Aorere-Boulder Lake hunting

General information

The Aorere/Boulder Lake area is located at the head of the Aorere Valley south-west of Collingwood. The area is comprised of the catchments of several tributaries of the Aorere River.

A broad band of scrubland and regenerating forest is present in parts at lower altitudes before mixed beech forest at higher elevations. Extensive areas of tussockland are present at the upper reaches of the rivers and the tops of the ranges. Limestone bluffs, karst landscapes and sinkholes, and rivers that are frequently gorged at the lower reaches make travel difficult and hazardous in parts.  

Red deer are present in low numbers throughout with feral pigs at lower altitudes. Goats range throughout at low numbers but are more abundant in the lower limestone areas.

Access

The Boulder Lake track start is located in the Aorere Valley near Bainham 19 km south of Collingwood) and provides access to Boulder Lake (8 hrs) and further untracked access to the headwaters of the Boulder River and Snow River.

The interior can also be accessed via the Anatoki River and Douglas Range routes but this requires several days travel (partially tracked and marked routes).

The Aorere Goldfields loop track at approximately 7 km from Collingwood enables access to the manuka/kanuka covered peneplain areas where pig hunting is popular.

Landholders

The area lies entirely within Kahurangi National Park with no access constraints.

Maps

NZTopo50 BN23, BN24, BP23, BP24

Dogs

Dogs are strictly prohibited from the area because of the presence of kiwi.

Huts

Boulder Lake Hut

Additional information

No additional hunting restrictions apply.