Dropping into canyons since 1994
Deep Canyon, Wanaka, have been running trips since 1994, the first in the country to do so. Our guides are very experienced and easy to get on with, not to mention super-keen!
Our equipment and procedures are of the highest standard and our commitment to safety is absolute. This allows us to run maximum adventure/maximum fun trips in wild and fantastic situations. Our focus is strongly on personal satisfaction and good humour.
Our guides are certified under the NZOIA* Canyon qualification framework [some guides may have further overseas based qualifications]. This is a New Zealand specific programme and Deep Canyon is actively involved in setting the standards for, and assessing on, the programme.
- Guide with us: Deep Canyon Employment Application Form 20-21
- Sales position: Deep Canyon Sales Employment Application Form 2020-21
New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Associati
Meet our Guides Chris, Sandra, Margeaux, Justin, Madi and Strahn
Chris Warburton
Chris has over 25 years experience guiding and instructing canyoning, rock climbing and white water kayaking. He reckons canyoning is the ultimate adventure tourism experience and is rapt to lead this competent guiding team.
Wanaka has been his adventure playground for the last 13 years. When not working Chris can be found rock climbing or surfing the Hawea wave with his kids, coaching sport or playing guitar.
Sandra Buldon
Sandra lives to be in the mountains and loves sharing the beauty and history that lies within them. Sandra has over 10 years guiding experience. She has traveled, worked, climbed and canyoned in Chile, Peru, Equador, Utah, Spain and Italy and opening new canyons in Costa Rica. This is her fourth season in New Zealand with Deep Canyon.
With a vast work history including being a swimming instructor and working in a mountain rescue team, combined with her passions for climbing, white-water kayaking and rafting, she is up for every challenge we can throw at her.
Margeaux Settineri
- 5 summers of canyon guiding
- Carinthian Canyon Guide Ass. in Austria– 5 months training course
Margeaux moved from Connecticut to the Colorado Rockies when she was 17 and has been head over heels for the mountains ever since. While completing her studies in Philosophy she dedicated her free time to skiing, climbing, hiking, teaching yoga, and leading canoe and hiking expeditions for kids. She’s spent the last 4 years giving ski lessons, raft guiding, and canyoning in the Alps in Austria and Italy. She’s excited to trade another European winter for a Kiwi Summer and return to play in this whitewater mountain paradise. Margeaux is heading into her third season with Deep Canyon.
Justin Wimmer
Madi Oakes
- The 3rd season of canyon guiding
- Trainee guide at Deep Canyon, Season 18/19
- Hillary Outdoors Education Centre, Diploma in outdoor adventure sports and instruction
Madi, a Kiwi, hails from the North Island and has found her new passion guiding canyons. Madi has completeing her outdoor pursuits qualifications and gained NZOIA Canyon 1 in Jan 2020. She is fun passionate and on to it. We look forward to guiding with her this season.
Strahn Neil
At home in any outdoor environment, Strahn has been a trainee guide 19-20 season and we look forward to watching Strahn gain his NZOIA Canyon 1 and develop his skills this summer. Always ready to jump off the cliffs into canyon pools.
Hailing from the Wellington Region Strahn is a local kiwi man with family ties to Wanaka and the Far North. Well travelled through Canada, Europe and Asia he has spent the last few years guiding and training in the canyons, forests, rivers, rock walls and mountains of New Zealands beautiful national parks.
He couldn’t be more stoked to spend the summer rigging ropes, sharing his experience and enjoying the lush white water canyons of Wanaka and it’s surroundings.
Bring on the Adventure!
Dave Vass
Dave is the owner and has been since um, way back when it was the first and only canyoning company in NZ. Dave has tons of experience in ice, rock and mountain climbing, caving, river trips, rope access work, search and rescue and freediving. Oh and of course canyoning in which he is a pioneer of the NZ canyoning scene with lots of exploring and first descents. He was also an assessor and developer of the NZOIA canyon guides programme.
Dave broke his neck a while back and now doesn’t do any of that stuff. He does however keep an eye on things and holds the title in the company of Figurehead. He is a member of the Otago Conservation Board, an advocate for recreational access to the great outdoors and has been busy writing a bunch of ripping yarns, soon to be published as a book.
Ros Goulding
General Manager at Deep Canyon and director. The shadowy figure behind the scenes, without whom things would – well who knows what anarchy would reign at Deep Canyon without Ros!
With a B. Com from Otago University and a background in business and guiding, along with a wealth of recreational mountaineering, skiing, hiking and sailing. Ros always looks forward to the challenges of operating Deep Canyon.