Canyoning

Canyoning is one of the most rewarding recreational sports you can get into, but it is not without its risks! It can certainly be hard and dangerous. Beautiful slot canyons with sculpted rock, crystal clear water and thundering waterfalls are usually balanced with one hell of an exit hike (or climb) and dense prickly Australian bush that wants to punish you for being there.

But alas, here are recounts of my favourite canyoning experiences, the mishaps, the close calls, the slogs, but most importantly the beautiful scenery in parts of the world you would never get to experience without canyoning.

Hat Hill Canyon

It was Slaydies weekend! Held annually in the Blue Mountains on the first weekend of summer/December, so Jess and I decided to put up a group canyoning trip through Hat Hill Canyon. Hayden also…

Water Dragon Canyon

This time it was just me, Haydo and Ethan, out for a little canyon frolick in nature. It had been a while since we had visited the Gambe, and we hadn’t yet been through…

Watta Canyon

Luke and I were down in the Southern Highlands for the weekend for a Wedding, so thought it was a great idea for a trip down Watta Canyon on the Sunday. We met up…

Deep Pass Canyon

This time it was just Luke and myself, exploring Deep Pass Canyon. What a treat. I had heard a lot about Deep Pass, but seeing the photos of all the ropes and wooden planks…

Dargans Creek Canyon

It was an exciting weekend! I was bringing Luke to the Blue Mountains to meet my group of wild adventurous friends. We had only been officially dating for a month at this stage, but…

Great Uncle George Canyon

I heard about this canyon from the Upper Blue Mountains Bushwalking Club, and was interested in checking it out. Typically, access to and from the canyon involved crossing over private property, but after some…

Sleeper Canyon

The Sunday after we completed our 3 Canyons in a day, we decided why not add a 4th canyon into the weekends adventures! We had seen a bit of an online discussion about a…

Sunnyside, Zorro and Alcatraz Canyons

Sunnyside, Zorro and Alcatraz Canyons are all relatively short canyons in close proximity to each other in the Newnes Plateau, which means… 3 canyons in one day?! Heck yes. Sunnyside Canyon (Also known as…

Multi-pitch Abseils in the Blue Mountains

When the weather feels a little too cold for a winter Canyon adventure, there are plenty of epically enjoyable abseiling adventures that make a sweet alternative! There are a few bolted dry abseil trips…

Coinslot Canyon

There are not many canyons in NSW where you hike up the mountain and finish hiking downhill back to the cars, but Coinslot Canyon is one of the very few! Ethan, David, Laura and…

Breakfast Creek Canyon

On a frosty winters day in June 2023, Ethan, Jess and I decided it was a perfect day for a canyon. Technically, the canyon ‘season’ typically runs from late spring – early autumn, usually…

Grand Canyon

Funnily enough… I had only completed Grand Canyon twice in the two years I had been canyoning, both which happened to be during the night-time to see the glow worms. My first trip through…

Fortress Canyon

I’ve always been curious about doing Fortress Canyon, I didn’t know much about it, but always heard about it through the canyon community. So one weekend Ethan and I thought heck, why not, let’s…

Claustral Canyon

Claustral Canyon is dubbed by many as the most beautiful of the Blue Mountains Canyons, and well so, even though some seem to view it as a little ‘overrated’. In my opinion, how can…

Tigersnake Canyon

A week or so after getting back home from our epic New Zealand mission, it wasn’t long before the adventure itch was itchin’. We had plans to meet friends on Sunday for a trip…

Kanangra Main Canyon

For a while, Kanangra Main was considered the epitome of New South Wales canyons, before NNSW Canyons were opened that is (I think Glennifer now takes that cake). In some regards, I think it…

Dione Dell Canyon

Once you start canyoning in the Blue Mountains, Kanangra becomes the next biggest challenge. Canyoning in Kanangra National Park almost becomes a right of passage, once you have canyoned there, are you officially a…

Upper South Bowens

With an up-coming hiking and canyoning trip to New Zealand coming up, it was decided to have a bit of a training run through Upper South Bowens. It was the first time I had…

Koombanda Canyon

Sometime in December 2022, I had an idea to go through a canyon solo. I honestly can’t recall exactly why I wanted to do this, I think it was mostly for the serenity, the…

Whungee Whengee Canyon

Ahh Whungee Whengee Canyon! When I first heard about this canyon I was honestly terrified. An epically long canyon constriction filled with a series of ‘duck unders’. Yes, you heard that right. There are…

Butterbox Canyon

There is a lot of hype around Butterbox Canyon, and I am not sure I would say its one of my favourites. The main canyon section is EPIC, don’t get me wrong, but I…

Hole in the Wall Canyon

Hole in the Wall is an epic canyon off Waratah Ridge Road in the Newnes Plateau area. It is the most popular canyon in this part of Newnes due to its easy access and…

Yileen Canyon

Yileen Canyon is another beautiful short canyon on the Southern side of Bells Line of Road. It is a perfect canyon if you only have a half day free or looking for a low…

Dalpura Canyon

Dalpura canyon is a beautiful short canyon on the south side of Bells Line of Road. It’s a perfect beginner canyon, short run if you’re low on time and a great wet weather option…

Serendipity Canyon

Serendipity Canyon, or otherwise known as ‘Why don’t we do it in the road?’ canyon is one of the shorter, easier and more accessible canyons at Mt Wilson in the Blue Mountains. The naming…

Macquarie Pass Canyon

Macquarie Pass is a beautiful full day canyon down in the Southern Highlands. You can split the canyon in two if you want shorter days by either completing the upper section or lower sections,…

Jugglers Canyon

Jugglers is another brilliant beginner canyon. It isn’t a deep or narrow slot canyon, but it is a great spot to practice anchor skills and for training. I have been through Jugglers a few…

Rocky Creek Canyon

I am still astounded that after 4 years of active canyoning I have only been through Rocky Creek Canyon once! Bismal!! Rocky Creek was my third ever canyoning and it is a brilliant one…

Empress Canyon

If you’re looking for an expensive new hobby to step up the notch of your adventures, explore places and waterfalls rarely visited with a side of potential painful death then CANYONING is for you!!…

I’m Rach!

Welcome to Rachmartee, my personal collection of adventures through-out Australia over the years. Here, I invite you to join me, my friends or my pups on a journey of mishaps, bush bashes, lesser known trails, heartfelt stories and epic scenery!

I have lived and grown up within the ACT and rural NSW my whole life. Getting outside fills my heart with joy and wonder, it calms my nerves, helps me feel grounded and helps me feel connected to this world. I hope these stories and adventures will be an archive collection I can reflect back on for many years, for my family to see what I am getting up to on all these crazy trips and for my children to one day see the crazy and wild things that shaped who their mother is.

Let’s connect