Makino Scenic Reserve (Wellington)
Makino Scenic Reserve is a 370 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, taken out under the Palmerston North Area Reserves permit area. Elevations run from about 361 m up to 675 m, with a median around 456 m, so it sits as mid-altitude bush country well below the bushline.
The block leans north-west, with about a fifth of the country facing that way and useful shares also picking up north, south-west and west. There is a good spread of aspects, which gives workable sidles for most wind directions.
Game on the permit includes red deer, sika, wild goat and wild pig. Sika are the standout — these Palmerston North reserves sit at the southern end of the introduced sika range.
Open Makino Scenic Reserve (Wellington) on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 1,123 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 361–675 m
- Median elevation
- 456 m
- Middle 50%
- 411–519 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
361–675 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
There are no huts or formal campsites inside the block, so plan to day-trip or fly-camp from a vehicle base.
Air access by helicopter is permitted, giving an option to drop onto a likely face. The area is flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so be aware commercial helicopter parties may be working the same country.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Palmerston North Area Reserves permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
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.
Makino Scenic Reserve is a Restricted block under the Palmerston North Area Reserves permit area. Access and hunting are by allocation through DOC rather than open permit — confirm the current process and any seasonal or party-size limits 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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