Te Toto Gorge Scenic Reserve
Te Toto Gorge Scenic Reserve is a 289 ha scenic reserve in the country around Mount Pirongia and the western Waikato. The country is lowland to foothill country, with bush, gully systems and old farm margins typical of the western Waikato. Elevations run from about 0 m up to 430 m, with a median sample around 195 m.
The block leans predominantly to the north-west, so shaded sidles and faces are common on that side of the country.
Game on the permit includes wild goat and wild pig. With its modest size, this suits a short, focused stalk rather than a multi-day trip.
Open Te Toto Gorge Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 807 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- -1–430 m
- Median elevation
- 195 m
- Middle 50%
- 122–274 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- north-west-facing
-1–430 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning north-west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
No huts or formal campsites are recorded inside the block, so this is set up as a day trip or fly-camp area.
The block is open to air access, which gives a practical option for parties wanting to drop in onto a ridge or face rather than work in on foot.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Pirongia Forest Park and surrounds 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 Te Toto Gorge Scenic Reserve. The block is classed as Ordinary with hunting Permitted under the Pirongia Forest Park and surrounds permit area, so there is no ballot or seasonal restriction beyond the standard permit conditions. Note that this is a scenic reserve, which carries extra care-of-place rules — keep groups small, leave no rubbish, and respect any rāhui or signage.
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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