36 - Drake River Waiatoto
Block 36 - Drake River Waiatoto is a 5,374 ha balloted roar block in the South Westland - Weheka permit area, sitting high in the Waiatoto headwaters. Elevations run from 237 m on the valley floor to 2,492 m on the divide, with a median of 1,307 m.
With 59% of the block above the 1,200 m bushline and 35% above the 1,500 m alpine line, this is predominantly alpine country — open tussock, scree, head basins and bluffs broken up by a band of bush on the lower faces. Slopes lean west on the dominant aspect.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. The mix of bush-edge for deer and serious alpine country for tahr and chamois makes this one of the stronger combinations on the South Westland ballot for an alpine roar trip.
Open 36 - Drake River Waiatoto on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 17,932 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 237–2,492 m
- Median elevation
- 1,307 m
- Middle 50%
- 996–1,623 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 59%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 35%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
237–2,492 m, mostly above the bushline, 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 is the practical way into a block of this kind given the elevation and distance from road end. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be working 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. Drake River Waiatoto 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
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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