The Taipo River is a West Coast run located just west of Arthur's Pass National Park, accessed via State Highway 73. The river is structured in tiers of increasing difficulty as one travels upstream: roughly Class I an hour above the lowest hut, Class II at two hours, Class III at three hours, and Class IV at four hours. The 13 kilometers below Mid-Taipo Hut have been described as Class II-III, with approximately four kilometers of moderate Class IV above that point. The lower section is characterized by wide, splashy runs that funnel into steep, boulder-choked drops with breaking wave trains, while the upper section above the swing bridge near Mid-Taipo Hut offers a fast and twisting roller coaster through smooth granite boulders. The gorge section near the highway bridge is particularly striking.

Access into the Taipo Valley is via a rough gravel track from SH73, beginning opposite the first farmhouse on the left after crossing the Taipo River Bridge when driving toward Otira. A carpark suitable for 2WD vehicles is available adjacent to SH73. Four-wheel-drive vehicles can continue further to the Taipo River itself, though the river at that point is deep and swift and should not be crossed even by experienced 4WD drivers. A marked trail follows the river past a series of huts — the lowest hut serves as a practical base camp, with Mid-Taipo Hut reachable in roughly two to three hours from there via a swing bridge crossing to the true right bank.

The river is subject to significant and frequent flooding, which can render side streams — particularly Seven-Mile Creek — impassable. The river's character changes considerably with water level; a bridge stick gauge reading of 2 is suggested as the minimum recommended flow, with the section below Dillon's Hut running mostly Grade II+ with a few Grade III moves at lower flows. The gorge at the lower end is a notable feature of the run.

Sandflies are present in the valley, particularly around the upper huts. Winter and early spring travel in the area carries avalanche risk in the side streams of Mary Creek. The valley terrain alternates between open river flats and tighter gorge sections, with the river braiding around islands in flatter stretches before steepening again.