Ben Ohau
Ben Ohau is a 25,639 ha public hunting block in the Ruataniwha Conservation Park area of Canterbury, sitting on the eastern side of the Southern Alps. Elevations run from around 510 m on the valley floors up to 2,483 m on the tops, with a median of about 1,310 m.
This is a predominantly alpine block — around 60% of the ground is above the bushline and 34% pushes into true alpine country above 1,500 m. The country is open tussock tops, scree, bluffs and head-of-valley basins, with beech and shrubland in the lower faces. Slopes lean east, which gives sunny morning faces for glassing and milder country than the cold southern aspects.
The species list reflects the country: red deer, tahr, chamois and wild pig. With this much alpine ground inside a single block, it's a strong option for hunters chasing tahr or chamois alongside reds in the bush margins.
Open Ben Ohau on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 85,500 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 511–2,483 m
- Median elevation
- 1,308 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,025–1,624 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 60%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 34%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
511–2,483 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted on Ben Ohau, which matters on a block this size — getting into the head basins on foot is a serious commitment, and charter drops let hunters concentrate their time on the country that holds animals rather than the approach. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the block.
Baikie Hut sits inside the block, in Ruataniwha Conservation Park. It has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water (not treated). It isn't bookable. With only one hut covering 25,000-plus hectares, most parties will need to fly camp or carry a tent to hunt the basins and tops away from the hut.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Canterbury 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 to hunt Ben Ohau. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot. Permits are free but must be on you while hunting.
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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