Lord River
Lord River is a 3,536 ha balloted Roar block in the Franz Josef - Waiau permit area. Elevations climb from 726 m on the lower edges to 2,435 m on the tops, with a median around 1,580 m.
This is predominantly alpine country — 83% of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 58% pushes into ground above 1,500 m. The dominant aspect is north-west, so the main faces catch the afternoon sun.
The block carries red deer, tahr and chamois. With the bulk of the country well above the bushline, it's a tahr and chamois block first, with red deer in the limited lower margins.
Open Lord River on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 11,399 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 726–2,435 m
- Median elevation
- 1,580 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,317–1,836 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 83%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 58%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
726–2,435 m, predominantly alpine, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a balloted roar block — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted, which is the realistic way into a block sitting almost entirely at alpine elevation. WARO is also permitted on the block.
No huts or campsites are listed within the block. Most parties fly in and tent up in a basin to work the surrounding tops on foot.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Balloted Roar block block in the Franz Josef - Waiau 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. As a Balloted Roar block, prime roar dates require entry through the Franz Josef - Waiau ballot. Outside the roar the block is Permitted on a standard permit.
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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