‘You can borrow any of these pairs of trainers for your canyoning experience’, said our guide Javier. ‘They were left behind by past tour groups that didn’t make it.’
This was my introduction to Kiwi tour guide humour (we’ll skim over the fact that our guide on this occasion was Chilean). If you do anything scary in New Zealand and look nervous, they jump right on it and take every opportunity to tease you. It sounds cruel, but the jokes actually help lighten the atmosphere and ease the tension.
I’d met my fellow canyoners, Ruby and Ben, in central Auckland for the 1-hour scenic drive to Piha. After stopping briefly to view the beach and it’s very un-lion-like ‘Lion Rock’ from above, we pulled into a parking space by a shed and clambered into some heavy-duty wetsuits and jackets. AWOL Canyoning Adventures also provide rubber booties to keep your feet warm under the ‘trainers of the deceased’. All in all, you’re guaranteed to be toasty warm.
Once we were suited and booted, we left all our belongings locked inside the shed and drove up the road to a forest clearing so Javier could ‘show us the ropes’ (ba dum tsssh).
LEARNING THE BASICS
Hanging from a tree, we learned how to unhook the rope from our harnesses. Javier also explained that the first person to reach the bottom of a waterfall should hold the end of the rappel rope and tug it hard if they sensed that the person abseiling had lost control. Little did I know this safety technique would be put into action later on!
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It was a short but steep climb up the mountainside through dense jungle to reach the top of the waterfall. We began with a jump into a pool, which Javier warned us contained sheep-eating eels. I’m not gullible enough to believe that, but I later found the eels he was referring to at Auckland’s Kelly Tarlton’s Underwater Experience. Let’s just say I’m glad I didn’t know what they looked like when I took the plunge…
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THE TRICKY PART
Before we set off down the first waterfall, Javier decided it had been too long since the last time he’d taken the mick. Grabbing my carabiner, he inspected it, pulled a face as though there was something not quite right and then said ‘Ah well, it’s too late to change it now!’
The waterfall we abseiled down as part of the Piha day trip was made up of four descents. The first is a fairly easy 15 m. This is followed by a very tame 5 m drop. Section 3 is the one that will have you shaking in your wetsuit booties. It’s 55 m and there’s a fair bit of water splashing you as you make your way down.
I was just starting to feel comfortable and build up a bit of speed when I reached an overhang and there was nowhere to support my feet. Sucking up all my confidence I tried to shimmy sideways to a flatter spot. It turned out I’m not very good at shimmying, and I finished up dangling at the end of the rope, with Ben having to lower me to the safety of the next ledge!
The fourth waterfall is about 30 m, but it had rained so heavily the night before that it was too dangerous for us to attempt it. Javier took us to peer over the edge and sure enough, there was a tonne of water pouring through a narrow crevice.
This didn’t dampen the experience though. We had successfully traversed three sections of waterfall, including the biggest drop of them all, and it had been an exhilarating day filled with personal achievements – especially for those of us with an acute fear of heights.
OTHER TOUR OPTIONS
As well as the Piha day trip, AWOL Canyoning Adventures offer a half-day trip with less time abseiling, and a Blue Canyon trip, which is more of a hardcore adventure course including pool jumps, natural slides and some abseiling too. They also operate a night canyoning trip where your head torch and a smattering of gloworms are the only illumination. Prices and further details can be found on their website.
GETTING TO AUCKLAND
Many people arrive in New Zealand via Auckland’s international airport. If you’re already in the country, Intercity Buses provide services to and from the following popular destinations (rough times in brackets): Paihia (4 hours); Hamilton (2 hours); Rotorua (4 hours); Taupo (5 hours); and Wellington (11 hours). Click below to search for a journey.
I was a guest of AWOL Canyoning Adventures. They did not request that I write a favourable review and all of the opinions expressed here are my own.
You can follow my Kiwi adventures on Twitter via the hashtag #ScaredBritless or check out my Facebook updates here. For more information about travelling in New Zealand, visit 100% Pure New Zealand.
This looks like so much fun but also absolutely terrifying. I love your hashtag #ScaredBritless!
Monica recently posted..Spotting Seals in Cornwall
Hehe. Thank you! Yes, it was really good fun. Going over the edge is the worst bit. After that, you’re ok if you don’t look down!
Pretty awesome but I like heights!
I like the fact they give you a Go-Pro to record all the fun!
You’re lucky! I’m such a wuss when it comes to heights. They don’t actually provide GoPros. It just happened that two of us had one. They are really good at getting shots with a waterproof camera though. And a lot of their helmets are fitted with GoPro mounts, which is very handy :)
That looks like so much fun! I love abseiling! I’m a bit of an expert since I’ve been a whole two times. :)
Katherine Belarmino recently posted..Celebrating Loy Krathong and Yee Peng in Thailand
Haha. Two times! I’ve been twice now too, although the first time was just one rappel, rather than a whole canyon adventure. I can say with confidence that I have a long way to go before I look like an expert!
That is seriously the best hashtag EVER! Looks like an awesome time and good for you conquering your fears!
Jennifer recently posted..10 Things to do on Catalina Island
Ha! Thanks Jen! Yes, it really was awesome. I felt so happy to be back out in the countryside of a foreign land doing something a little bit crazy again :)
The shoe joke is hilarious I actually think I would run a mile if that was told to me :-D
Becky Padmore recently posted..Losing your heart in South Korea: 10 travel highlights
I know! It makes you wonder if one of these days a company will say something like ‘We’ve only had a few serious accidents’ and it’ll be true and I’ll just say ‘Good one’ and laugh! :)
Canyoning is so much fun! Glad to see that you survived the experience! :)
jill recently posted..Canoe Algonquin Park, Can it get more Canadian than this?
It really is! I wish I was more relaxed doing it though. I decided not to include my GoPro video because it took me over 10 minutes to get down the 55-m waterfall! It wasn’t exactly a thrilling watch!!!
Good start to your ScaredBritless adventures! Well done for conquering your fear of heights, 55 metres is a long way down!
Lucy recently posted..Welcome to Montenegro
Thank you! I was glad to have a couple of shorter ones to practice on :)
Oh, this looks awesome. I’d be a bit scared of the height as well, but I guess once you have done the first step it gets a bit easier.
TammyOnTheMove recently posted..3 quirky things to do in Berlin
Going over the edge is definitely the hardest bit. Having said that, I’ve done a lot of things involving heights in the past week and it hasn’t got any easier at all!
I also went canyoning once in France and loved it. Looks like you had a great day, awesome shots.
Freya recently posted..Inca Trail Preparation and Packing List
Thanks! Yes, it’s really great fun! I like that you get little breaks in between the scary moments!
Hi Ariawen, what a coincidence! I just got back from a trip to Dominica where I experienced canyoning for the first time. You’re right, it’s a lot of fun and exhilirating. I’ll do it all over again. Will keep this in mind when I make it to NZ. Love your victorious last shot:)
Haha! You can see the relief in my face, right?! I hope you get a chance to do this trip in NZ. I’d highly recommend it!