34 - Donald River
Block 34 - Donald River is a 4,016 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area. Elevations climb from 115 m on the valley floor to 2,483 m on the high tops, with a median of 853 m.
The country is a mix of bush and tops with a significant alpine component — around 37% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 26% pushes above the 1,500 m alpine line. Expect West Coast bush on the lower spurs grading into scrub, tussock, scree and bluff country along the upper basins and ridges. Slopes lean west on the dominant aspect.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. Reds work the bush margins; the high basins and ridges give hunters a strong shot at tahr and chamois in real alpine country.
Open 34 - Donald River on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 13,432 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 115–2,483 m
- Median elevation
- 853 m
- Middle 50%
- 402–1,532 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 37%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 26%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
115–2,483 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning west-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 permitted, including helicopters, which opens up the upper catchments and the high tops that are otherwise a serious valley walk. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be working in the same country.
There are no DOC huts inside the block. Plan on fly camp or tent for any overnight trip.
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.
This block sits within a DOC air-access zone — fly-in hunting and helicopter drop-offs may be permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required. Donald 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. Outside the balloted roar window, check current DOC rules for the permit area.
1080 & pesticide status
- Pesticide (1080 or similar) has been laid in or near this block — check current dog and carcass restrictions before you hunt.
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