Russell Forest
Russell Forest is a large 7,115 ha block in eastern Northland, sitting inland of the Bay of Islands. Elevations run from 13 m up to 433 m with a median of 166 m, so the whole block sits in lowland to foothill bush well below the bushline.
Aspect is broadly spread, with the strongest shares facing north, north-east and west. The forest carries dense subtropical kauri-podocarp-broadleaf cover typical of eastern Northland's coastal-edge hill country.
Game on the permit is wild goat and wild pig. The size of the block gives plenty of room to spread out.
Open Russell Forest on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 18,312 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 13–433 m
- Median elevation
- 166 m
- Middle 50%
- 109–229 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
13–433 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted on the block. There are no DOC huts or campsites listed inside Russell Forest, so plan on day trips from road edges or fly-camp.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Northland reserves 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 through the Northland reserves permit area. The block is Ordinary with Permitted hunt status. Russell Forest is in active kauri-dieback country — confirm current hygiene and track requirements with DOC before entering.
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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