Rata Peaks
Rata Peaks is a small 854 ha public hunting block in Canterbury. Elevations run from 631 m to 1,517 m with a median of 1,103 m, so the bulk of the ground sits in the upper bush belt and lower tops country.
With 26% of the block above the 1,200 m bushline and effectively none above 1,500 m, it falls into the mix of bush and tops category — beech and scrub on the lower faces giving way to tussock and broken ground near the ridge. Slopes lean predominantly south, so faces tend to stay cooler and snow can hold longer on the upper ground.
The species list is concise: red deer, tahr and chamois. Reds work the bush and lower scrub, with tahr and chamois more likely on the higher and bluffier ground at the top of the block. The compact footprint suits focused trips rather than multi-day expeditions.
Open Rata Peaks on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 2,810 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 631–1,517 m
- Median elevation
- 1,103 m
- Middle 50%
- 958–1,207 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 26%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
631–1,517 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning south-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Both fixed-wing and helicopter air access are permitted, although the small footprint means most hunters will walk in from surrounding country. WARO is not permitted on the block, so commercial recovery helicopters will not be operating the same ground — useful to know when planning glassing positions and stalking routes.
There are no DOC huts or campsites on Rata Peaks. Hunters need to be self-sufficient on shelter, carrying a tent or fly for overnight trips, or working the country as a series of day hunts.
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.
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 for Rata Peaks. The block is an Ordinary block with a Permitted status, so it is part of the standard Canterbury permit system rather than a ballot block. Permits are free and 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.
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