Eastern Paparoas hunting

General information

The Eastern Paparoas extend from the Buller Gorge south to Blackball. There are a number of moderate sized valleys that provide access into the range as well as two DOC walking tracks.

The Paparoas are a forested mountain range with accessible open tops to about 1400m. Vegetation is mainly beech/podocarp forest at lower altitude and areas of tussock tops along the range. The larger rivers have small clearings and flats along their length however there are a few large open river flat areas.

Access to the ranges is possible at a number of points.

Access

In the north a bridge over the Inangahua River at Rotokohu provides car access up Perseverance Road to the lower slopes of the Paparoa Range. There are no walking tracks in this area.

Access to Stony Creek is via a Ngai Tahu road or old logging roads off Perseverance Rd. Maimai Road provides access to Giles Creek along the coal mine road.

Access to the Rough River is from Ikamatua across the Mawheraiti River Bridge to the west bank. Take Mirfin Road to where Rough River emerges from the hills. There is no walking track but foot access is possible up the river. The river bed is bouldery with forest to the rivers edge and few clearings encountered until you get several kilometres up the river.

South of Rough River access to Big River and the ranges is possible by following the forestry roads on Ngai Tahu land through Craigieburn Pakihi. From Atarau a road leads into Moonlight camping area and a track provides access to the Paparoa Range. A road behind Blackball ends at a carpark and the start of the Croesus track. This track provides access to the Ces Clark Hut and hunting areas in the head of Garden Gully and the open tops north to Moonlight and south to Mt Watson. 

Landholders

Access via Ngai Tahu land may be required in some places and a permit should be obtained if you want to also hunt their land. For access and permits contact:

Ngai Tahu Foresty
Greymouth
Phone: +64 3 768 6424

Maps

NZTopo50NZ BS20, BS21, BT20.

Dogs

Dogs are prohibited in this area.

Huts

There is only 1 hut in this southern part of this area:

• Ces Clark Hut (Croesus track). A serviced 16 bunk hut.

Hunting

There is a small herd of fallow deer in the eastern Paparoas between Stony Creek and Big River. They are occasionally seen along bush margins and on the open tops.

Red deer can be found throughout the area at any time of the year and hunting during the roar is popular.

Chamois are occasionally seen in the alpine areas but are in low numbers.

Possums are controlled by TBfree in many places especially near farmland.

Goats are common in the lower Croesus and Moonlight valleys and occasional seen on the tops while feral pigs are rare.

Additional information

Brown trout exist in all sizeable rivers, good information is available from West Coast Fish & Game.