Upper Alma
Upper Alma is a 4,499-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, sitting in the head of the Alma catchment in inland Marlborough. Elevations run from 1,020 m to 2,007 m with a median of 1,360 m — the entire block sits above 1,000 m.
Eighty-three per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 25% is alpine, so this is mostly above the bushline tops country with broad tussock faces, scree and rocky upper basins. The country leans east-facing, with strong east, north-east and south-east aspects catching morning sun.
The permit covers red deer and chamois. The high open country particularly suits chamois work; reds hold the lower bush-edge bands and head-of-catchment basins through the roar.
Open Upper Alma on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 14,039 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 1,020–2,007 m
- Median elevation
- 1,360 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,239–1,501 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 83%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 25%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
1,020–2,007 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
This is a roar — the red deer roar peaks from late March into April, and competition for the block is highest then.
Access & getting there
Air access is not permitted on Upper Alma, and WARO is not permitted either, so the country is walked. Access runs from the legal entry points on the Molesworth system.
No DOC huts sit within the block, so this is fly-camp country. The high tussock and ridge country offers tussock pitches and stream-side flats for camps. Carry a fly or tent and confirm Molesworth access conditions before leaving.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
Upper Alma is a Roar block with Restricted hunt status under the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease permit area. Apply specifically for the roar period through DOC's standard process; rolling permits do not cover this block. Check current dates and access rules before applying.
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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