Quailburn
Quailburn is an 18,871 ha public hunting block in Ahuriri Conservation Park, Canterbury. Elevations run from around 523 m on the valley floors up to 1,993 m on the tops, with a median of about 1,297 m.
The block works as a mix of bush and tops — roughly 58% of the ground sits above the 1,200 m bushline, and about 31% pushes into true alpine country above 1,500 m. Slopes lean east, which gives sunny morning faces for glassing and milder country than the cold western aspects.
The species list is red deer, fallow deer, tahr and chamois. Having fallow alongside reds, tahr and chamois on a single block is unusual for this part of Canterbury and gives hunters real variety inside one permit area.
Open Quailburn on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 62,994 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 523–1,993 m
- Median elevation
- 1,297 m
- Middle 50%
- 981–1,557 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 58%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 31%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
523–1,993 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, which helps on a block this size — getting into the upper basins on foot is a long approach. WARO is also permitted, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the block.
Two huts inside Ahuriri Conservation Park serve hunters in this country. Snowy Gorge Hut has mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. Hideaway Hut has the same setup — mattresses, non-flush toilet and stream water. Neither is bookable. Quailburn Campsite gives a road-end option for vehicle-based parties.
Huts & campsites
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Campsites: Quailburn 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 Quailburn. It's an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so permits are issued through the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot. Permits are free but must be carried while hunting.
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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Canterbury.
Sign up →