AWOL Canyoning
If you are an adrenalin lover, Canyoning in Auckland is an awesome experience, and an adventure that you’ll not want to miss. AWOL canyoning offers full or half day trips that are fun for people of all ages, abilities and experiences. It's not surprising that canyoning is one of the most popular things to do in Auckland.
If you’re looking for adrenaline filled things to do in Auckland, why not try and conquer Piha Canyon (Photo credit: AWOL Canyoning)
The full-day AWOL Canyoning adventure to Piha canyon starts out with a 35-minute walk (half flat, half uphill, quiet steep), and then the fun begins! You'll start out with a series of abseils, including one of over 50-metres, and then you will enter into the impressive gorge formed in the volcanic rock. As you make your way down the narrow gorge you will encounter caves, hidden pools, water sculpted gorges, jumps, and possibly the most thrilling of all Auckland attractions, the highest commercially abseiled waterfall in the area (the one in the photo above). At the end, a 5-minute walk takes you out of the bush, then a 2-minute drive will have you on the beautiful black sand beach of Piha where you can relax and chill out, or take a hike up to Lion Rock to enjoy some spectacular views back to the mainland. This trip is without a doubt on of the most fun things to do in Auckland as you will spend about three exhilarating hours in the canyon.
Abseil down 50 meter cliffs on an Auckland canyoning adventure with AWOL Canyoning (Photo credit: AWOL Canyoning)
The half day trip to Piha includes 1 ½-hours of incredible Auckland canyoning and this trip is particularly suitable for larger groups, or for people with differing abilities. There is no rush and everyone can explore at their own pace and participate in as many or as few jumps and caves as they like, as there are plenty of bypass options.
For the really adventurous how about doing the canyon in the dark with just the light from your headlamp, the moon, and the hundreds of glow-worms to light the way. Now that has got to be one of the coolest things to do in Auckland.
A full day trip into the Blue Canyon offers some of the most remote and spectacular canyoning in New Zealand. The 45-minute walk-in to the canyon takes you into the depths of the Waitakere Ranges, and the rugged terrain through the dense volcanic rainforest is not easy walking. The first part of the canyon has water slides, jumps and the impressive Jurassic Park abseil but it is after lunch that the real challenges begin. There are bigger and longer natural hydro-slides, breath-taking jumps and adrenalin-pumping abseils passing through 18 waterfalls (from top to bottom, not after lunch) from 2 to 30-metres high. On this trip there are less easy out options -so be prepared!!!
AWOL Canyoning also offer exhilarating night expeditions to Piha Canyon (Photo credit: AWOL Canyoning)
AWOL is located just 40-minutes from central Auckland and offer a pick-up service from outside the SkyCity Hotel. All of the guides are highly trained with lots of experience. Before heading out you will receive full training along with explicit safety instructions, the canyon is full of slippery rock surfaces so be prepared for that if you book this trip. Remember that you are going to get wet so wear sporty footwear with socks, and a swim suit or shorts. You will be provided with a complete wetsuit, harness, helmet, and a life jacket if you want one.
Trips run every day, but depending upon the number of participants not all trips are always available every day. A light lunch is provided on the full day trips and juice, water and chocolate is available on all the trips. You can take a waterproof camera along at your on risk, but better to take advantage of the professional photos which will be taken of you throughout the day and subsequently e-mailed to you.
Visitors wanting to continue exploring the stunning Auckland region after their canyoning adventure should collect an Auckland hire car from Omega and make use of great unlimited kilometre rates.