Lewis Pass National Reserve
Lewis Pass National Reserve is a 5,560 ha public hunting block in Canterbury, sitting along the main divide country around the Lewis Pass crossing. Elevations run from 600 m to 1,423 m with a median of 954 m, so the bulk of the block is bush and lower-slope country with limited tops.
With only 13% above the 1,200 m bushline and 0% above 1,500 m, this is mostly beech-forested country with a thin band of subalpine scrub at the upper edges — not predominantly alpine. Slopes lean predominantly west, so afternoon sun and the prevailing weather both hit the main faces.
The species list is short but worthwhile: red deer, chamois and wild pig. Reds dominate the beech and gully systems, chamois work the higher faces where the bush thins, and pigs turn up at the lower elevations.
Open Lewis Pass National Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 17,442 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 600–1,423 m
- Median elevation
- 954 m
- Middle 50%
- 811–1,116 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 13%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
600–1,423 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, although given the elevation and the bush cover most hunters will work in on foot. WARO is also active across the block, so commercial recovery helicopters may be working the same country.
There are no huts on the block. Deer Valley Campsite is the only listed facility, providing a base for hunters running out of vehicles or wanting a fixed point to camp from. For deeper hunts, carry a tent and be set up to bush-camp.
Huts & campsites
Campsites: Deer Valley Campsite.
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 for Lewis Pass National Reserve. The block is an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so it falls under the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot block. Permits are free and must be carried while hunting.
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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