Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve
Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve is a 2,850 hectare public hunting block in the Rotorua Lakes and surrounds permit area, Bay of Plenty. Elevations run from 297 m up to 716 m, with a median of 421 m — lowland to mid-elevation bush country sitting well below the bushline.
The reserve covers bush ground around Lake Tarawera south-east of Rotorua. Slopes lean north-west on the dominant aspect, with a spread of other faces giving sun on something through much of the day.
Game on the permit includes red deer, fallow deer, sambar and wild pig. The sambar entry makes Tarawera one of the more notable blocks for the species in the central North Island.
Open Lake Tarawera Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 7,833 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 297–716 m
- Median elevation
- 421 m
- Middle 50%
- 372–511 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
297–716 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Humphries Bay Campsite sits within or adjacent to the reserve as a base for parties working the country. The reserve is not flagged for air access or WARO, so hunting here is foot-based, with lake access by boat as another option to reach the more remote faces.
The lake itself is a significant feature for access — Tarawera is large enough that boats are the standard way to move between the more distant parts of the reserve.
Huts & campsites
Campsites: Humphries Bay Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Rotorua Lakes and surrounds permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
A DOC hunting permit is required. The reserve is classed as a scenic reserve with hunting Permitted, issued through the Rotorua Lakes and surrounds permit system. Scenic reserves can carry extra conditions — confirm the current permit terms before planning a trip.
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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