Our Training Courses 2025 / 2026

At Canyoning New Zealand we offer two courses each season, one at the beginning being December 2025 and one at the end being March 2026.

These courses are suitable for those at the beginner canyoner level, someone who is looking for recreational autonomy and also for the aspiring guide looking for commercial qualification with our nationally recognised New Zealand Outdoor Instructor Association canyon qualifications!

We have packed in heaps of value and created these courses to be able to offer you the very best learning experiences in the most incredible learning environment! All courses delivered by our local trainers who know the sport and the area well and have been delivering courses for us for over 10 years!

6-Day Canyoning Courses in Queenstown, NZ

QUICK DETAILS

Ages: 18+

Course Duration: 7 days including 6 training days and 1 free day

Course Dates: December 2025 8th – 14th & March 2026 16th – 22nd

Per Person Course Fee: NZ$2999 per person

Includes: Trainers, Equipment, Transfers from Queenstown, Lunch, 4 days fully catered in Makarora and a free “Canyoning Technical Manual” book.

Also choose to sit an NZOIA qualification assessment post course – assessment dates below. (This is at an extra fee)

NZOIA Qualifications – What you need to know

Going for an assessment to gain an NZOIA qualification is an additional cost and an optional add on to your training week.

Be aged 18 years old or over

Hold a current First Aid Certificate

Have personal experience – at least 10 days

Have instructional experience – at least 5 days as a co-leader or assistant guide in canyons

You can find more info on the NZOIA canyoning qualifications here: https://www.nzoia.org.nz/qualifications/disciplines/canyoning
Going for an assessment to gain an NZOIA qualification is an additional cost and an optional add on to your training week.

Be aged 20 years old or over

Hold a current First Aid Certificate

Have personal experience – at least 20 days in canyons with a minimum of 5 trips above v3a3III

Have instructional experience – at least 20 days instructing, leading or guiding groups in canyons with a minimum of 5 trips above v2a2II

You can find more info on the NZOIA canyoning qualifications here: https://www.nzoia.org.nz/qualifications/disciplines/canyoning

A MUST DO COURSE FOR ALL CANYONERS WANTING TO TAKE THEIR SKILLS TO THE NEXT LEVEL!

This incredible 6 day canyoning course will test and sharpen your guiding skills! Weather your a beginner canyoner looking for independence, or someone looking to become a professional canyoning guide.

You will get to experience an incredible week of some of the best canyons in NZ, in the Mt Aspiring National Park, the MECCA of canyoning for New Zealand!!

Visit 6 different canyoning locations up to V4A5 – a new location every day!
All transport included from Queenstown return for all 6 days
All equipment provided
2 training days from Queenstown including transport and lunch with self catering accomodation and meals
4 training days from Makarora are fully catered including transport, accommodation and all meals
Courses include a free “Canyoning Technical Manual” book
Increase your employment opportunities in this incredible industry and become a top applicant for a guiding role at Canyoning New Zealand!
Connect with the other recreational canyoners for endless adventuring.
Choose to sit an optional NZOIA canyoning qualification assessment post course (additional fee for this)

FULL COURSE SCHEDULE

Day 1 – Queenstown based – students are picked up at 9am
Monday – classroom AM + canyon descent PM – V3A2II
- 09:00–09:30 – Students are picked up at one central Queenstown location and transferred to our Operational Base.
- 09:30–10:00 – Students meet and greet, trainers will check and/or issue equipment to each student.
- 10:00–10:30 – Classroom style learning, students will be given an induction on the course week and invited to offer their background experience and goals for joining the course. Students will be issued their own classroom handbook and their free “Canyoning Technical Manual” book.
- 10:30–12:00 – Trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Weather interpretation and land navigation and access
  – Setting intentions, trip communications and emergency procedures
  – Canyoning ethics and legislation
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch Break – (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–13:00 – learning continued including but not limited too:
  – Equipment selection, personal equipment and emergency equipment
- 13:00–14:00 – Students are transferred to their first canyoning location!
- 14:00–15:00 – Dry session onsite, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Personal movement – walking, climbing, care with flora and fauna
  – Using hand lines & transitioning to rappel/abseiling
  – Personal rappel/abseil friction setting & locking off
  – Personal movement on guided rappels/abseil
  -Rope ascending
  – Belaying team members
- 15:00–18:00 – Students and trainers descend first canyoning location!
- 18:00–19:00 – Students are driven back to Queenstown. Trainers debrief with students and explain homework task, which always includes a next day’s weather check and canyon assessment.
Day 2 – Queenstown based – students are picked up at 9am
Tuesday – onsite dry session AM + canyon descent PM – V2A2II
- 09:00–09:30 – Students are picked up at one central Queenstown location and transferred out to their second canyoning location!
- 09:30–10:00 – Students present homework tasks with a health and wellness check.
- 10:00–12:00 – Dry session onsite, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Emergency first aid courses to consider, the group to discuss major bleeding, head injuries, breaks, anaphylaxis, hypothermia and drowning
  – Canyon hazards and natural hazards
- 12:00–12.30 – Lunch – (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–15:00 – learning continued including but not limited too:
  – Rigging styles and appropriate application for customers abilities
  – Assessing and accessing the anchors
  – Rigging for team management
  – Team belay, team management, communication and signals
- 15:00–18:00 – Students and trainers descend their second canyoning location!
- 18:00–19:00 – Students are driven back to Queenstown. Trainers debrief with students and explain homework task, which always includes a next day’s weather check and canyon assessment.
Day 3 – Queenstown based – students have this day off / free day
Wednesday – a chance to prepare for the next 4 days of learning in Makarora!
Day 3 – Makarora based – students are picked up at 7am from Queenstown
Thursday – onsite dry session AM + canyon descent PM – V3A2II
- 07:00–09:00 – Students are picked up at one central Queenstown location and transferred out to Makarora for the next 4 days of learning!
- 09:00–09:30 – Breakfast (breakfast is included continental style)
- 09:30–10:00 – Students present homework tasks with a health and wellness check
- 10:00–12:00 – Dry session onsite, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Rescue systems including releasing and hauling
  – Hydrology and live weather interpretation
  – Movement, swimming and pool checking
  – Bag management in water
  -Customer management in water
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–16:30 – Students and trainers descend their third canyoning location!
- 16:30–17:30 – Students are driven back to Makarora. Trainers debrief with students and explain homework task, which always includes a next day’s weather check and canyon assessment. Students will be checked into the their shared accommodation, a fully self contained chalet “Winged Chalet” room type at the Wonderland Makarora Lodge.
  https://www.wonderlandlodge.nz/
- 19:00-20:00 – Dinner (dinner is included, one main meal and one drink at the Wonderland Makarora Lodge restaurant)
Day 5 – Makarora based – students are picked up at 8.30am from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge
Friday – onsite dry session AM + canyon descent PM – V4A3II
- 07:30–08:30 – Breakfast (breakfast is included and supplied in-room for self serving, continental style)
- 08:30–09:00 – Students are picked up from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge and transferred to their fourth new canyoning location!
- 09:00–10:00 – Students present homework tasks with a health and wellness check
- 10:00–12:00 – Dry session onsite, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Canyon escape
  – Canyon rescues continued
  – Delivery of teaching sessions “safety briefings”
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–16:30 – Students and trainers descend their fifth new canyoning location!
- 16:30–17:00 – Students are driven back to the Wonderland Makarora Lodge. Trainers debrief with students and explain homework task, which always includes a next day’s weather check and canyon assessment.
- 19:00–20:00 – Dinner (dinner is included, one main meal and one drink at the Wonderland Makarora Lodge)
Day 6 – Makarora based – students are picked up at 8.30am from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge
Saturday – onsite dry session AM + canyon descent PM – V4A3II
- 07:30–08:30 – Breakfast (breakfast is included and supplied in-room for self serving, continental style)
- 08:30–09:00 – Students are picked up from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge and transferred to their fifth new canyoning location!
- 09:00–10:00 – Students present homework tasks with a health and wellness check
- 10:00–12:00 – Dry session onsite, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
  – Guided rappel/abseil
  – Water Rescues
  – Entrapment rescues vertical and horizontal
  – Allocation of time here for any necessary practise on earlier days learning
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–16:30 – Students and trainers descend their fifth new canyoning location!
- 16:30–17:00 – Students are driven back to the Wonderland Makarora Lodge. Trainers debrief with students and explain homework task, which always includes a next day’s weather check and canyon assessment.
- 19:00–20:00 – Dinner (dinner is included, one main meal and one drink at the Wonderland Makarora Lodge)
Day 7 – Makarora based – students are picked up at 8am from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge
Sunday – canyon decent finale – V4A5IV
- 07:00–07:30 – Breakfast (breakfast is included and supplied in-room for self serving, continental style)
- 07:30–08:00 – Students pack up and check out of the Wonderland Makarora Lodge
- 08:00–08:30 – Students are picked up from the Wonderland Makarora Lodge and transferred to their final sixth new canyoning location!
- 08:30–09:00 – Students present homework tasks with a health and wellness check
- 09:00–16:00 – Students and trainers descend their final and sixth new canyoning location! – (lunch is included picnic style and in the canyon)
- 16:00–17:00 – Students will return any borrowed equipment and are driven back to the Wonderland Makarora Lodge for their final dinner together
- 17:00–18:00 – Dinner (dinner is included, one main meal and one drink at the Wonderland Makarora Lodge)
- 18:00–20:00 – Students are driven back to Queenstown for their drop off and farewell.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Students must be aged 18 years plus, have good fitness, good swimming ability, confidence with heights and be English speaking. Minimum numbers apply. We reserve the right to amend locations due to weather during the course as necessary.

Optional assessments for qualifications are at an additional cost.