| Queenstown,
adventure capital of the world. Queenstown has safe, breath-taking
activities. Bungy Jump from the world's first commercial bungy
site, swoop and soar in a whitewater raft or surf, jet boat
down canyons, tandem hanglide or parapente. Long walks, four
wheel drive treks, or lunch on a steamboat. Visit the historic
goldmining settlement of Arrowtown, or discover Glenorchy, gateway
to Paradise Valley and the famous Routeburn walking track. |
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| HUNTING
- QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
The Wakatipu
Area comprises a large area of Otago’s western
mountains. It includes a range of ecosystems, such as
the beech forests of Mt. Aspiring National Park and
the Caples and Greenstone Valleys, the shrublands of
the Remarkables and Hector Mountains and the extensive
tussocklands of the Richardson Mountains and Shotover
district. |
Features
A total area of approximately 347,000 hectares of
conservation estate is currently available for open
hunting in Otago, and many other areas are available
for restricted hunting. In addition, more conservation
areas will become available as new conservation
lands are gazetted through the ongoing Pastoral
Lease Tenure Review process. Wild animal populations
in Otago are generally at low to moderate levels.
This is largely the result of extensive commercial
helicopter hunting for deer, chamois and thar, particularly
in the western mountains. In addition, the Department
has undertaken sustained goat control in all areas
since 1990 and maintains a thar buffer zone between
the Haast Highway and the Fiordland National Park.
Regardless of overall levels, however, good localised
hunting opportunities exist among many diverse landscapes.
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Hunting
in Mount Aspiring National Park - Wakatipu area
All of
the following areas are part of Mt Aspiring National
Park, and are administered from the Wakatipu Area
Office:
Beans Burn and Rock Burn
Takes in the Beans Burn and Rock Burn catchments,
and is bordered by the Dart River and the Humboldt
Mountains north to Poseidon (2208m), Niobe (2204m)
and Tantalus Peak (1951m). Comprises beech forested
valleys and terraces with subalpine and alpine
vegetation on the tops. Although there is no hut
in the Beans Burn there is a rock bivvy near First
Flat. Access to the Beans Burn is usually via
the Routeburn-Kinloch Road to Weka Flat, then
by track to Lake Sylvan and continuing north through
open beech terraces along the Dart to the Rock
Burn. There is an 8 bunk hut at the mouth of the
Rock Burn (also known as McIntyres). A bridge
crosses an impressive canyon above the hut. From
here, sidle the hill and follow the Dart River
to the Beans Burn. Alternatively, Dart River Safaris
operate a jet boat service up the Dart in the
summer. This would eliminate any river crossings
and they can drop you at the mouth of the Beans
Burn.No hunting is allowed in the area bordered
by the Dart River, the Route Burn and Lake Sylvan
due to it being a high use area by trampers.The
Rock Burn can be popular with trampers as an alternative
from the Routeburn, with routes leading from the
Rock Burn to the North Routeburn, the Olivine
River, and the Beans Burn. Animal numbers, vegetation
and terrain are similar to those in the Beans
Burn. Like many of the valleys in Mt Aspiring
National Park there are large boulders and rock
overhangs that can be used as shelters. Access
to the Rock Burn is via the Routeburn-Kinloch
Road to either the beginning of the Lake Sylvan
track or to the Routeburn day shelter and over
Sugarloaf Pass.
Routeburn North Branch
No hunting is allowed in the main Routeburn valley
as it is a high use tramping area. The rifle bolt
must be removed while in the main Routeburn valley.The
North Branch is dotted with huge bluffs, particularly
on the true left. Access is via the Routeburn-Kinloch
Road to the Routeburn shelter. From there, take
the Routeburn track to the Routeburn Flat hut
(sleeps 20) where the North Branch joins the Routeburn.
Rees Valley
Rees Valley, Mount Aspiring National Park. Photo:
Keith Springer.
Rees Valley, Mount Aspiring National
ParkThis includes land within MANP, from Lennox
Falls to Black Peak, along the tops of the Forbes
Mountains to Mt Cunningham, then down the park
boundary beside the Rees River. It includes the
Hunter Creek catchment. Much of the area is subalpine
and alpine vegetation and terrain. Beech forest
is confined to the lower slopes of Hunter Creek
and Cattle Slip faces, alongside the Rees River.
Access is via the Rees Valley Road to the Muddy
Creek carpark. The Rees Track provides access
up the valley. Huts in the area include Earnslaw
hut, (sleeps 4) near Lennox Creek, with a rock
bivvy further upstream.
Upper Dart
This area takes in the Upper Dart catchment and
valley north of Daleys Flat Hut, up to Mt Ansted
and Cascade Saddle, and across to the tops of
the Barrier Range. Beech forest is confined to
the terraces and lower slopes in the mid-section
of the valley, with the catchment head predominantly
sub-alpine and alpine vegetation. The Dart Track
follows the Dart River and crosses into the Rees
from above Dart Hut. Another route provides access
via Cascade Saddle into the West Matukituki. The
area is popular with trampers taking in the Dart-Rees
circuit. Dart Hut (sleeps 20) is at the foot of
Mt Cunningham and Daleys Flat Hut (sleeps 20)
is midway up the Dart valley. Access is by air,
jetboat or on foot up the Dart Valley.
Arawhata
This is a very large area taking in part of the
Arawhata catchment that lies within Mt Aspiring
National Park. It includes the Joe River, the
Five Fingers Range, and the Olivine Range. As
well as the major peaks and alpine zone, terrain
includes some very large grassy flats. Most of
the area lies within the Wilderness Zone, and
as such there are no huts, tracks or bridges and
no aircraft landings are permitted. As it is on
the western side of the main divide it has typical
Fiordland/West Coast weather and vegetation. Hunters
are asked to report any thar sightings in this
area as it is part of the southern exclusion zone,
a buffer zone protecting Fiordland National Park
from thar ingress.
Barrier
This is mountainous terrain in the western reaches
of Mt Aspiring National Park, bordered by the
Barrier Range and the Olivine Range in the east
and includes the Forgotten River and the headwaters
of the Barrier and Pyke rivers. All of the area
falls within the Park’s Wilderness Zone.
Access can be gained from the eastern side by
walking overland for a number of days, or via
Te Anau and the Hollyford and Pyke Rivers. There
are no huts, tracks or bridges, providing a truly
remote experience. This area is also on the western
side of the main divide, so experiences Fiordland/West
Coast climate and vegetation conditions.
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Hunting outside Mount Aspiring National
Park - Wakatipu area
Upper Shotover Conservation Area (9356ha)
Takes
in the northern Richardson Mountains and includes
the headwaters of the Upper Shotover from Mt Bowyang,
north along the tops to Mt Ferguson at 2484m, Centaur
Peaks at 2525m and Lochnagar at 2542m. On the northern
boundary it joins Mt Aspiring National Park near
Mt Tindall. The area lies above 1000m and comprises
subalpine and alpine vegetation with extensive bluffs.
It includes the headwaters of the Glencairn, Sixty-mile
and Lochnagar creeks. Access is mainly by air from
the Matukituki Valley, or by foot via the Rees Valley
or Branches Station; the latter requires landowner
permission. The river valleys are pastoral lease
land and no hunting is allowed.
Black Peak Conservation Area (2650 ha)
Covers
the northern headwaters of the Shotover River, the
Shiel Burn tops and the Polnoon Burn tops. Very
mountainous terrain with high peaks, alpine benches
and extensive, steep bluffs. Vegetation is alpine
and subalpine. Access is generally by air from the
north via the Matukituki Valley. Foot access is
available via the Leaping Burn (permission required
from the owners of Matukituki Station). Foot access
to the Shiel Burn and Polnoon Burn tops can be gained
through Branches Station in the Shotover valley
(landowner permission required).
Ballarat Creek Conservation Area (600ha)
Adjoins
Mt Aurum Recreation Reserve and covers a series
of ridges running into Ballarat Creek and the Flood
Burn. Ballarat Hut is on a terrace approximately
a third of the way up Ballarat Creek. Access is
via The Branches Road to the confluence of the Flood
Burn and the Shotover River.
Lower Dart (4600ha)
Covers
the broad expanse of the Lower Dart valley from
Bride Peaks and Mt Head down to Mt Earnslaw (2820m)
and the mouth of the Beansburn. Terrain and vegetation
covers the full montage of snow tussock, red, silver,
and mountain beech forest, and sub-alpine and alpine
tops. There is a moratorium on shooting whitetail
deer between Chinaman’s Bluff and the Earnslaw
Burn, and Mt Alfred. There is a 20 bunk hut at Daleys
Flat in the Dart Valley (hut tickets required).
Access to this area is via the Glenorchy-Paradise
Road.
The Slip
Stream (Te Koroka Topuni) area is adjacent to
the lower Dart on the true right and includes
Slip Stream and the Cosmos Peaks areas. No access
is allowed into this sacred area without a special
permit.
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Places
to stay
You
can stay in a Department of Conservation managed
hut in Wakatipu's hunting areas.
Earnslaw Hut
This is a basic four-bunk hut in the Wakatipu
area.
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Hunting permits
To
hunt on public conservation land you require a permit
issued by the Department of Conservation (DOC).
This is required under Section 38 of the Conservation
Act 1987.
Hunting permits
in Otago are issued under an open system. This
means that permits are valid for all open hunting
areas in Otago Conservancy for a period of 12
months, excluding the ‘Roar’ (20 March
- 20 April).
During the
Roar, block hunting permits are required in some
areas, while others will remain open. It is therefore
very important that you confirm the status of
a hunting area with the relevant Area Office or
Field Centre well in advance of any trips during
the Roar. For example, in the Wanaka Area Roar
block applications will be accepted at the Area
office from 1 November and issued in early February
each year.
Some areas
have restricted access because of public safety,
the size of the area or some other reason. A short
term block permit is available for each restricted
area from the local DOC office. Examples of hunting
areas that have restricted access are the Bendigo
Scenic Reserve, small reserves in the Catlins,
Mt Aurum Recreation Reserve (Skippers), Twelve
Mile (Mt Crichton Scenic Reserve), and Kinloch/Kowhai
Bush (near Glenorchy). Again, you will need to
confirm the availability of these areas during
the Roar with the local DOC office.
If you are
a new hunter you will have to register on the
DOC database. For this we need to view your firearms
licence and take other details like address, phone
number, vehicle registration number, make and
colour. Application forms are available at all
Otago DOC offices. You can bring your firearms
licence in to the DOC office or send a faxed copy
of it, or a scanned image via e-mail. Your permit
will then be mailed to you.
Please note
that landing permits are required to land all
aircraft in designated areas of Mt Aspiring National
Park and on all public conservation lands.
Conditions
* Hunting
permits apply to wild animal hunting only. This
includes feral deer, goats, pigs, chamois, thar,
rabbits and hares. It excludes possums and game
birds.
* Permits are only for public conservation land,
including National Park areas.
* Hunters must obtain landowner permission before
crossing private land.
* Animal pest control operations using deadly
poisons may take place at any time on public conservation
land. These operations are specified in pesticide
summaries published every 4 months and are available
from all DOC offices. For your safety, please
read the caution notes and disclaimers in the
pesticide summary.
* Separate permits are required for game bird
shooting and possum hunting on public conservation
land. These are available at all Area Offices.
* No dogs are allowed in the Mt Aspiring National
Park and the permission of the landowner is required
wherever access to a conservation area is gained
through private land.
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WELCOME
TO QUEENSTOWN, NEW ZEALAND
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