Adv 223 Yumpu

Half Day & Full Day Canyoning Trips
AMAZING TRIPS - INCREDIBLE PRICES!
The team look on as Alex sends Althea down the first abseil
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Canyoning adventures
from $99pp!
www.canyonexplorers.nz
0800QTCANYON | info@canyonexplorers.nz
39 Camp Street, Queenstown NZ
There is something about the rivers in this part of the country
that are quite different to those in the North Island. The rocks and
boulders are icy grey in colour and although today they sat like
granite sentinels in the turquoise waters, you can imagine the force
of the water crashing over them here when it’s raining, creating a
cauldron of white water. However, today all was calm and the water
smooth and inviting. A few words of wisdom from our guides, “if a
rock is grey you can stand on it in, if it is green or brown – do not.”
(wise words)
After a brief safety and how-too talk we were straight into it. Our
first abseil into the canyon was just below the bridge and this was
the last we would see of “civilisation” for the next few hours. We
dropped into the most pristine pool of water and were instantly lost
in the depths of the canyon.
The canyon changes your perception, you are focused on the water,
the walls and what is around you. The light is different, the sounds
is different, and it gives you a feeling of awe, simply put it just
makes you feel ‘good’.
To say the water was cold would be an understatement, I think the
average water temperature was around 10 degrees Celsius, which
I can assure you is chilly. We meandered down the river, abseiling
down sheer rocks and trying hard at first to keep our hands out of
the icy water. It did not take long before we were tasked with our
first rockslide and instructed to lay back and slide down the rock
face into the water below. Feet first, arms folded across our chests,
we dropped into the deep pool. Our heads submerged before
resurfacing, our breath taken away by the frigidness of the water. It
was an exhilarating experience, also known as a glacial facial.
The abseil before the big slide, with Mike at the top ensuring we are correctly
clipped in while Alex runs the safety line from below; these two make a great team
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