Forbes
Forbes is a 10,387-hectare public hunting block in Otago, within the Hāwea Conservation Park / Lake Wanaka / Lower Matukituki permit area. Elevations run from about 522 m up to 2453 m with a median around 1465 m, putting most of the ground in predominantly alpine country.
Around 47% of the country sits above the 1,500 m alpine line, so expect snow tussock, rock and exposed faces through the upper guts. Slopes lean west-facing, which shapes where sun, snow and feeding animals concentrate through the day.
Recorded game on the block includes red deer, tahr and chamois. That gives hunters three quarry species — bush-edge and lower faces for reds, the higher tops and rocky basins for tahr and chamois. It sits in the lakes-and-mountains country west of Lake Hāwea and Lake Wānaka where bush bottoms grade up into open tops.
Open Forbes on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 34,330 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 522–2,453 m
- Median elevation
- 1,465 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,164–1,763 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 72%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 47%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
522–2,453 m, predominantly alpine, leaning west-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
Helicopter access is permitted on this block, which gives charter operators a way to put hunters into upper basins and faces that would otherwise mean a long valley walk. Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) is also permitted, meaning commercial helicopters may be working the same country at times — worth factoring into trip timing.
One DOC hut sits within the block: Forbes Hut in Hāwea Conservation Park, with heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. It is not bookable — first-come, first-served.
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 Roar block in the Hawea Conservation Park/Lake Wanaka/Lower Matukituki Valley 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.
Forbes is classified as a Roar block under the Hawea Conservation Park/Lake Wanaka/Lower Matukituki Valley permit area, with a Permitted hunt status. A DOC hunting permit is required but no ballot applies — apply through the standard online system. Expect more pressure through the roar window in late March and April.
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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