West Matukituki
West Matukituki is a 9,132 ha Roar block in Mount Aspiring National Park east of the divide, in the headwaters of the West Matukituki River. Elevations climb from 419 m on the valley floor to 2,998 m on the tops, with a median of 1,511 m. Sixty-seven per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 50% in true alpine ground.
This is predominantly alpine country — steep open faces, hanging basins and the high peaks of the eastern Aspiring divide. The block leans west, so the country catches afternoon sun and the lower bush holds shade through the morning. Vertical relief of nearly 2,600 m gives the country dramatic scale.
Game on the permit is red deer, tahr, chamois and wild goat. The Matukituki tahr and chamois country is some of the most well-known alpine hunting east of the divide.
Open West Matukituki on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 30,617 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 419–2,998 m
- Median elevation
- 1,511 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,059–1,933 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 67%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 50%
- Dominant aspect
- west-facing
419–2,998 m, predominantly alpine, leaning west-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 West Matukituki, and Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are also permitted, so commercial operators may be working the alpine faces.
Three DOC huts sit inside the block in the Matukituki Valley area — Aspiring Hut (cooking, heating, mattresses, lighting, flush toilet, tap water boil before use), Liverpool Hut (mattresses, non-flush toilet, tap water boil before use) and French Ridge Hut (mattresses, lighting, non-flush toilet, tap water boil before use). All three are bookable through DOC's hut booking system — plan ahead. Aspiring Campsite is also on the block.
Huts & campsites
- Liverpool HutBookable
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- French Ridge HutBookable
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Aspiring HutBookable
Cooking, Heating, Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- Liverpool HutBookable
Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
- French Ridge HutBookable
Mattresses, Lighting, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Campsites: Aspiring Campsite.
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. West Matukituki 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.
- An operation is proposed for this area.
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