Per Person
6 day courses
Recreational Canyoner
Early Bird Special on now
NZ$3396
NZ$ 2999
Commercial Canyoner
Includes an NZOIA qualification assesment
NZ$ 3396
Free Canyoning Seminar
Learn more about our upcoming Recreational and Commercial training courses!
Our Training Courses 2025
At Canyoning New Zealand we run two seperate courses each year, one aimed at the beginner canyoner, who is looking for recreational autonomy and one 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 Recreational Canyoning Course in Queenstown, NZ
QUICK DETAILS
A MUST DO COURSE FOR ALL ASPIRING CANYONERS!
This incredible 6 day canyoning course will give you all the skills you need to be autonomous in the incredible sport of canyoning, while allowing you to experience 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 included. Do bring your own if you have it so you can learn using your own gear.
- 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 in New Zealand” guide book.
- Learn this incredible sport and be able to explore canyons independently all over the world!
- Connect with the other recreational canyoners for endless adventuring.
- We also run commercial training courses that include an optional NZOIA canyoning qualification assessment, post course, more info below.
FULL COURSE SCHEDULE
-
Day 1 – Queenstown based – students are picked up at 9am
Monday – classroom AM + canyoning 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 share their background experience and goals for joining the course. Students will be issued their own classroom handbook and their free “Canyoning in New Zealand guide book.
- 10:30–12:00 – Trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited to:
– Trip selection and canyon grading systems
– Reading topographic maps
– Understanding the canyon guide book
– Weather interpretation and land navigation and access
– Setting intentions, trip communications and emergency procedures
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch Break – (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–13:00 – Learning continued including but not limited to:
– 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 on site, trainers will facilitate the learning including but not limited too:
– Bag management – packing bag, coiling rope
– Personal movement – walking, climbing, care with flora and fauna
– Using hand lines & transitioning to rappel/abseiling
– Personal rappel/abseil friction setting & locking off
– 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:
– Knots including Figure 8 knot on a bite, Munter Mule overhand & 8 Block rigging systems, VT Prusik Hitch rescue and ascending system
– Assessing and accessing the anchors
– Rigging rappel/abseil system
– 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 4 – 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:
– Rope ascending
– Rescue systems including releasing and hauling
– Hydrology and live weather understanding
– Movement, swimming and pool checking
– Bag management in water
- 12:00–12:30 – Lunch (lunch is included picnic style)
- 12:30–16:30 – Students and trainers descend their third new 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 4 – 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
– Belaying team members
– 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 fourth 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 5 – Makarora based – students 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 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
– 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 6 – Makarora based – students 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
No canyoning experience is required for the recreational course. Students must be aged 16 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.
6-Day Commercial Canyoning Course in Queenstown, NZ
QUICK DETAILS
NZOIA Qualifications – What you need to know
-
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
-
Be a current Registered Member of NZOIA – this is an additional fee of $235 per year
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 GUIDES WANTING TO TAKE THEIR CAREER TO THE NEXT LEVEL!
This incredible 6 day canyoning course will test and sharpen your commercial guiding skills inline with the New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association syllabus for canyoning. Its your opportunity to get ready to sit your NZOIA assessment and become a qualified canyoning guide, at the same time, you get to experience 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
- 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
- Courses include an optional NZOIA canyoning qualification assessment post course
- 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 commercial canyoning guides for endless adventuring.
- We also run recreational training courses for aspiring canyoners, more info above.
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
Canyoning experience is required for the commercial course, a minimum would be basic autonomy. 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.