Upper Wilkin
Upper Wilkin is a 6,416 ha Roar block in Mount Aspiring National Park east of the divide, in the Wilkin headwaters. Elevations climb from 539 m on the valley floor to 2,469 m on the tops, with a median of 1,295 m. Fifty-six per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 34% in true alpine ground.
This is a mix of bush and tops with significant alpine ground — beech in the lower drainage running up to open faces and basins above the bushline. The block leans south, so the slopes hold shade longer through the morning and the warmer aspects are largely off the block. Vertical relief of more than 1,900 m gives elevation options through any given day.
Game on the permit is red deer, tahr and chamois — the classic eastern Aspiring trio. The Wilkin headwaters are well-known alpine hunting country.
Open Upper Wilkin on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 21,387 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 539–2,469 m
- Median elevation
- 1,295 m
- Middle 50%
- 931–1,617 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 56%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 34%
- Dominant aspect
- south-facing
539–2,469 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning south-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
Helicopter access is permitted on Upper Wilkin, and Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are also permitted, so commercial operators may be working the open faces.
Top Forks Hut sits inside the block in Mount Aspiring National Park. It has heating, lighting, non-flush toilet and tap water (boil before use), and is not bookable. The hut gives walk-in parties a fixed base in the upper Wilkin.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Mount Aspiring National Park east of divide 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 for Mount Aspiring National Park east of divide. Upper Wilkin is a Roar block with a Permitted hunt status, so it is managed for the late-March to April rut — check the current ballot or roar allocation with DOC before planning a trip.
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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