Mr Hellebrekers' job was disestablished in a major restructuring of the department, but he intends to keep busy with his conservation efforts, albeit in a voluntary capacity.
He departs for a nine-week ''clean break'' overseas trip with wife Tess on Saturday, before a stint helping out on family members' farms in the Wairarapa, then a return to Wanaka, where he will reassess his future.
''I just want to get out in the hills, read my book, take time out, forget about Doc for a while ... see what happens.''
Mr Hellebrekers joined the national parks and reserves division of the Department of Lands and Survey 33 years ago, then was a founding staff member of Doc when it was formed in 1987.
He was involved with the Otago Goldfields Park sites while based in Dunedin for a year, before becoming a ranger at Te Urewera National Park for three years. A 12-year spell as Makarora ranger followed, which Mr Hellebrekers remembers fondly as ''probably the most rewarding of my career''.
''Mainly because we had a very small team and a very good team. We had very few resources, we had hardly any money in those days, and you had to really work with others to get things done.''
A year as Queenstown field centre manager came next, before a major department restructuring in 1997 brought him to his current position in Wanaka.
Staff numbers in the Wanaka/Makarora offices would be cut by 3.5 full-time positions as a result of the new Doc structure, which would create two distinct work streams - conservation partnership (developing conservation initiatives with other organisations) and conservation services (fieldwork), Mr Hellebrekers said.
A manager for each would be based at Wanaka. The changes were a big shift from the current structure, and ones which Mr Hellebrekers had ''shared some thoughts publicly on'' when they were announced.
''I knew at the time it was potentially going to be a career-ending decision to do that but I thought it was something I still had to do.
''I don't think they got the structure quite right and I'm sure it will be tinkered with over the next couple of years. But it will work because the staff that remain will want to make it work.''
Mr Hellebrekers harboured no ill-feeling towards Doc and had ''no regrets'' about his conservation career ending.
''We all have to go at some time and after 33 years I think it's probably about time anyway.
''I do go out still feeling positive about the organisation and what we're doing and by doing that I hope to still be involved in the future as a volunteer.''
He was especially keen to work with the Matukituki Protection Project, the Glenfoyle western skink project and the Upper Clutha Track Trust.
While the job had had its downsides - particularly dealing with the many fatalities in the hills around Wanaka - there were many highlights, too, such as transferring weka from the Chatham Islands to islands on Lake Wanaka, and tenure review, which in Wanaka had achieved a ''win-win'' situation for farmers and the department, he believed.
The outpouring of support when he spoke out about this year's restructuring was one of the most significant and ''humbling'' points in his career. Had he made the decision to apply for one of the new managerial roles, Mr Hellebrekers said he would have described his best attribute as a Doc employee as having the ability to develop positive relationships with people from all walks of life.
As testament to that, at his recent farewell function, tributes flowed from a diverse range of people, including Doc Deputy Director-general Lou Sanson and Otago and Southland Conservator Neil Clifton, deputy mayor Lyal Cocks, police search and rescue co-ordinator Sergeant Aaron Nicholson, high-country farmer Richard Burdon and Upper Clutha Tracks Trust member Rachel Brown. Me Hellebrekers considered himself ''very lucky'' in his career.
''I've worked in some spectacular backcountry of New Zealand ... on some really interesting and challenging projects ... with some really amazing people. I feel very privileged.''
