West Wanaka
West Wanaka is a 5,643 ha Roar block in the Hāwea Conservation Park / Lake Wanaka / Lower Matukituki Valley permit area, on the western shore of Lake Wanaka. Elevations run from 319 m near the lake to 2,280 m on the tops, with a median of 1,379 m. Sixty-three per cent of the country sits above the 1,200 m bushline and 39% in true alpine ground.
This is a mix of bush and tops with substantial alpine ground — beech and scrub on the lake faces running up to open tussock and rock above the bushline. The block leans south-west, so the slopes catch afternoon sun and the lower bush holds shade through the morning.
Game on the permit is red deer, tahr and chamois — the classic Lake Wanaka alpine trio. Vertical relief of nearly 2,000 m gives elevation options through any given trip.
Open West Wanaka on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 18,931 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 319–2,280 m
- Median elevation
- 1,379 m
- Middle 50%
- 1,036–1,644 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 63%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 39%
- Dominant aspect
- south-west-facing
319–2,280 m, mostly above the bushline, leaning south-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 Wanaka, and Wild Animal Recovery Operations (WARO) are also permitted, so commercial operators may be working the open faces.
There are no DOC huts or campsites recorded inside the block — parties will be fly-camping or working off a base outside the boundary.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Roar block in the Hawea Conservation Park/Lake Wanaka/Lower Matukituki Valley 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 the Hāwea Conservation Park / Lake Wanaka / Lower Matukituki Valley permit area. West Wanaka 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
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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