Waitotara Conservation Area
Waitotara Conservation Area is a 27,754 ha block of Taranaki bush country under the Whanganui Forests permit area — one of the larger conservation blocks in the region. Elevations run from about 69 m up to 711 m, with the median ground around 373 m, so the block sits in lowland to mid-altitude foothill country well below the bushline.
Aspect is spread fairly evenly across all eight points, with a slight lean to west and south. Country here is broken bush, long ridges and deep gully systems typical of the Whanganui backcountry — extensive bush cut by stream systems rather than open ground or tops.
Game on the permit includes red deer, fallow deer, wild goat and wild pig. The combination of size, four species and remote bush makes this one of the better Whanganui-side options for hunters happy to commit to a multi-day trip.
Open Waitotara Conservation Area on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 79,775 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 69–711 m
- Median elevation
- 373 m
- Middle 50%
- 297–450 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
69–711 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning west-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Tahupo Hut sits inside the block, giving a fixed base for trips into the area. There are no formal campsites recorded. The block is not flagged for air access, so foot access from the road network is the practical way in.
Waitotara sits inside a WARO zone, so commercial helicopters may be working the same country. Check current activity before heading in.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
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 Ordinary block in the Whanganui Forests permit area, with a hunting status of Permitted.
Commercial wild-animal recovery (WARO) operates over this area — expect helicopter activity and pressured game.
A DOC hunting permit is required for Waitotara Conservation Area. The block sits under the Whanganui Forests permit area and is classed as an Ordinary block with hunting permitted year-round.
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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