Whirinaki Conservation Park
Whirinaki Conservation Park is a major 54,600 hectare public hunting area in the Whirinaki/Rangitaiki permit zone, on the Bay of Plenty / inland boundary. Elevations run from 293 m at the lower edges up to 1,353 m on the higher ridges, with a median of 710 m — predominantly bush country sitting below the bushline.
The park covers the heart of the Whirinaki podocarp forest, one of the most significant bush hunting areas in the North Island. The country is timbered throughout — tall podocarp stands, mixed-bush gully systems and beech ridges. Slopes lean east on the dominant aspect, but at this scale hunters can find faces on any wind.
Game on the permit includes red deer, sika, wild goat and wild pig. Whirinaki is one of the central North Island sika strongholds and pulls hunters back year after year.
Open Whirinaki Conservation Park on the interactive map
Boundary, huts, terrain, tracks and 1080 zones — all layers, one map.
Terrain & elevation
Based on a sample of 153,602 DEM points inside the block.
- Elevation range
- 293–1,353 m
- Median elevation
- 710 m
- Middle 50%
- 582–850 m
- Above bushline (1,200 m)
- 0%
- Alpine (1,500 m+)
- 0%
- Dominant aspect
- east-facing
293–1,353 m, foothill country with low tops, leaning east-facing.
What you can hunt here
Access & getting there
An extensive hut network supports trips into the park, including Mangamate Hut, Central Te Hoe Hut, Upper Te Hoe Hut, Central Whirinaki Hut, Moerangi Hut, Upper Whirinaki Hut, Mangakahika Hut and Skips Hut (Whangatawhia). Verns Camp and Mid Okahu Road Campsite provide vehicle-based bases.
The park is flagged for WARO, so commercial helicopter operators may be working the wider country. Air access for recreational hunters is not flagged — trips are foot-based from road ends around Minginui, Okahu Road and the wider Whirinaki area.
Huts & campsites
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses
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
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
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
Heating, Mattresses, Toilets - non-flush, Water from tap - not treated, boil before use, Water supply
Heating, Mattresses
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
Campsites: Verns Camp, Mid Okahu Road Campsite.
Permits & rules
You need a DOC hunting permit to hunt this block. It is classed as a Ordinary block in the Whirinaki/Rangitaiki 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. The park is classed as an Ordinary block with hunting Permitted, issued through the Whirinaki/Rangitaiki permit system. Permits must be carried while hunting.
1080 & pesticide status
- Pesticide (1080 or similar) has been laid in or near this block — check current dog and carcass restrictions before you hunt.
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