Pureora Forest Park
Pureora Forest Park is a major 73,753 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, on the western side of Lake Taupo. It is one of the largest remaining tracts of central North Island native forest and a long-established North Island deer country.
Elevations run from about 113 m up to 1,158 m, with a median around 641 m and a 75th percentile near 771 m. None of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline, so this is hunting under canopy across the whole park — big bush country broken by spurs, gully systems and the upper reaches of multiple watersheds. Aspects are very evenly spread, with no single dominant face, so workable sidles can be found for almost any wind direction.
Game on the permit includes red deer, fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. Pureora has a long reputation for bush red deer; a separate Recreational Hunting Area also exists within the park footprint.
Open Pureora Forest Park on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 206,770 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 113–1,158 m
- Median elevation
- 641 m
- Middle 50%
- 541–771 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
113–1,158 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Pureora has a substantial hut and campsite network. Huts inside the park include Hauhungaroa, Waihāhā, Bog Inn, and several others, all non-bookable DOC huts with mattresses, non-flush toilets, heating and untreated tap or stream water. There are also DOC campsites at Piropiro, Kakaho and Ngaherenga, which work as good road-accessible bases.
Air access by helicopter is permitted across the park, which opens up the back country to fly-in trips. The park is also flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so commercial helicopter crews may be working the same country — be aware of activity when planning your hunt.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: Piropiro Campsite, Kakaho Campsite, Ngaherenga Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds 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, taken out under the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds permit area. The park itself is classed as Ordinary with hunting permitted year-round. A separate Recreational Hunting Area within Pureora has its own conditions — check the RHA listing if you intend to hunt that block.
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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