Waihuka Scenic Reserve
Waihuka Scenic Reserve is a small 248 ha block in the Manawatu-Wanganui region, taken out under the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds permit area. Elevations run from about 374 m up to 698 m, with a median around 482 m, so it sits as mid-altitude bush country well below the bushline.
The block has a strong easterly and south-easterly lean, with about 25% of the country facing east, 21% south-east and useful shares to north-east and north. Westerly aspects are limited. That gives a clear set of warm, sun-facing sidles catching the morning sun.
Game on the permit includes red deer, fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. It is a focused short-stalk block on the edge of the wider Pureora deer country.
Open Waihuka Scenic Reserve on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 701 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 374–698 m
- Median elevation
- 482 m
- Middle 50%
- 444–531 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
374–698 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
There are no huts or formal campsites inside the block, so plan to day-trip or fly-camp from a vehicle base.
Air access by helicopter is permitted, which gives an option to drop in onto a likely face. The area is also flagged for wild animal recovery operations (WARO), so be aware commercial helicopter parties may be working the wider Pureora country.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds 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, taken out under the Pureora Forest Park and surrounds permit area. The block is classed as Ordinary with hunting permitted year-round, so there is no ballot or seasonal restriction to plan around.
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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