Great Barrier Forest Conservation Area
Great Barrier Forest Conservation Area is an 8,148 ha block — the largest piece of public hunting country on Great Barrier Island (Aotea) in the Hauraki Gulf. Elevations run from near sea level up to 499 m with a median of 140 m, placing the bulk of the block in lowland and foothill bush.
Aspect leans south, with strong shares also facing north-east, east and south-west. The block carries subtropical island bush characteristic of Aotea — kanuka, broadleaf and regenerating canopy across a network of ridges and gully systems.
Wild pig is the only listed species. Great Barrier carries its own dynamics — the island has no deer at all, and pigs are the focus.
Open Great Barrier Forest Conservation Area on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 21,448 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–499 m
- Median elevation
- 140 m
- Middle 50%
- 74–219 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
-1–499 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted on the block. Mt Heale Hut sits inside the wider Great Barrier/Aotea system — it is bookable through DOC and has cooking facilities, mattresses, non-flush toilets and tap water (not treated — boil before use). The Green Campsite and Akapoua Bay Campsite are also available on the island, giving additional bases. Reaching the island requires ferry or flight from Auckland.
Huts & campsites
- Mt Heale HutBookable
Cooking, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: The Green Campsite, Akapoua Bay Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the GBI permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
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 through the GBI (Great Barrier Island) permit area. The block is Ordinary with Restricted hunt status — Great Barrier has block-specific access rules, conservation values and community considerations. Confirm current conditions and access points with DOC 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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Auckland.
Sign up →