About The Routeburn Explorer
The Routeburn Explorer is a full sensory canyoning experience. As the only canyoning company permitted to operate in the famous Routeburn Valley, we will take you to places that are normally inaccessible, giving you a true sense of isolation where you can take in all the natural beauty that surrounds. This UNESCO World Heritage area is right near several locations used for the Lord of The Rings movies, including The Hobbit.
The Routeburn Explorer is a little more challenging than the Queenstown Adventurer with more of everything including higher jumps and abseils!
You’ll begin your trip at our Adventure Centre in Queenstown where you’ll sign in and meet your guide for the day in our departure lounge. Next, we’ll drive you to our custom built canyoning base where you’ll be fitted with all of your canyoning gear. Here, we have heated change rooms, showers and toilet facilities.
We’ll then head off on a scenic drive along the shores of Lake Wakatipu, passing through Glenorchy and into the Mount Aspiring National Park’s Routeburn Valley.
In the Routeburn Valley, we will gear you up in all the equipment provided and get you ready for your canyoning adventure. You’ll set off on foot, and after a 30 minute gentle walk through spectacular native rain forest along the world renowned Routeburn Track, it is time for the serious adventure and excitement to begin.
As you start your descent through the canyon, you will abseil into the canyon, jump into crystal clear pools, zip line over native bush, navigate through narrow passageways and slide down chutes. Our guides will instruct you through all of the features and if you are feeling confident, it may be possible to abseil yourself or take on the big 6m jump.
Before heading back to Queenstown, you’ll get to relax in the beautiful surrounds of Routeburn Valley with lunch, tea and coffee.
Although no experience is required, this canyon is suited to people that have a decent level of fitness and a sense of adventure! The minimum age is 15, and children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. If you’re looking for a half day adventure that is a little less challenging, check out the Queenstown Adventurer.
Routeburn Explorer Details
Duration: Full day – around 8 hours with 3 hours canyoning.
Departure time: 9.00am. Check-in is 15 minutes prior to departure.
Minimum age: 15 years
What you need: Swimwear and towel. Our helmets have GoPro mounts if you would like to bring your own GoPro otherwise we have them available for hire.
Trip includes: Transport to and from the canyon. Wetsuits, booties, helmet and all the technical gear. Safety instruction and full briefing. Lunch is provided (please advise of any dietary requirements)
Price: $299 per person
GoPro hire: $40 | SD card: $20 (yours to keep)
A Little Bit About Canyoning Queenstown
Exclusivity – we are the only canyoning operator in our canyons. We’ll take you to places that are normally inaccessible.
Best Canyons & Activities – our canyons feature more waterfalls, natural water slides and deep, crystal clear pools than any other canyoning operator in Queenstown.
Experience & Safety – in addition to being the most experienced canyoning operator in the Queenstown region, we are also the only canyoning operator that provides a minimum of two guides on every trip and a personal floatation device.
Choose Your Challenge – our guides will provide alternatives if you need them and ensure that you are comfortable during the entire trip.
Ecology – we are big supporters of the Routeburn Dart Wildlife Trust and a percentage of trip cost is donated back to the RDWT to support pest control work and scientific research to help our endangered native birds.
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