Full Day Routeburn Canyoning Adventure From Queenstown

Fantastic trip! Like being in mother natures water park. Super chill and friendly guides, Dan & Oscar. Incredible scenery. Time flew by we were having so much fun!

I had the absolute best time canyoneering with Canyon Explorers in New Zealand! From start to finish, this experience was nothing short of amazing. The guides were not only highly skilled and knowledgeable but also incredibly friendly, supportive, and fun. They made sure everyone felt safe while still encouraging us to push our limits and enjoy every thrilling moment. The scenery was breathtaking—stunning waterfalls, crystal-clear pools, and rugged cliffs that made every jump, slide, and rappel even more exciting. The equipment was top-notch, and the entire experience was well-organized and seamless. Whether you’re a beginner or an adrenaline junkie, this adventure is a must-do! A huge shoutout to the entire team for making this an unforgettable experience. If you’re looking for an epic adventure in New Zealand, look no further than Canyon Explorers—you won’t regret it!

This experience exceeded any expectations we may have had. The guide Hidde and Jay were fantastic. Professional, kind, helpful and encouraging. The best experience on a group adventure we have ever had. Thanks again

This was a great trip in a beautiful setting. I cannot compare it to the half-day, but the Routeburn valley is stunning and worth the extra time. Safety was a priority, to be sure, but there were still some challenges and stepping out of comfort zones (which is a very good thing!). Simply put, Dawson and Oscar were professionals. I was worried we would be cold, but the gear and the hot drinks helped immensely. My wife absolutely loved this trip. This was our first time doing canyoning (although we have rappelled and done Via Ferrata), so if you are ultra experienced, this may be a bit more of an introduction to the sport. But overall, very well done. A minor criticism: the drive to the valley is excellent, but the van's obscured windows took away from it for about half the guests. It may be wise to get some unobscured windows so the drive (which is not insignificant) feels a bit more enjoyable.

Absolutely fantastic experience. The guides were amazing; made us feel comfortable, safe and were extremely lovely to chat to. It was made to feel easy without compromising on the fun. Thoroughly enjoyable experience and would recommend to anyone. Thank you guys!

As it was our first time canyoning, we were a bit nervous going in, but our instructive and supportive guides made the experience well worth it. The full day canyoning adventure in Routeburn Valley was truly an experience of a lifetime. The scenery was breathtaking. Our guides, Lorna and Oscar, were spectacular. They had the perfect balance - warm, friendly, instructive, and encouraging. They prioritized safety and made everyone feel comfortable pushing their limits just enough. We appreciated the background about the land and plant life throughout our time together. Lunch and snacks were yummy too! They were thoughtful in accommodating food allergies. [Context: I am an avid hiker, have moderate indoor rock climbing experience, and have cliff jumped in the past … adjacent experiences like this definitely help!] Background: we were only able to go canyoning one day while in town and the date wasn’t available online so we emailed them to ask if it would be possible to open a trip on that day and they responded promptly and opened the trip for us! It’s worth the ask 😊

What a fantastic adventure! We absolutely loved it, the guides were very professional, experienced, and fun. The route is so so beautiful. Picnic lunch hit the spot too, catered by a local cafe. Would definitely recommend Canyon Explorers

Canyon Explorers The absolute experience of a lifetime. The Routeburn canyon experience with Canyon Explorers was simply spectacular. The people, the region, the scenery, the river, the canyon was all great. It was exciting, challenging, chilly but worth every second. The staff Alex and Mike were incredibly safety conscious, clear, attentive and entertaining. The met everyone needs from the most timid to the most enthusiastic. It was fun from the moment the bus left till the moment we retuned home. If you have never been canyoning then this is a must do while in Queenstown. We have done it in a few places and nothing compares to this. Its great value for money including lunch!!

Was looking for something to do a a mildly rainy day - and Canyoning ticked all the boxes for a wet weather activity! I had never done any proper canyoning and loved the whole experience, The canyon itself was beautiful and exciting with enough of everything to keep us entertained an looking for the next obstacle. The guides made the trip extra fun with good banter and stories! I loved the walk to the canyon- super scenic and soothing. Cheers to Mike our guide and the American lad (forgot his name) for making it extra bad ass! Big shout out from Pete & Omy ! :)

We had an amazing time canyoning. The instructors were fun, kind and made sure we had a great adventure. This was the best experience we had in New Zealand as we started with dropping into the canyoning from a height and then we did this along with zip-lining, jumping and swimming a series of waterfalls finishing off with scullying on our backs down the river at the end in calmer waters looking up at panoramic views of the mountains- it was so beautiful! Also, a major highlight was lunch- the sandwiches were incredible and the brownies were the best I had ever had! Thank you for an awesome trip.

My wife who was a first timer thought the trip was great and full of adventure and adrenaline. How ever I felt the trip was “over sold” on the scale of the jumps repelling. The repelling was average to below average for this type of adventure, in fact one area we easily could have repelled they just lowered us down. I get safety and it’s important but at the same time they would not give us enough rope to descend at a desired pace. The guide would keep the safety rope so tight you had very little control of your own speed (I was looking for more adventure). However the one cliff jump made the trip earn a positive review and my wife had fun. I would give it a 7/10 for over all experience.

First time canyoning and it exceeded expectations! Perfect duration and we had a lot of fun! Food was also good!

Did the full day canyoning in Routeburn, probably the best experience I had in Queenstown. We were a group of 4 blokes and the guides including Rachael and Mick were happy to have a joke around whilst making you safe in the canyons. Couldn’t recommend this experience enough, will be back for sure!

Cold water, rocks, ropes, slides, jumps, abseils and rubber suits! Great way to spend a few hours, especially with family or a group of friends. Guides are great - helpful and knowledgeable, not pushing anybody to do anything they are not comfortable with. Even if you are coming along on your own, you soon become part of the group, all working to overcome the majestic power of nature as it rushes through some magnificent NZ scenery. half day trip taken last time, full day this time, but 7 years older made it a little strenuous, but if you are reasonably fit, it will be great fun!

My partner and I did a full day together. we both had such an epic day. Guides Andy and Alex were so knolageable, took lots of pics of us all jumping into pools. Lunch was awesome from a local cafe! Perfect weather and water was super refreshing. Highlight of our trip for sure! Think we found a new favorate holiday adventure.

We did the full day canyoning with Andee and Derek and it was awesome. The guides were knowledgeable, safe, and fun to be with. The canyons were stunning. And the actual activities were so much fun. I always felt safe while also leaping off of cliffs, sliding down waterfalls, and zip lining through.

...we did in Queenstown! The guides were absolutely brilliant and the canyoning thrilling 🤩. It was a super chilly spring day with a few snow flakes but not once did we get cold. We did a lot of different things while in Queenstown but canyoning with these guys was without any doubt the absolute highlight! 😍😍😍

The full day canyoning tour is the highlight of my vacation in Queenstown! I love being outdoors and I love fun physical activity especially when it is made safe by the guides. This is not an activity that I could do on my own. So Canyon Explorers made it possible for us to experience canyoning in beautiful New Zealand. I’m a scaredy-cat when it comes to heights and climbing on rocks/ cliffs, but our guides Mike and Kaden did a great job in making me feel safe so that I could fully enjoy the views and the action. My husband and 24 year old son also enjoyed it very much. I’d love to do it one more time before we go back home!

I had never done canyoning before and didn't really know what to expect. Our guides Kayden, Derek and Andy were amazing. The whole day was so exciting, there was never a dull moment. Would definitely recommend, worth every penny!

We went on the full day Routeburn Canyoning experience, and it was the best experience we could have asked for. We had a smile on our face the entire time. The variety of doing abseils, jumps, slides, ziplines and traverses keeps you excited at every step of the way. Alex was the absolute best guide, she was fun, safety conscious, communicated exceptionally well and had enthusiasm for all of us on the trip. Highly recommend this experience when you come to Queenstown, there's nothing else like it!

Amazing had such good fun, something different! A must do!! Tour guides , especially Alex and Derek were class!

My expectations were exceeded with this full day canyoning adventure! Mike and Tomoki were wonderful tour guides, skilled in guiding the group and providing support and encouragement during the tour. We scrambled down a mountainside riverine via cliff jumps, rappelling, swimming and bouldering. Such an incredible experience amidst beautiful scenery. The tour provides a wetsuit and shoes - recommend wearing a swimsuit and bringing a dry change of clothes for after the tour.

Absolutely the best day! Would highly recommend if visiting Queenstown. Great guides, great fun and luckily great weather.

Had a small group (4 persons) and an amazing adventure. It was the best decision to do the whole day trip. Very nice guides.

A friend recommended this full day canyoning trip and I’m so glad I booked it. The canyoning itself was incredible - jumping, sliding, abseiling, zip lining through crystal clear water and amazing rock formations in the Routeburn. Unlike anything I’ve ever done before. My experience with excursions like this are that the guides really make or break it. Thankfully our guides - Alex, Pete, and Jake - were top notch. Really great energy from all of them and I never felt unsafe the whole day. Clearly they knew what they were doing and moved quickly through each part of the journey so we never felt like we had to wait a long time for the group to go through one-by-one. They also didn’t feel the need to hold your hand through the difficult sections which I very much appreciated. Overall great day out in the Routeburn, easily one of the best activities I’ve done during my time in Queenstown. Well worth the money. Would recommend this trip to anyone looking for a moderately challenging (but not overly strenuous) day out in the water. Thanks for a great trip!

Had a fantastic trip with Alex and Yuba through the Routeburn canyon. Was the day after a period of very heavy rainfall so the river was flowing higher than usual. Both Alex and Yuba were brilliant in their explanation and execution of tackling each waterfall. Truly amazing to feel the power of the water. At times it could be a bit cold because of waiting for everyone to get down safely but hey you are playing in a river what do you expect? A brilliant day in a beautiful part of the country, couldn’t recommend more.

Having walked the Routebourne Track already, I was super excited to experience it from another viewpoint. Even though I was pretty nervous (I'm a scaredy cat when it comes to heights & jumping) our awesome guides Alex & Yuba made it an adventure I won't forget. They made me feel safe & confident enough to try almost everything & gave me less scary alternatives when it got too hard. The scenery did not disappoint, absolutely stunning! Thanks so much team, you're stars x

Had such a great day canyoning on the Routeburn! It was so much fun! The guides Pete and Tomoki were awesome and friendly. We had done canyoning elsewhere once before but this was more exciting and fun! The canyon is absolutely beautiful! We loved the day and would highly recommend! Amanda and the ladies at the front desk are also amazing! Super friendly and so helpful. Thanks for a great experience!

Oh boy. What a day. Beautiful untouched nature all around you. Thrilling and breathtaking at the same time. Funny as with these two guides. Highly recommend it to everyone who‘s stopping by in Queenstown. An absolute must do, you won‘t regret. Thumbs up and big toes too. :)

The Routeburn is one of the best canyoning days I've done in my life, not only because the places is beautiful but also cause you have so much fun! You do a lot during the day between abseiling, sliding in the waterfalls and jumping of course! The guides are awesome, big thank you to Kayden, Shane, Mike and Bridee!

Do the full day of Canyoning! It is worth it! Once it is over, you will be always wanting more, and no better way to get the full experience than to do the full day trip! You can bring your own go pro too and clip it to their helmets for some cool footage! Our guide Caden was super knowledgeable and an awesome guide!

I did the routeburn valley experience just before christmas on the 23rd, the drive out along Lake Wakatipu, past Glenorchy and into the start of Mt Aspiring National park is amazing in itself. We had three guides for the adventure (one of which [Alex] was from Cornwall like me!). We drove out to a hut at the start of the routeburn and hiked up to the top of the canyon, we jumped, dived, ducked, swam, ziplines, absailed and climbed our way through the waters and woodland of a beautiful routeburn canyon. The water was fresher and cleaner than you'd find in a water bottle. The water is spring fed out of the mountainside so naturally it was cold but fear not they provide you with swimming socks, boots and a thick wetsuit to keep the cold away (would recommend to ask for gloves though if you're prone to have cold hands). If you want you have the option to do some pretty high jumps into the pools! We worked our way down the canyon, hiking back to the hut through a secret path into absolutely stunning native forest and then paddled through a river back through the fields. At one point I was just taken over by the stunning view and had to stand and gape for a few minutes. A thoroughly amazing adventure with professional and friendly staff, you certainly get more experience for your money than a lot of other adventure activities in Queenstown. Thanks guys!

Tried it out with my family, oldest 52 and youngest 15. Everybody loved it and was an experience of a lifetime. I was afraid that it would be to tough for the older ones or too cold but they had a great time. Especially thanks to the guides we had, Taylor and Pete was amazing and contributed because of their way to handle us as group and always made us feel safe. Big thanks!

I have been canyoning a few times and this was the most adventurous trip yet. It was non-stop fun from the beginning to the end. The guides were helpful and energetic and the gear kept us as warm as possible. They even let us stop for ice cream at the famous shop on the way home. The only thing to mention is that the drive out to the canyon is pretty curvy, so if you get car sick, you should probably take medicine before you go.

We did the Routeburn Valley canyoning with these guys. We had super fun and this is the activity I really recommend! It might be pretty scary sometimes, but Alex and Mike were very friendly and helpful. They cheered us the whole way and took good care of us. Also, thanks for the birthday cake ;)

This trip was so much more then I expected! I was thinking of walking down a river but I was so excited when we zip lined, abseiled, jumped, swam, climbed and fell through the most gorgeous nature. The guides were amazing. Turns out I’m not over my fear of heights. The crew took extra care with me and were so lovely! Shout out to the crew from the afternoon of 22nd of nov. Especially Pete who encouraged me to push myself. Y’all are sick! Cheers for a very memorable adventure. Would definitely recommend!

The Routeburn Explorer is a great full day tour that takes you into the canyon and tests your sense of adventure in the water. The tour includes plenty of jumps, abseils and cambering over rocks. You do need to be confident in the water and happy with some heights but the guides are super supportive and always offer alternatives if customers don't wish to jump. The tour is really incredible but the guides do make the trip so fun and memorable. Shoutout to Caden, Mikey and Shane for taking us out on a fantastic trip, they helped make the whole group band together and have an epic time in the canyon. You end up being in the canyon for about 3 hours which is enough time to experience everything without getting too cold. The guys add on a really good lunch afterwards which perks you up enough for the journey back to town. Overall one of the best days I've had in Queenstown!

We had a fabulous time with Ben, Kaden and Justin on the Queenstown Adventure. We had hoped to do the full day at Routeburn but high spring water flow claused our trip to be cancelled. The office was great about working with us and answering all our rescheduling questions. Day-of the guides were tremendously informed, safety conscious and in control, even with a large group of nine people with various skill and comfort levels on the canyon. It’s clear they love guiding and have a lot of fun introducing others into the adventure of canyoning. In a way it was even more fun in the rain because the water features were enhanced by snow melt and rainfall. It was cold but bearable given all the gear they supply—even in low early spring temps! This is a super fun and unique experience that I would highly recommend to anyone stopping though Queenstown.

Have been a local for many years now and have been on most of the tours and activities in Queenstown and I can 100% recommend these guys as the best activity in around. I've tried all of the canyon companies around the area and as far as i'm concerned there's no competition.They have a minimum of two guides per tour, which is not only very important for safety but also ensures there's not much time wasted waiting for ropes to be secured etc. I did the full day Routeburn Explorer trip and once again the whole team were fantastic and made sure everybody in the group had a good day no matter their ability. There was always an easier option for those that weren't confident with certain features and their attitude towards everybody was top notch. They took time to explain everything very carefully and and also made time to have a laugh. From the waterfalls and rapids to the moss on the rocks and the color of the water, the canyon is one of the most beautiful I've ever seen and has to be experience for a true taste of NZ. Located just off the Routeburn Track Great Walk and accessed by the walk itself, it's a great for people who don't have the time to do the walk while they're in town. The drive down there along Glenorchy Road is also stunning! The lunch was epic and we were also provided snacks on route to the canyon. From booking, to welcoming, guiding and dropping off, the whole team were fantastic. Thank again to Amanda, Shane, Kaden, Mike & Brydee - you guys and the rest of the team are awesome! I'll recommend you to anybody! Keep up the epic work!

I had an absolutely brilliant time out doing the Routeburn canyon, I wasn't sure if I was going to be a bit nervous, but the guides were brilliant! We had Kayden, Shane and Mike. They made me feel really safe and I had an awesome time jumping, sliding and climbing through the canyon which, itself, was really beautiful!

What a brilliant day! A massive shoutout and thank you to Hitoshi and Seb. They made the adventure more than just canyoning. The small group made the experience a personal one and the guides made us feel so comfortable, safe and confident. The walk to the canyon was beautiful and the canyon itself was not only beautiful but a great adventure. An extra special thank you to the boys for going above and beyond to find our lost GoPro at the bottom of a very deep pool. Could not praise the boys or recommend this trip enough. An absolute must do.

we just came back, Kaden & Rylie ours guides was the best you can ask for, very professional. Good experience, Must Do It!

We did this as a couple and it was a good experience all round. Being fairly new to town we had a wander to get some information on tours and some adventure experiences.. Amanda was working at the shop that evening and was really helpful and positive about Canyoning and also knowledgeable about other activities to do in Queenstown, we eventually booked a couple of other things through this company (it's easy to book multiple experiences through almost any tour operator/outlet) for ease as well. We eventually opted for the full day experience, instead of the 4hr, half day experience. It was about $100 more expensive, but ultimately proved a good decision. The next morning we arrived at about 9am and got going, there were about 10 people in total, with 2 guides. It takes a little time to get organised. The bus needs to get packed, get out to the equipment shed (20 minutes out of town), and then drive another 1hr to the actual site. Get all the kit on and then walk up one of the tracks in the Routeburn. Not quite exhausting, but hiking the 40/50 mins uphill, in wetsuit, harness and carrying some other gear, was certainly a moderate challenge. We then got down to business! Mop and Hitoshi we're our guides and made sure that everyone was strapped up safely, and understood how to jump, abseil, swim, slide and, most importantly land! As a group we spent the next 2.5/3hrs getting down various 'drops', which each contain; one (big), two or three drops in the Canyon.. Even though we were both complete novices, never having even attempted something like this in the past. We loved it! It was a bit of a terrifying, a mad rush, with a number of points that get a little hairy, but totally well worth it. Overall I would recommend and we were both glad that we opted for the more expensive full day option over the half day. We got to see Routeburn National Park, met some fellow adventurers and experienced something completely new to us both. After we made it back to the base we had a nice packed lunch and a warm drink. I would recommend a mid level of fitness..

I recently did this routeburn canyoning on 29th Dec and i was surprised by the thrill and adventure it had. I was fortunate to have done it after all other rafting, skydiving , Nevis Bungy and swing as this was above and beyond any of other activities. We had Ricki and Taylor for our group who took utmost care of everyone. Safety is serious business for them, there was once i panicked due to ice cold water and i was extra taken care of rest of the time. The 3 hours canyoning followed by a superb picnic lunch was so beautiful. We were fortunate to have a great sunny warm day. For all the thrill seekers, this is definitely a must do. Only suggestion is if guides could have go pro or another camera so this beautiful journey can be captured nicely. I did rent but it couldn't capture the amazing things we did in a nicer way.

Three thumbs up to our guides, Rylie and Seb, very professional and fun with ultimate positive energy!

We went canyoning with Canyoning NZ, doing the full day Routeburn Explorer trek, and loved it! We met the other 3 participants at Canyoning's office in downtown Queenstown as well as our guides, Josh and Sib. We loaded on to a bus and headed a few hour outside of Queenstown, stopping along the way to pick up some of our gear. The drive was very scenic and we had a lot of fun chatting with the other participants and our guides. Upon reaching the park, we donned our wet suits, life jackets, helmets, and boots (all provided to us by the company) and hiked for about 45 minutes to the top of the canyon. This was perhaps the least fun part of the day, as hiking uphill in a wet suit is not all that comfortable. But, it is the only way to get to the top, so you do what you have to do. Once in the canyon, things got intense quickly, You slide down rapids, jump off waterfalls, and absail down cliff faces. The water is freezing cold so you are quickly thankful for your wet suit (which did a very good job of fending off the cold). The guides were great, making sure everyone was safe, explaining the next "activity" and helping everyone through the canyon. Plus, they were having so much fun it was infectious and helped us overcome some of our fear of the more challenging parts of the course. Our total time in the canyon was about 3 hours and I am glad we did the full day so as to maximize this time. Once at the bottom of the canyon, you hike about 30 minutes back out and eat lunch (provided by the company, which was able to accommodate my wife's gluten restrictions, an added bonus) at the base of the park trail before loading up and heading back to Queenstown. Overall, this is a thrilling and exciting activity, one unlike anything I've ever done before. The canyoning itself is intense, but fun and challenging. Plus the scenery the entire time is absolutely stunning. A few quick recommendations that will help you enjoy the experience more. First, know that this truly is a pretty extreme adventure. I would describe us as being moderately physically fit and we found various elements of the trek to be challenging. Also, if you have a fear of heights or water, this likely isn't the experience for you. Second, when you are in the canyon, you get a little beat up. Both of us came out with bumps and bruises, nothing major, but we were definitely very sore the next day. I'd recommend not planning something strenuous for the day following canyoning. Third, if you have any jewelry (e.g., wedding or engagement rings), take them off before going on this trip. Your hands are constantly scrabbling against rocks and otherwise doing things that can beat up the jewelry pretty badly. Again, if you are a thrill seeker or want a challenging and unique outdoor activity in Queenstown, look no further than canyoning. Canyoning NZ is a great company with excellent guides who provided us with a great experience. Highly recommend!

We did the routeburn during our NZ honeymoon and it was definitely a highlight. The guides were great, views beautiful and trip adventurous! However, I would caution that the trip has countless jumped, and slides down waterfalls that were intense. Beware but would highly suggest this company and this trip

Had a great time with our guide Kaden. Went through the Routeburn Explorer which was a treat, really enjoyed the untouched world experienced in the slot canyons near the Routeburn track.

Canyoning Queenstown is an awesome experience. Routeburn canyon was absolutely amazing day out and is not to be missed for those who like outdoor activties with maximum excitement.