Opatu Conservation Area
Opatu Conservation Area is a small 237 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, taken out under the Taumarunui Reserves permit area. Elevations are low, running from about 98 m up to 348 m with a median around 208 m, so this is lowland to foothill country well below the bushline.
The block has a southerly lean, with about 19% of the country facing south and useful shares also dropping north-east, south-east and west. Northerly aspects are limited. That gives workable shaded sidles for typical northerly summer winds.
Game on the permit includes red deer, wild goat and wild pig. At this size and elevation it suits a focused short stalk for goats or pigs more than long bush deer trips.
Open Opatu Conservation Area on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 707 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 98–348 m
- Median elevation
- 208 m
- Middle 50%
- 175–247 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
98–348 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning south-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 not permitted here. The area is flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so commercial helicopter parties may be working the wider Taumarunui country.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Taumarunui Reserves permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required, taken out under the Taumarunui Reserves permit area. Opatu is classed as an Ordinary block with hunting permitted year-round, so there is no ballot or seasonal restriction to plan around.
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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