This hunting area is covered by an 'open area permit' – get it online or from a DOC office.
About this hunting block
General information
The Robinson area includes the smaller catchments of the Tass, Blue Grey, Brown Grey and May Creek. These are small sized rivers that drain into the upper Grey valley system. There are small areas of open tops to about 1600 m altitude.
Vegetation is mainly beech forest at lower altitude, some cutover logged areas, and small areas of tussock tops. The valleys are mostly forested with wide valley bottom terraces and small clearings. There are few large open river flat areas. Lake Christabel is in the upper Blue Grey Valley.
Access
From SH7 turn off 4 km from Springs Junction onto Palmer Rd then travel 17 km to the road end at Newcombes Flat.
Robinson
From the road end, a public track leads around the private land and then up the Robinson Valley to two huts and a high level route that links with the Upper Blue Grey valley via Lake Christabel. Access to the Robinson is on public land via a track around the edge of the private land. Permission is not required.
Lake Christabel
A track up the Blue Grey River leaves Palmer Road at Palmer Flat reaching Lake Christabel (3 hours) then to a hut a further 2 hours up the valley.
Tass River
The Tass River has a low saddle with the Nancy River. Access to the Tass River is across private land and permission should be gained.
Access to the smaller streams in the area is either directly off the road or across private land where permission should be gained.
Landholders
Tass access
Miguel Sobrino
Email: miguelso@yahoo.com
Maps
NZTopo50 BT22, BU22, BU21.
Dogs
Dogs are prohibited except where authorisation has been granted by DOC. People wishing to take a dog into this area must seek authorisation from the DOC office. In addition taking any dogs across private farmland will need that landowner's approval.
Huts
There are several huts in this area:
- Mid Robinson Hut. Standard 6 bunk.
- Top Robinson Hut. Standard 8 bunk.
- Lake Christabel Hut. Standard 8 bunk. 8-9 hours from road.
Hunting
- Red deer can be found throughout the area at any time of the year and hunting during the roar is popular.
- Chamois can be encountered on occasions in alpine areas.
- Goats are uncommon.
- Feral pigs are relatively rare.
- Possums are regularly controlled by TBfree throughout the area.
Additional information
There is good trout fishing in most streams.
DOC Customer Service Centre
Phone: | 0800 275 362 |
Email: | greymouth@doc.govt.nz |
Address: | Māwhera / Greymouth Office |