The Oxford RHA includes both the Oxford Forest Conservation Area and the Mt Thomas Forest Conservation Area west of Oxford in North Canterbury. The Oxford Forest part of the RHA borders the Waimakariri River on its northwest and goes southeast as far as Ashley Saddle. The Mt Thomas Forest part of the RHA goes from Lees Valley Road northeast to the Okuku River.
The Oxford RHA is very accessible to Christchurch and therefore hunters can expect to come across other parties and trampers. The terrain is hilly and the vegetation is mostly beech forest, with scrub and tussock on the tops.
RHAs are areas of public conservation land where recreational hunters can enjoy and harvest meat without commercial competition. They were formally gazetted between the early and mid-1980s, following the hugely successful commercial recovery boom.
Plan your hunt
The GAC Better Hunting Multi-Map tool can help you plan a hunt in the Oxford RHA. It’s a one-stop-shop for links to weather forecasting, vegetation, pesticide operations, access and more.
Species present
Red deer are the main species hunted in the RHA.
Other species present:
- Wild pigs
- Chamois
Permit required
Oxford RHA is covered by a DOC open area hunting permit. You can get an open hunting permit here.
Key access points
Oxford Forest area:
- Lees Valley Road to the locked gate at Lees Valley Station. There is walking access into the Townshend, Shifton, and Black Hill areas. Access is through private land and unformed legal road, permission from Lees Valley Station is required
- Mountain Road to car park
- Perhams Roads to the Wharfedale Track car park
- Trig Road to the Eyre River car park
Mt Thomas Forest area:
- Hayland Road to Mount Thomas picnic area
- Glentui Bush Road
- Taafee’s Glen Road to access the Pinchgut route
- Lees Valley Road
Please refer to the WAMS (walking access) maps on the Multi-Map tool for more information on access.
Huts
A number of well-located huts managed by DOC are within the RHA and bordering it.
Oxford Forest area:
Mt Thomas Forest area:
Forest and terrain
The Oxford RHA is characterised by rolling to steep foothill terrain typical of the eastern flanks of the Southern Alps.
Lower and mid-elevations are dominated by mountain beech forest, with areas of kānuka and mānuka scrub, particularly on drier faces and regenerating sites.
Above the bushline, the terrain opens into tussock grasslands, rocky ridgelines and open tops, providing good opportunities for glassing.
The area includes a mix of narrow valleys, small catchments and steeper hill faces, with terrain generally less rugged than high alpine areas but still requiring careful navigation, particularly away from marked tracks.
Tips for hunting Oxford RHA
Oxford RHA provides accessible foothill hunting close to Christchurch and the Canterbury plains.
Because of this accessibility the area receives regular hunting pressure. Hunters often have more success by travelling further into the backcountry or hunting less obvious catchments.
The mix of beech forest, scrub country and open tops provides a variety of hunting environments. The bush can provide good stalking, while the open tops allow for glassing animals.
As with many hunting areas close to major population centres, the Oxford RHA area is popular with trampers and other recreational users, particularly near main access tracks. It is therefore important that hunters are aware of this, share the area responsibly and do not discharge firearms near tracks, huts and road-ends.
Dogs
Dogs are allowed but must be under control at all times.
Local NZDA branches
The strong advocacy of the New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) was key to the establishment of these areas and the creation of RHAs remains one of the important achievements of organised recreational hunting advocacy in New Zealand.
Local branches include:
Local DOC visitor centre
Arthur’s Pass National Park Visitor Centre
- 03 318 9211
- arthurspassvc@doc.govt.nz