Tongariro Conservation Area

Tongariro Forest offers good hunting for red deer and pigs. All hunting dogs must have avian avoidance training.

There is good hunting for red deer and pigs across the whole forest, with goats present primarily on the northern and western boundaries.

Part of the Ruapehu Conservation Areas and Reserves open hunting area, Tongariro Forest is a compact triangle of land administered by the Department of Conservation northwest of Tongariro National Park. The upper Wanganui River forms the northern boundary while State Highway 47 and the Whakapapa River complete the triangle to the south, encompassing some 25700 hectares.

Early logging within the area has drastically changed the forest. The mosaic of logging roads and pulling tracks still offer excellent access to most of the forest, despite heavy toetoe regrowth. Generally the terrain is flat to rolling, with steep gorges along the rivers and streams.

The key access roads include Kapoors Road, John McDonald road, and the 42 Traverse, which offers summer time 4wd access.

You will need the following Topo 50 series maps:

Raurimu BH34

Hunters are allowed to take hunting dogs that have a DOC issued dog control permit into this forest.

Hunters should be aware that it contains important populations of threatened North Island brown kiwi and blue duck. Because of this hunters need to adhere to the following:

• all hunters entering DOC conservation lands must obtain a hunting permit
• dogs must be issued with a DOC issued dog control permit for this area
• dogs must be certified as ‘kiwi safe’ through the avian aversion training (current certificate will need to be sighted by DOC when getting a dog control permit)
• the dog must be used for hunting and not just be there for company
• dogs are tied up at night
• any dogs that are lost in these areas are reported to the nearest DOC office immediately.

There is only one hut in Tongariro forest: 10 Man Hut