Blast in the Haast!
Makarora Meetup

Wonderland Makarora Lodge

Friday 28 Feb - Sunday 2 March 2025

What is a NZCA meetup?

A NZCA meetup is a weekend for members to turn up in one spot, meet old friends, make new ones and organise your own canyoning trips.

We arrange a central hub, and usually, a social gathering on at least one of the nights, but there are no organised trips, workshops, raffles and other fancy stuff like at our bi-annual festival.  

 A meetup is for independant canyoners, who can look after themselves in a group canyoning trip.  You organise your own food, gear, transport, mates, trips, ropes and so on.

It is vital to be honest with others about your canyoning experience and abilities. 

Check out the Facebook event to chat to other people attending

Blast 2025 - Whatsapp chat group

A few FAQ...

If you have questions which aren’t answered on this page, please ask on the whatsapp chat or contact patrick@nzcanyoningassociation.org 

To join the meetup you should be self-sufficient in your canyoning ability.

This means you are able to look after yourself while in a canyon. You should be able to judge which canyons you can safely do, and whether the water levels and canyon hazards are within your ability.

You are welcome to organise trips with other more experienced people to learn more, but this is something you need to do yourself, and you should at the minimum know enough basics to keep yourself safe. There are plenty of places to do courses in New Zealand if you would like to up your skills or just get started.

If you’re coming solo, its a good idea to try to connect with people ahead of the event via facebook. 

Many will organise to go with mates, but if you do not know anyone going, chuck a post up well in advance of the event to see if someone will let you join their trip. 

It will be up to each individual to decide what is acceptable or not. As this is a casual meet up, you are free to do what you would normally do.

If it REALLY rains you’ll find us at the pub having a beer and telling stories ;0) 

Please visit the KiwiCanyons.org/overseas page and give the whole website a thorough read.

NZ canyons are much more aquatic and can be technical. Also, be aware of Didymo: learn what it is and what you need to do

Blast in the Haast is FREE for NZCA Members

NZCA events are for members only.  

Any NZCA event fees only cover the expenses to run the event. For the Blaast, its FREE for members.

This link will explain all about membership and invite you to join.

NZCA membership lasts for two summer seasons. So If you went to the 2024 Makarora festival, you’re probably still a member.  If not, please join up below. If you’re unsure, email secretary@nzcanyoningassociation.org

Event terms & conditions

All NZCA events are for current, paid up NZCA members only. Any event registration fee covers the actual costs of running the event only.

Members agree that they participate in NZCA activities at their own risk, and agree to take responsibility for their own safety during those activities. Members agree to hold blameless the event organizers, the NZ Canyoning Association, its executive and its members for any loss, or damage, caused by negligence, act or omission whether consequential or indirect, as a result of participation in any NZ Canyoning Association event.

Members agree that they have enough personal equipment to keep themselves safe/warm and enough skills/experience in aquatic canyons in New Zealand to look after themselves in normal conditions.

You must be at least 18 at the start of the event to participate.

NZCA events are not a cheap guided canyoning experience. They are events for self-sufficient canyoners who at least:

  • have the ability and judgement to manage their personal safety in a canyon.
  • have the suitable equipment to keep themselves safe and warm when canyoning.

We expect each group to have the minimum group safety equipment of first aid kit and emergency communication (PLB or InReach).

It’s ok if you can’t rig pitches, or need someone to make leadership decisions or help you learn a few extra things along the way. 

We just don’t want people who need constant supervision to stop them hurting themselves, folks who need their descender rigged for them, or who rock up in boardies, Teva’s with an ATC and no helmet… 

If you’re unsure if you have enough skill/gear/experience, please talk to us, we’re pretty friendly 😉

Join NZCA Now

The Canyons

Check out all the local canyons at www.kiwicanyons.org

Programme

An awesome weekend in perhaps the most popular canyoning destination in New Zealand! 

Friday 28 Feb 2025

  • From 6 pm: meet and greet at the meetup hub, details below.
  • Organise your own canyoning trips for the following day.

Saturday 1 March 2025

  • 8:30am: Meet at main bar area and organise trips with one another.Then its time to go canyoning!
  • After the canyon: CHECK, CLEAN, DRY bring your own tub: we’ll try to bring a few more plus extra detergent!
  • 6pm: There will be a BAR SHOUT from the NZ Canyoning Association! .Come have some drinks and nibbles at the meetup hub and stick around for dinner.
  • Organise your own canyoning trips for the following day

Sunday 2 March 2025

  • 8:30am: Meet at main bar area and organise trips with one another.Then its time to go canyoning!
  • Drive home tired and stoked.
  • Before the next canyon, CHECK, CLEAN, DRY

Accomodation, meetup Hub and food

The meetup Hub will be the bar at Wonderland Makarora Lodge.

It is your own responsibility to arrange your accomodation: Wonderland has many options from chalets to camping..

www.wonderlandlodge.nz/accommodation

Wonderland does have WiFi, but there is no phone reception from Hawea to Haast. 

There are also DOC campgrounds at Cameron Flat, which need to be booked in advance online. 

 

Food & Drink

To keep things social, we encourage people to eat and drink at the Wonderland bar.

There will be a BAR SHOUT from the NZ Canyoning Association on Saturday night. 

If that really isn’t your thing, Wonderland does have a communal kitchen you can cook in if you are staying there and some chalets have basic facilities as well. 

Safety Documents​

  • Each group must fill out an activity sheet and sign out at the meetup hub / with the sign out person at the end of each activity.
  • Each group will be expected to have the minimum safety equipment: PLB*, First Aid. 

*There is good phone coverage at Makarora, but it becomes patchy up to Haast Pass.