Lake McRae
Lake McRae is a 4,848-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, taking in the country around Lake McRae itself in inland Marlborough. Elevations run from 648 m to 1,945 m with a median of 1,070 m, giving the block bush-edge country at the bottom and tops on the upper margins.
Thirty-three per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 7% is alpine, putting it in the mix of bush and tops bracket. The country leans south-facing, with strong south, south-east and south-west aspects — shaded sidles that hold feed through the warmer parts of the day.
The permit covers red deer, chamois, wild goat and wild pig. The lake itself sits as a landmark within the block and the surrounding country gives hunters a mix of bush-edge, scrub and tops to work through.
Open Lake McRae on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 15,154 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 648–1,945 m
- Median elevation
- 1,070 m
- Middle 50%
- 895–1,275 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 33%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 7%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
648–1,945 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning south-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
Air access is not permitted on Lake McRae, and WARO is not permitted either, so the country is left to walk-in hunters during the roar. Access runs from the legal entry points on the Molesworth system.
Lake McRae Hut sits within the block. It has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. It is not bookable, so plan for first-come first-served use and carry a fly or tent as backup. The hut makes a useful base for working the surrounding catchments.
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 Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
Lake McRae is a Roar block with Restricted hunt status under the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area. Apply specifically for the roar period through DOC's standard process; rolling permits do not cover this block. Check current season dates and access rules before applying.
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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