Adventure Risks & Safety

Big Rock Adventures offers guided canyoning and packrafting adventures in natural river, canyon and backcountry environments.

Our adventures involve travelling through dynamic outdoor environments where conditions can change. Depending on the activity, you may be hiking over uneven terrain, swimming or moving through rivers and streams, navigating slippery rocks and boulders, travelling in a packraft, or moving around fallen trees and other natural obstacles.

When canyoning, we use specialist canyoning equipment and techniques to safely navigate waterfalls and steep sections of the canyon. This may include abseiling, ziplines, slides and, where conditions are suitable, optional jumps.

When packrafting, we use lightweight inflatable rafts to travel through rivers and waterways. This involves paddling, manoeuvring through moving water and the possibility of entering or swimming in the water if the raft capsizes.

It is all part of exploring some pretty incredible places — but adventure activities in natural environments involve risk.

 

The Risks Involved

Canyoning and packrafting take place in natural environments that can be unpredictable. Moving water, slippery or uneven terrain, changing weather, water levels, natural obstacles and other environmental factors all contribute to the adventure — and to the potential hazards.

Possible risks include:

• Slips and falls on wet, slippery or uneven surfaces

• Bumps, cuts and bruises

• Sprains or broken bones

• Impact injuries from rocks, obstacles, jumping, sliding or moving water

• Capsizing or unexpectedly entering the water while packrafting

• Swimming or being carried by moving water

• Exposure to cold water and changing weather conditions

• Falling rocks, branches, trees or other natural debris

• Equipment failure or human error

• In rare and extreme circumstances, serious injury or death

For more detailed information about the risks involved in our activities, please read our Risk Acknowledgment & Fitness Declaration.

 

How We Manage Your Safety

Your safety is our highest priority.

Big Rock Adventures operates under a documented Safety Management System and independent safety auditing applicable to our adventure activities.

We further manage risk by:

• Employing appropriately qualified and experienced guides

• Using modern, fit-for-purpose equipment

• Logging, maintaining and regularly checking technical and safety equipment

• Conducting activity and site-specific risk assessments

• Monitoring weather, river and water conditions

• Operating within established environmental and water-level parameters

• Using our extensive local knowledge of the areas in which we operate

• Adjusting or cancelling activities when conditions fall outside our operating parameters

We know our operating environments, their hazards and how conditions can affect them. Conditions are continually assessed, including before and during each trip.

While we take extensive measures to manage risk, risk cannot be completely eliminated from adventure activities in natural environments.

 

Your Role in Staying Safe

Adventure activities are a team effort, and you also play an important role in your own safety and the safety of the group.

We ask that you:

• Listen carefully to your guide

• Understand and follow instructions at all times

• Only jump, slide, enter moving water or undertake technical features when instructed

• Paddle and manoeuvre your packraft as instructed

• Wear and use all provided safety equipment correctly

• Tell your guide if you are uncomfortable, unsure or do not understand an instruction

• Be honest about your swimming ability, fitness, health, medical conditions, fears and confidence levels

Before participating, all guests are required to read and complete our Risk Acknowledgment & Fitness Declaration.

We want every participant to understand the nature of the activity, the risks involved and their responsibilities before joining one of our adventures.

 

Ages

Age requirements vary depending on the adventure.

Tui Canyon: 9+
Kaumira Canyon: 14+
Mt Somers Canyons and courses: 14+
Packrafting: 9+

Participants under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, preferably a parent or guardian aged 18+.

If you're unsure whether an adventure is appropriate for you or your child, please contact us before booking.

 

Have Questions?

We encourage you to contact us with any questions or concerns about safety before booking. We're happy to explain our activities, safety procedures and physical requirements so you can make an informed decision about participating.

Canyoning and packrafting are adventure activities — and adventure involves risk. Through professional guiding, quality equipment, strong safety systems and informed participants, we work to manage those risks while still providing a genuine outdoor adventure.

We can't wait to get out there with you.