About this hunting block

Red deer and pigs are found throughout the Whirinaki catchment.

General information

Towering trees, rushing rivers, a wide variety of habitats and a fascinating past combine to create Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park. This was one of New Zealand’s most famous conservation battlegrounds, where people actively fought to save a magnificent native forest.

Today Whirinaki’s beauty is protected for everyone to enjoy through a comprehensive network of walks, tracks, huts and a range of opportunities for visitors. Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park forms a boundary between the exotic Kaingaroa pine plantations to the west and Te Urewera to the east. The Conservation Park stretches over 55,000 ha from near Murupara in the north to the Napier-Taupo highway in the south. The park is about 100 km southeast of Rotorua past Murupara on Ruatahuna Road.

Whirinaki Te Pua-a-Tāne Conservation Park contains an abundant selection of North Island native forest birds including threatened species like kiwi, kokako, kaka, falcon and the distinctive whio or blue duck. Kiwi is common in this area and dogs are strongly encouraged to be kept away.
There are unrestricted hunting opportunities throughout the Whirinaki catchment.

Access

Access can be gained to this catchment from Minginui or Plateau Road end. The Whirinaki track and lower end has very high public use. The mountain bike track goes over the Moerangi saddle into the Okahu Valley.

Helicopter access

Helicopter access is available to all huts and slips in this area.

Maps

NZTopo50 – BG38 and BF38

Dogs

Dogs are allowed by DOC permit all year round.

The one area which is closed to dogs, is the Kiwi Zone, which is situated at the end of Sanctuary Road and lies behind the Minginui Village.

Huts

• Mangamate Hut
• Central Whirinaki Hut
• Upper Whirinaki Hut