Kirkliston
Kirkliston is a 7,496 ha public hunting block in the Kirkliston Range Conservation Area, sitting in inland South Canterbury. Elevations run from around 340 m on the lower ground up to 1,873 m on the tops, with a median of about 1,110 m.
The block works as a mix of bush and tops, leaning toward the tops — roughly 39% of the ground is above the 1,200 m bushline and 13% is above 1,500 m. Country is the typical Kirkliston Range mix: tussock tops, shrubland and scattered beech on the lower faces, with sunny eastern aspects dominating. That eastern lean gives good morning glassing conditions.
It's a strong six-species block by Canterbury standards: red deer, fallow deer, tahr, chamois, wild pig and wallaby are all present. That variety on a compact block makes it an unusually flexible destination for a short trip.
Open Kirkliston on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 26,175 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 340–1,873 m
- Median elevation
- 1,109 m
- Middle 50%
- 928–1,351 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 39%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 13%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
340–1,873 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, which is useful on a range like Kirkliston where the tops are well above the road and most valley walks involve a fair climb. WARO is also permitted on the block, so commercial helicopters may be active.
There is one hut on the block: Pearson Hut, in the Kirkliston Range Conservation Area. It has mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water (not treated — boil before use). It isn't bookable. With only one hut and a six-species list, plenty of hunters fly camp away from Pearson to chase the species that interest them.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
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 Kirkliston. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit process 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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