Murchison - Aoraki/Mt Cook
Murchison - Aoraki/Mt Cook is a 39,484 ha public hunting block inside Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, sitting high in the central Southern Alps. Elevations run from around 610 m on the valley ground up to 3,699 m on the peaks, with a median of about 1,550 m.
This is a predominantly alpine block — 67% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 53% is true alpine country above 1,500 m. Hunters are looking at glacial valleys, moraine, scree, bluffs and tussock basins, with bush largely confined to the lowest faces. Dominant slope aspect is south-east. This is high, exposed country typical of the central Southern Alps, and trips here demand alpine experience and gear.
The species are red deer, tahr and chamois. Tahr and chamois are the main draw on this kind of ground, with reds present lower down where bush is available.
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 128,960 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 606–3,699 m
- Median elevation
- 1,553 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,016–2,035 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 67%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 53%
- Dominant aspect
- south-east-facing
606–3,699 m, predominantly alpine, leaning south-east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted, and given the scale and altitude of this block most serious trips involve a helicopter drop. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopters may be working the same valleys.
The hut network is extensive but most facilities are climbing-oriented rather than hunter-focused — Sefton Bivouac, Beetham Hut, Empress Hut, Tasman Saddle Hut, Ball Hut, Mueller Hut, Barron Saddle Hut, Copland Shelter, Hooker Hut and Plateau Hut are all within the park. Mueller Hut and Hooker Hut are bookable; the rest are not. Facilities vary — most have mattresses, non-flush toilets and tap water that needs boiling, and a few have cooking facilities and lighting. White Horse Hill Campsite is the listed campsite within the block. Be aware that several of these huts are at climbers' altitudes and may not suit a hunting party's plans.
Huts & campsites
Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Mueller HutBookable
Cooking, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Hooker HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Mueller HutBookable
Cooking, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: White Horse Hill 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 to hunt Murchison - Aoraki/Mt Cook. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury process. National park rules also apply on top of the standard hunting conditions — check DOC's current park-specific requirements before heading in.
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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