Murchison & Aoraki/Mt Cook
Murchison & Aoraki/Mt Cook (part 2) is a 15,300 ha public hunting block in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, sister to the main Murchison & Aoraki/Mt Cook block in the same area. Elevations run from around 814 m on the lower country up to 3,166 m on the tops, with a median of about 1,713 m.
This is predominantly alpine country — roughly 78% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 63% pushes into true alpine country above 1,500 m. Slopes lean north-west, giving warmer sun-facing country on the dominant aspect through the afternoon, with cooler morning shade on the opposite faces.
The species list is red deer, tahr and chamois. With this much high ground inside the national park, it's a serious tahr and chamois block, with reds available on the lower bush and scrub margins.
Open Murchison & Aoraki/Mt Cook on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 49,936 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 814–3,166 m
- Median elevation
- 1,713 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,261–2,074 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 78%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 63%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
814–3,166 m, predominantly alpine, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, which is effectively essential on a block of this size, altitude and remoteness. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the block.
Four huts inside Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park serve hunters working this country. Murchison Hut is in the park (facilities not listed). Liebig Hut has mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. Kelman Hut has mattresses, lighting, a non-flush toilet and tap water (not treated — boil before use). Onslow Hut (Steffan Memorial Hut) has mattresses, lighting, a non-flush toilet and stream water. None of the four are bookable. With four huts spread across 15,000-plus hectares of alpine country, fly camping is still the norm for hunting away from them.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
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 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 to hunt Murchison & Aoraki/Mt Cook. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot. National park conditions apply on top of the permit — read them carefully before you go. Permits are free but must be on you while hunting.
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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