This hunting area is covered by a 'restricted area permit'. Contact the DOC office managing the hunting area.
Before lighting a fire on public conservation land, check it's alright to light. Extinguish all fires before leaving huts and campsites. How to minimise the risk of fire.
About this hunting block
Animals present are red deer, fallow deer and pigs in low to moderate numbers.
Booking Lake Wānaka Faces and Mount Burke Creek hunting blocks
Bookings for the Lake Wānaka Faces and Mount Burke Creek hunting blocks for the period 1 July 2026 to 30 June 2027 (excluding the Roar period) will open at 8:30 am on Tuesday 2 June 2026.
Permits will be assigned on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to those attending in person at the DOC office in Wānaka.
Due to a building project, access will be via MacPherson Street – signage in place. Park in the Visitor Centre carpark and walk to the MacPherson Street entrance. See map (PDF, 1,000K).
If you can't attend yourself, you can send someone to book on your behalf. We recommend sending a person who is not also booking for themselves, otherwise they will have to queue twice.
Email and phone bookings
If you can’t attend or arrange for someone to attend for you, you can phone +64 3 443 7660 or +64 27 269 6871, or email wanakavc@doc.govt.nz from 10:00 am on Tuesday 2 June.
How it works
Hunters can receive a permit for up to three consecutive days in each block. Although there are no restrictions on the number of permits hunters can acquire for the blocks each season, one permit must be used before another can be acquired for the same block. For example, a hunter with a permit for Lake Wānaka Faces for 21 to 23 September won’t be able to acquire another permit for Lake Wānaka Faces until 24 September (subject to availability).
General information
This block consists of the western faces of Matatiaho Conservation Area, which overlook Lake Wānaka just to the north of Mou Waho Island. The terrain is steep and covered in scrub closer to the lake with tussock grassland higher up.
The Lake Wānaka Faces block is restricted. You need to get a permit (issued for three days at a time only) specifically for this block, from the DOC Wanaka Area Office. In addition, this block is balloted for the roar period during the months of March and April.
The use of shotguns, shotgun-rifle combos, .22 calibre and rim-fire firearms are prohibited on public conservation land unless stated otherwise.
Safari hunting operates throughout the year on Glen Dene Station which borders to the north. Hunting outside the conservation land boundaries is prohibited.
Contractors for TBfree may undertake aerial monitoring work in this block for animal health inspections. The block will not be exclusive during this period and an effort to notify the permit holder will be made in advance of the work.
Know before you go
Check for current pesticide operations that may be in progress where you intend to hunt using the pesticide summary map.
Access
This block is accessed by boat on the eastern shore of Lake Wānaka. Be aware that there is no mooring and the shoreline is exposed to strong winds. The climb from Lake Wānaka is difficult due to the steep slopes and thick scrub.
Firearms and dogs are not permitted on the Stewart Creek/Glen Dene Ridge Tracks.
Maps
NZTopo50 series: CA12
Lake Wānaka Faces hunting block map (PDF, 1615K)
Dogs
Dogs are allowed in this block with a hunting permit. If accessing the block over private land, you must have landholder permission to take your dog.
Wānaka Tititea/Mount Aspiring National Park
Visitor Centre
| Phone: | +64 27 269 6871 |
| Email: | wanakavc@doc.govt.nz |
| Hours: | Visitor centre hours and services |