Awahou Scenic Reserve
Awahou Scenic Reserve is a 450 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, taken out under the Taranaki Forests permit area. Elevations stay low, running from about 162 m to 382 m with a median near 265 m, so this is lowland foothill country a long way below the bushline.
The block has no single dominant aspect: westerlies and north-westerlies are slightly favoured, but most of the eight aspects pick up a roughly even share. That mixed-aspect rolling country is typical of the back-country reserves that ring the Taranaki–Whanganui boundary, with bush-clad spurs and gullies and no real open ground.
Game on the permit includes fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. At this size it works best as a focused short stalk through bush country rather than a longer trip.
Open Awahou Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 1,278 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 162–382 m
- Median elevation
- 265 m
- Middle 50%
- 231–297 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
162–382 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
There are no huts or formal campsites inside the block, so plan to work in on foot and either day-trip or fly-camp from a vehicle base.
Air access by helicopter is not available in this reserve. The area is flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so other parties may be working the same country from helicopters. Be aware of helicopter activity, particularly on bush faces where animals are likely to be holding.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Taranaki Forests 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, taken out under the Taranaki Forests permit area. The reserve is classed as an Ordinary block with hunting permitted, so there is no ballot or seasonal restriction to work around.
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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