About this hunting block

General information

The Upper Grey includes the catchments of the Snowy, Alexander, Upper Grey and Clarke Rivers. These are moderate sized rivers that drain into the Grey Valley. There are small areas of open tops to about 1400m altitude.

Vegetation is mainly beech forest at lower altitude, some cutover logged areas, and small areas of tussock tops. The rivers are mostly forested with gorges and small clearings. There are few large open river flat areas.

Entry to valleys is possible at several points.

Access

Turn off SH7 a few kilometres north of Ikamatua onto Snowy River Road and head east towards Hukawai. The road continues for 15km to a private farm at McVicars. The Alexander River is crossed a few kilometres before the road end. Access Clarke River via Waipuna Road to the south of Ikamatua.

Upper Grey River: From the road end at McVicars there is no public access further up the valley. Permission is required to cross private land to the river. 

Clarke River: 4km north of Totara Flat turn off SH7 onto Waipuna road as far as the old Clarke bridge site about 1km before the road ends at a quarry. Contact landowner for permission for last section. Across the river an old logging road provides foot access into forests around Mt Harata and on to the upper Grey River. Alternatively follow the Clarke River upstream from the road end. There are no tracks but river and bush terrace travel is reasonable all the way to the headwaters.

Mt Elliott: Turn off SH7 at Ahaura and follow the Orwell Creek Road then Ahaura-Kopara Road to the Kopara road end (about 37km). Several old forest roads provide access into cutover areas. A non maintained walking track to the Mt Elliott tops starts at a point 7 km before the road end is reached. This track can be seen on the NZMS 260 L32 sheet, it is not maintained or marked at the bottom but probably still provides best access to the tops once located.

Landholders

McVicars and Upper Grey River:  RJ & BA Fleming  Ph: +64 3 738 0316.
 
Clarke River:  Ken Ferguson  Ph +64 3 732 3501

Maps

NZTopo50 BT21, BT22.

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. Keep dogs under control when crossing farmland.

Huts

There are no public huts in the area.

Hunting

• Red deer can be found throughout the area at any time of the year and hunting during the spring and roar is popular. 
• Chamois can be found in alpine areas. 
• Goats are present in low numbers in the Clarke Valley and on Mt Elliott but rarely seen elsewhere. 
• Feral pigs are occasionally encountered passing through some of these areas. 
• Possums are regularly controlled by TBfree throughout the area.

Additional information

There is good trout fishing in the Upper Grey and Clarke Rivers.