Waianakarua
Waianakarua is a 9,702 ha Roar block in the Coastal Otago north of the Catlins permit area, in the Moeraki hill country. Elevations run from 46 m on the lower faces to 890 m on the tops, with a median of 361 m — lowland / foothill country with no bushline.
This is a mix of regenerating bush, scrub and farmland edges across rolling coastal foothills. The block leans south-east, so the morning sun catches it cleanly. The country is large enough for multi-day trips but low enough that walking access is straightforward.
Game on the permit is red deer, fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. The four-species mix in foothill country makes Waianakarua one of the more versatile coastal Otago blocks.
Open Waianakarua on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 16,739 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 46–890 m
- Median elevation
- 361 m
- Middle 50%
- 268–471 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- south-east-facing
46–890 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning south-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
Helicopter access is permitted on Waianakarua. Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are not permitted on this block, so recreational hunters won't be sharing the country with commercial helicopter shooting.
Staircase Hut sits inside the block in the Moeraki area. It has heating, mattresses, non-flush toilet and tap water (boil before use), and is bookable through DOC's hut booking system — plan ahead. The hut gives walk-in parties a fixed base.
Huts & campsites
- Staircase HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Staircase HutBookable
Heating, Mattresses, 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 Coastal Otago north of the Catlins 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, and Waianakarua sits within the Coastal Otago north of the Catlins permit area. The block is classed as 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
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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