Upper Wairau
Upper Wairau is a 5,034-hectare roar block on the Molesworth Station and Clarence grazing lease, sitting in the head of the Wairau drainage in inland Marlborough. Elevations run from 1,099 m to 2,155 m with a median of 1,474 m — entirely above 1,000 m.
Ninety-two per cent of the block sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 45% is alpine, putting it in the predominantly alpine bracket. Expect broad tussock basins, scree, snow grass and exposed ridge systems. The country leans east-facing, with strong east, south-east and north-east aspects catching morning sun on the main faces.
The permit covers red deer, chamois and wild pig. Chamois work the high open country, reds hold the lower fringes through the roar, and pigs use the scrubbier lower margins where they remain.
Open Upper Wairau on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 15,726 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 1,099–2,155 m
- Median elevation
- 1,474 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,327–1,630 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 92%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 45%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
1,099–2,155 m, predominantly alpine, 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 permitted on Upper Wairau, so heli drops into the upper basins are an option for parties who want to start high. WARO is also permitted, so commercial recovery helicopters may be active over the same country.
Island Gully Hut sits inside the block. It has heating, mattresses, a non-flush toilet and stream water. It is not bookable, so plan for first-come first-served use and carry a fly or tent as backup. The hut gives a fixed base for working the upper Wairau faces.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from stream, Water supply
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.
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.
Upper Wairau 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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