Retaruke Scenic Reserve
Retaruke Scenic Reserve is a 583 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, taken out under the Taumarunui Reserves permit area, and is classed as a restricted hunting area (RHA). Elevations run from about 284 m up to 633 m, with a median around 441 m, so it sits as mid-altitude bush country well below the bushline.
The block has a north-east-and-north lean, with about 21% of the country facing north-east, 18% north and useful shares also dropping north-west and east. Southerly aspects are limited. That gives a clear set of warm, sun-facing sidles dominating the block.
Game on the permit includes red deer, fallow deer, sika, wild goat and wild pig. It carries the full set of central North Island bush species including sika.
Open Retaruke Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 1,646 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 284–633 m
- Median elevation
- 441 m
- Middle 50%
- 389–510 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-east-facing
284–633 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
There are no huts or formal campsites inside the block, so plan to work in on foot and either day-trip or fly-camp from a vehicle base.
Air access by helicopter is not permitted here. The block 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 RHA 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.
Retaruke is an RHA block under the Taumarunui Reserves permit area. Despite the RHA classification it is listed as hunting permitted, but access is generally by allocation — confirm the current process with DOC, including any seasonal or party-size limits, before planning a trip.
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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