FreezeFest 🥶 is an informal annual gathering of canyoners who choose to go canyoning in the depths of winter.

While canyoning in Australia is typically a summer activity, participants brave the near-freezing water temperatures and cold weather during the shortest-day weekend of the year, typically in June.

There are no formal guides or organized trips; participants are expected to be competent canyoners capable of looking after themselves. People arrange their own groups for day trips, with plans often made around the campfire over breakfast or the night before.

The event involves camping out, sharing stories around a large campfire, and enjoying the camaraderie of fellow "mad" canyoners. The main campsite is usually Cathedral Reserve campground at Mount Wilson.

Some participants opt for dry canyons, while others choose particularly wet and cold challenges, such as the aquatic Claustral Canyon. 

Full details to come.