09 - Gorge River
Block 09 - Gorge River is a 3,918 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, in the Jackson Bay - Gorge River coastal country. Elevations run from sea level up to 716 m, with a median of 262 m.
This is lowland and foothill country — none of the block sits above the bushline. Expect heavy West Coast bush, river flats and bluffy lower spurs in a near-coastal setting. Slopes lean north on the dominant aspect.
The block carries red deer and tahr. Reds are the realistic quarry at these elevations; tahr are listed for the wider permit area but the country sits below their usual range.
Open 09 - Gorge River on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 13,114 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–716 m
- Median elevation
- 262 m
- Middle 50%
- 170–352 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
-1–716 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a balloted roar block — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Air access is not permitted on this block, so hunting parties will need to walk in from the surrounding country. WARO is permitted, so commercial helicopters may still be working alongside ground-based hunters.
Gorge River Hut sits in the area and is non-bookable, with heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and tap water (not treated, boil before use). It gives walk-in parties a fixed base in the catchment.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Balloted Roar block block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required. Gorge River is a Balloted Roar block — access during the roar is allocated through DOC's South Westland ballot, with successful applicants drawing exclusive use of the block for a defined period rather than booking through the standard online permit system. Outside the balloted roar window, check current DOC rules for the permit area.
1080 & pesticide status
No current, planned or proposed pesticide operations intersect this block in our data. Always confirm with DOC before taking a dog in.
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