Party Hunt: Waipakihi River 2026

As we have a high level of interest in party hunts this will be run through a ballot process. 6 names will be drawn. The cutoff date for registering your interest is midnight on 14th October 2026.

This party hunt will be based in the Waipakihi River (Kaimanawa Forest Park) on the 13th to 15th of November. It's approximately 4.5 hours from Auckland plus Friday afternoon traffic.

There is a campsite near the road end with easy access down to the river. No services are provided as we are camping on conservation land. Bring your own tent, sleeping gear and all food required for 2-3 days in the bush.

Registrants will need to be confident hunting alone and crossing rivers potentially up to waist height, depending on the amount of rainfall. There is some nice gentle rolling beech forest country to be hunted with a few river flats that may have deer feeding for spring. The lower section of the river is very popular with 4WDs and other hunters so we will aim to get a bit of distance up the river.

There is a predator box trap line up the river that has been installed by our conservation team which I will be servicing on the Saturday. Any hunters who are interested in tagging along for this are welcome to come and see what it's all about.

The distance covered will be approximately 15km of river edge with undulating conditions so there is reasonable fitness level required to do so.

A DOC permit will be required for the Kaimanawa forest park and a minimum gear list will be sent out to successful applicants. Blaze vests are a minimum requirement for this hunt.