchor TL. Didn’t do any traverse lines. Flow was moderate imo. Steep approach but well worth it.

    • Date -2/13/24
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -All in good condition
    • Group size -2
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -1.5hr/2hr/ .5hr
  4. Nick says:

    ALOT of algae around making it super slippery! Prettymuch the whole way. It took away a bit of the fun making it a little challenging walking in places. Otherwise all anchors in good nick.

    • Date -4/2/24
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -All in good condition
    • Group size -2
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -3
  5. nola collie says:

    Sling for handline replaced behind tree above Cauldron, and sling on tree replaced above cauldron. Maintenance check on all anchors.
    All jumps good, though shallower than usual.
    Quick trip through. Water quality -very clean/clear.

    • Date -03/01/2024
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -we did some repairs
    • Group size -4
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -1/3/5
  6. Olivia T says:

    Have donated my flipline sling to Canyon Gods at anchor on R4, which was looking a bit weathered. Otherwise, straightforward awesome trip. Some pools are deep enough to shallow-water jump from lower ledges at this point.

    • Date -14/12/2023
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -we did some repairs
    • Group size -2
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -45min/4hrs/15min
  7. Erwan says:

    Canyon seems in good condition. Nothing hard and fun to climb around all the big boulders. All anchors were in good condition!

    • Date -4-4-2023
    • Water level -normal
    • Anchor conditions -All in good condition
    • Group size -2
    • Time: approach/descent/return (eg: 1hr/4hrs/3mins) -1 HR / 2 HR / 10 min
  8. William Talbot says:

    Felt rather different to the topo map, it seemed rather easy, we suspect it’s changed a bit after the flood last year (2021). All the jumps were filled in with gravel, but there was anchors at every point we wanted them.

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