West Ruggedy
West Ruggedy is an 877-hectare hunting block in Stewart Island/Rakiura. Elevations run from near sea level to 486 m, with a median around 124 m.
The country here is lowland and foothill country, with slopes that lean east. Rakiura is low-altitude bush country — dense podocarp and broadleaf forest down to the coast, with no tree line and mild but wet weather year round.
Game on the block includes red deer and white-tail. Stewart Island carries the only public-land herd of white-tail in New Zealand, hunted at low altitude in heavy bush.
Open West Ruggedy on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 3,127 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 0–486 m
- Median elevation
- 124 m
- Middle 50%
- 89–175 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
0–486 m, lowland / foothill country, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
Access to West Ruggedy is typically by boat from Halfmoon Bay (Oban), or on foot via Rakiura's coastal track network. Helicopter access is not flagged on this block, so most hunters arrive by water taxi and walk in from the nearest landing or hut.
West Ruggedy Beach Campsite is also recorded inside the block. Check current conditions with DOC before you go.
Huts & campsites
Campsites: West Ruggedy Beach Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Stewart Island Restricted Hunting Areas permit area, with a hunting status of Restricted.
A DOC hunting permit is required for West Ruggedy, and the block is classed as Restricted within the Stewart Island Restricted Hunting Areas. Stewart Island blocks are allocated through DOC's online permit system in fixed hunting periods — check available dates and entry conditions before booking transport.
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.
Get roar & 1080 alerts for the areas you hunt
We'll email you when pesticide operations, ballot dates or access conditions change for Southland.
Sign up →