Top abseiling & canyoning experiences in NSW

Blue Mountains Adventure Company, Blue Mountains 

You only need to travel an hour from Sydney to immerse yourself in 11,400 square kilometres of World Heritage-listed wilderness, the Blue Mountains uniting staggering sandstone cliffs, rainforest-clad valleys cooled by waterfalls, and dramatic gorges with Aboriginal art dating back tens of thousands of years. Needless to say, it’s a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, and the Blue Mountains Adventure Company will point you in the right direction. The Katoomba-based company offers rock climbing, canyoning and abseiling. And it caters to everyone, from kids and hesitant beginners to fearless pros. For something truly memorable, sign up for a night canyoning session, where you’ll shimmy, jump, slide and swim through caves lit with glow worms. 

Abseiling, Blue Mountains Adventure Company

High and Wild Australian Adventures, Blue Mountains 

With 2,000km of cliffs to explore in the Blue Mountains, there’s plenty of room for two experienced operators. Enter High and Wild, which offers rock climbing, abseiling and canyoning in small groups or privately. Sign up for a two-day rock-climbing tour to experience the sheer variety of terrain in the Blue Mountains – think, descending waterfalls, throwing yourself into fern-laces swimming holes and exploring remote caves.   

High and Wild Australian Adventures, Katoomba

Outdoor Raw, Nowra  

Outdoor Raw specialises in coastal and inland rock climbing days for private groups. Climbs here are challenging and one of the highlights is Thompson's Point, great for intermediate climbers. If you’re a fan of heights, but don’t want to put in too much effort, try the company’s ‘cliffnics’: dine on a delicious selection of locally produced food and wine while suspended off the edge of one of the beautiful Shoalhaven clifftops, overlooking rivers, mountains and beaches. 

Outdoor Raw, Shoalhaven

Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures, Glenworth Valley 

If you’re a thrill-seeker, you may have already heard about Glenworth Valley, an enormous adventure centre located about an hour’s drive north of Sydney. Here, you can abseil a range of cliffs, from beginner to advanced levels, while soaking up views of the deep-green valley. When you come back down to Earth, there’s kayaking, quad biking and horse riding to be tackled, too. We recommend spending a couple of days here – there’s on-site accommodation you can check in to as well. 

Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures, Glenworth Valley - Credit: Glenworth Valley Wilderness Adventures

K7 Adventures, Snowy Mountains 

Although most people go to the Snowy Mountains to ski, the region offers a variety of thrills all year round, particularly for those who like the view from above. K7 Adventures specialises in tailored guiding services for individuals, couples, families and small groups. Whether you prefer to climb or abseil, K7 will craft an itinerary to challenge and inspire across destinations like Eagle Rock (Thredbo), Jindy Rock (Jindabyne) and Blue Lake (Charlottes Pass), among others.  

K7 Adventures at Kosciuszko National Park, Snowy Mountains - Credit: K7 Adventures

Walking Rivers Pty Ltd, Newcastle & Hunter Valley 

Spend between four and eight hours abseiling around Newcastle and the Hunter Valley cliffs in Watagans National Park, with every journey offering multiple descents. If you have nine hours spare, you can abseil and then visit three wineries. Walking Rivers knows this part of the state inside out, and also helps you explore on bushwalking and kayaking tours. Or a combination of all three, if you have the time.  

Abseiling tour with Walking Rivers Pty Ltd - Credit: Ivan Macfadyen

Valley Outdoors, Kangaroo Valley 

Valley Outdoors offers a range of accessible, inclusive adventures in Kangaroo Valley, including canoeing, abseiling, hiking and camping. The team caters to groups of up to 60 people, with experiences lasting from a few hours to a few days. Whether paddling through dramatic gorges, bouncing through playful rapids, discovering hidden forests or delighting in chance encounters with native wildlife, local guides can unlock the hidden wonders of this spectacular region.  

Valley Outdoors, Kangaroo Valley - Credit: Grainger Films

Eagle Rock Adventures, Sydney & surrounds  

Canyoning and abseiling are on the agenda with Eagle Rock, and you’ll get to explore some postcard-perfect destinations along the way. Most experiences are located in the canyons of the Blue Mountains, and you can choose to do a single activity or book days that combine both canyoning and abseiling. The regular timetable caters to beginners, those with intermediate experience and pros, looking to take their skills to the next level.  

Eagle Rock Adventures, Katoomba - Credit: Eagle Rock Adventures

Australian School of Mountaineering, Sydney & surrounds  

Australia’s longest-established climbing school attracts those looking to develop skills and those looking to perfect them in equal measure. Most canyoning and rock climbing experiences are in the Blue Mountains, although hard-core climbers can also sign up to go climbing in the Snowy Mountains in winter. If you’re a Bear Grylls fan, you can also book outdoor survival courses, teaching you everything you need to know about living off the land.  

Australian School of Mountaineering, Katoomba - Credit: Australian School of Mountaineering