Hopkins - Huxley
Hopkins - Huxley is a 21,782 ha public hunting block in Ruataniwha Conservation Park, on the eastern side of the Southern Alps in the Canterbury permit area. Elevations climb from 519 m on the valley floors to 2,620 m on the tops, with a median of 1,417 m.
This is predominantly alpine country — 67% of the ground is above the bushline and 43% pushes into true alpine country above 1,500 m. The block is open tussock tops, scree, head basins and bluffs broken up by beech-clad valleys and shrubland on the lower faces. Slopes lean east, which gives sunny morning faces for glassing the catchments off the divide.
The species mix is red deer, fallow deer, tahr and chamois. Hopkins - Huxley is one of the bigger blocks in the Canterbury permit area, and the combination of serious alpine country with fallow alongside reds in the lower ground makes it a destination block for multi-species trips.
Open Hopkins - Huxley on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 113,928 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 519–2,620 m
- Median elevation
- 1,417 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,088–1,742 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 67%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 43%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
519–2,620 m, predominantly alpine, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted on Hopkins - Huxley, which matters across a block this size — foot approaches into the upper Hopkins and Huxley are committing. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the block.
The block is well served by huts, all in Ruataniwha Conservation Park and all non-bookable. Brodrick Hut, Red Hut, Dodger Hut and Huxley Forks Hut have heating, mattresses, non-flush toilets and tap water. Monument Hut, Cullers Hut, Elcho Hut and Dasler Biv have heating, mattresses, non-flush toilets and stream water. Erceg Hut has mattresses, a non-flush toilet and tap water but no listed heating. Officers Hut is a basic cooking shelter. The spread of huts up both the Hopkins and Huxley catchments lets parties string together multi-day trips rather than basing out of one hut.
Huts & campsites
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
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, 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
Cooking
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, 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
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
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
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, 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
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 Hopkins - Huxley. 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 carried while hunting.
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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