Buller - Kawatiri
Buller - Kawatiri is a 367,152 ha Ordinary block covering the northern West Coast around the Buller and Mōkihinui catchments, including parts of Kahurangi National Park, Paparoa National Park, Victoria Forest Park and the Lyell area. Elevations run from sea level (-1 m at the river mouths) to 1,632 m on the tops, with a median around 467 m.
This is largely lowland and foothill country — only about 2% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline. The dominant aspect is west, into the prevailing weather. Beech forest, river flats and lower ranges make up most of the ground.
The block carries red deer, fallow deer, chamois, wild goat and wild pig. The species mix and the scale of the country mean it covers everything from coastal pig hunts to fallow on the lower ranges and chamois on the higher tops.
Open Buller - Kawatiri on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 1,117,731 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–1,632 m
- Median elevation
- 467 m
- Middle 50%
- 256–768 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 2%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
-1–1,632 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is not permitted on this Ordinary block — it's walk-in country worked from a network of road ends and tracks. WARO is permitted.
The block is well served by huts across Kahurangi, Paparoa, Victoria Forest Park, the Mōkihinui and the Lyell. Bookable huts include Specimen Point Hut, Stern Valley Hut, Ghost Lake Hut and Lyell Saddle Hut on the Old Ghost Road and Heaphy/Mōkihinui networks. Many more non-bookable backcountry huts (Kākāpō, Mōkihinui Forks, Goat Creek, Buckland Peak, Johnson and others) sit through the bush and ranges. Lyell and Ballroom Overhang campsites also fall within the block.
Huts & campsites
- Specimen Point HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
- Stern Valley HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Ghost Lake HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Lyell Saddle HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Specimen Point HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
- Stern Valley HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Campsites: Lyell Campsite, Ballroom Overhang Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Buller - Kawatiri 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. This is an Ordinary block with Permitted status, so there's no ballot — apply through the standard Buller - Kawatiri permit system. Carry the permit in the field.
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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