South Westland - Weheka
South Westland - Weheka is a 601,316 ha Ordinary block that wraps almost the whole of South Westland from the coast through Westland Tai Poutini National Park and the Haast, Paringa and Moeraki rivers area, across the Landsborough, Jackson Bay - Gorge River and into parts of Mount Aspiring National Park and the Makarora area. Elevations run from sea level (-1 m at the river mouths) to 3,465 m on the main divide, with a median around 661 m.
The block is a true ocean-to-tops sweep. About 23% sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 11% above 1,500 m, but the elevation range from coastal bush through to the highest peaks in the country means almost every type of West Coast country is present. The dominant aspect is north.
It carries red deer, tahr, chamois and wild goat. The South Westland - Weheka block contains the South Westland tahr management range, so it's nationally important tahr country alongside the standard West Coast red deer hunting.
Open South Westland - Weheka on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 1,981,366 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–3,465 m
- Median elevation
- 661 m
- Middle 50%
- 225–1,150 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 23%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 11%
- Dominant aspect
- north-facing
-1–3,465 m, a mix of bush and tops, leaning north-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Air access is permitted, which is the standard way into most of the deep South Westland catchments — many of the smaller ballot blocks sit nested inside this area. WARO is also permitted.
The block has a large network of huts. Bookable: Welcome Flat Hut, Brewster Hut, Mataketake Hut and Pioneer Hut. Non-bookable backcountry huts include Douglas Rock, Coppermine Creek, Horseshoe Flat, Stafford, Cassel Flat, Lame Duck, Spoon / Morgans, Architect Creek, Colin Todd, Tunnel Creek, Maori Saddle, Wills, Christmas Flat, Gorge River, Creswicke Flat, Roaring Billy, Middle Head, Thomas River, Horace Walker and Chancellor. Listed campsites include Lake Paringa, Pleasant Flat, Welcome Flat and Gillespies Beach.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Welcome Flat HutBookable
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
- Brewster HutBookable
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
- Mataketake HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
- Pioneer HutBookable
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, 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 stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
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
- Welcome Flat HutBookable
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
- Brewster HutBookable
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
- Mataketake HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
Campsites: Lake Paringa Campsite, Pleasant Flat Campsite, Welcome Flat Campsite, Gillespies Beach Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the South Westland - Weheka 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. This is an Ordinary block with Permitted status, so you apply through the standard South Westland - Weheka permit system rather than entering a ballot. Note that many of the numbered ballot blocks (and named Roar blocks) listed elsewhere sit inside this wider permit area and need separate ballot entry for roar dates.
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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