Bottom Acheron
Bottom Acheron is a 2,957-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, sitting in the lower Acheron catchment of inland Marlborough. Elevations run from 701 m to 1,642 m with a median of 976 m, so this is largely lower-altitude country with only a sliver climbing into the tops.
Eighteen per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and just 1% is alpine, putting it firmly in the mix of bush and tops bracket — beech, scrub and matagouri country dominate, with open tussock faces on the higher ground. The aspect mix is even with a slight east-facing lean, so sun-catching faces are scattered through the block.
The species list runs red deer, chamois and wild pig. Reds work the scrub gullies and bush edges typical of the Molesworth country, chamois hold the rocky upper faces, and pigs use the broken lower country.
Open Bottom Acheron on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 9,335 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 701–1,642 m
- Median elevation
- 976 m
- Middle 50%
- 833–1,148 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 18%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 1%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
701–1,642 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a roar — 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 Bottom Acheron, so hunters walk in from the legal access points on the Molesworth station system. WARO is not permitted either, so the block sees no commercial helicopter activity during the roar.
No DOC huts sit inside the block, so plan to fly camp or work from a base outside. Carry a fly or tent and check the current Molesworth access status — the station road network is seasonal and entry conditions change year to year.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
Bottom Acheron is a Roar block with Restricted hunt status under the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area. Hunters apply for the roar period through DOC's standard process rather than relying on a rolling permit. Check the current season's dates and access rules before applying.
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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