This tour is a special tour as you will get to know about the high-country farming operations in a remote part of New Zealand. Includes Merino farming for specific clothing companies, the use of genetics also beef farming on a large scale. Bring your own 4X4 vehicle to drive in convoy over some High Country Stations in Marlborough.
We meet one or two farmers for a chat. Some of the Stations included are the historic Molesworth Station, the picturesque Rainbow Station, and the rugged St James Stations plus other private stations. Follow our fun and informative lead guide with a 2 way radio where you can listen to the rolling commentary of history, farming and stories. Enjoy your four days of driving in the fabulous unspoilt high-country regions, with towering mountains, meandering rivers, and native beech forests through rolling farmland to the famous Marlborough vineyards. Includes a two-night stay in a 5 Star stylish new shearers quarters on one of New Zealand’s most remote high-country stations, nestled in the upper reaches of the Awatere Valley, with x2 3 course evening meals x2 cooked and continental breakfasts and x2 packed lunches. A talk on the operation of the station is given and a chance of looking through the woolshed. These meals are cooked by a qualified chef. There are pre dinnernibbles on the station stay. A bar with non-alcoholic drinks also with wine and beer available. Surrounded yourself with the high-country vista in the loungers sipping on a local wine or throwing back a Steinlager or corona. Included in this package is the use of hot tubs so bring your togs. Our last night includes staying in the Thermal hot pools township of Hanmer Springs. The motels are spacious and comfortable and we have delicious evening meal in a local popular restaurant. There is time for a hot soak in the thermal hot pools and /or shopping in the amazing variety of shops.
Blenheim Railway Station
8.00am
Rich in history of the areas you are travelling through. Opportunity to speak and meet with local high country farmers. Meet like minded people travelling in your group and enjoy the personalised aspects of a small tour group where all the planning has been done for you down to the smallest detail. We are an Adventure Mark certified tourism business which means we have passed a robust assessment of all our business procedures and you can be assured you are purchasing a quality safe experience. Last but not least we hold a license to access Molesworth Station so you are guaranteed travel through the station when it is not open to the general public.
Make sure you fuel up before leaving Blenheim; Hanmer Springs has a Caltex petrol station as well as puncture repair and tyre changing facilities.
4WD with a high and low ratio gearbox is mandatory.
Ground clearance recommended of 225mm both front and rear of vehicle.
Tyres ‘all terrain’ tyres with a good amount of tread on them are required.
Low profile road tyres are not suitable.
All wheel drive SUV’s (Sports Utility Vehicle) are not suitable.
Please contact us if you are unsure if your vehicle would be suitable.
All vehicles must have a current registration and WOF.
You need to have a good knowledge of your vehicle and have some previous 4X4 off road driving experience.
Meet with your lead driver and other group members at the Blenheim Railway Station car park northern end at 8.00am, short briefing and introductions. Your drive starts by taking the coastal route around the Wairau Lagoons over Redwood Pass into the Awatere Valley with its interesting history. Enjoy morning tea with Martin and Jane on their vineyard, hear all about the wine industry and enjoy a wine tasting before we head up the Awatere Valley. Can purchase wine. We will drive up to the Black Birch Range to a height of 1693m, with amazing views up the Awatere Valley, Inland Kaikoura Range and The Wairua Valley. We then visit a high-country sheep and beef farm for lunch and see the range of clothing their merino wool is made from. In the afternoon we drive up The Awatere Valley to our 2-night accommodation in one of New Zealand’s most remote high-country stations, nestled in the upper reaches of the Awatere Valley. After arriving and settling in enjoy drinks and nibbles and a hot tub soak all before your Farm to Table evening dining experience with a meal cooked for you by the station’s private chef.
Accommodation:
Spacious and delectably comfortable rooms in The Quarters, one of New Zealand’s most remote high-country stays. Features luxury linen and bedding, robes, underfloor heating, unlimited Wi-Fi and sliding doors opening out to lawn and mountain vistas, shared bathrooms, outdoor wood fired hot tubs for you to enjoy.
Meals:
Morning tea at a vineyard homestead. A beautiful 2 course lunch will be on a private high-country station today served by Hugo’s wife, Kelly our informative hostess. Tonight, a Farm to Table evening dining experience with a meal cooked for you by the station’s private chef, wine and beer available for purchase tonight.
After breakfast, we set off around 9am to drive to a neighbouring farm to explore the 35,000-acre station with the owner. Morning driving includes multiple river crossings, driving round spurs, through bush and flat grassy expanses with a cuppa in a back-country hut. We return on the same route with multiple river crossings, arriving back at the homestead for lunch. Back to driving on a track through lush grazing blocks ascending to a lookout point. Here on a clear day, you can see Mt Tapuae-o-Uenuku, the highest peak outside of the Southern Alps. Views of the Upper Awatere Valley and the remnants of an extinct volcano Driving down from the heights back to the valley floor for dinner and stories of the day over a few drinks.
Accommodation:
Spacious and delectably comfortable rooms in The Quarters, one of New Zealand’s most remote high-country stays. Features luxury linen and bedding, robes, underfloor heating, unlimited Wi-Fi and sliding doors opening out to lawn and mountain vistas, shared lockable bathrooms. outdoor wood fired hot tubs for you to enjoy.
Meals:
Chef prepared breakfast, tea breaks will be served from our onboard supplies of locally roasted plunger coffee or tea and home baking. Picnic lunch today. Farm to Table evening dining experience with a meal cooked for you by the station’s private chef, wine and beer available for purchase tonight.
After breakfast it’s time to head further south to enter Molesworth Station. See the original Cob Cottage and enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by history, nature and the extensive hills. Driving through the legendary station with stories along the way reaching Hanmer Springs via Jollies Pass around 3pm with time to enjoy the thermal pools and refuel for the next day. Group dinner out tonight.
Accommodation: Hanmer Springs in ensuite motels; situated approximately 100 metres across the road from the thermal pool complex, we recommend if you want to enjoy the pools, do so soon after arriving in Hanmer.
Meals: Chef prepared breakfast. Lunch will be picnicking enjoyed in the wide-open spaces of the back country. Tea breaks will be served from our on-board supplies of locally roasted coffee or tea and home baking. Two course evening meal.
Departing at 9am and heading into the back country over Jacks Pass, with a detour into Mailings Pass with stunning views. Stopping to enjoy the scenery at various vantage points enjoy morning tea beside a river. Stopping at the picturesque Lake Tennyson with its amazing backdrop of mountains. Highlights will include Island Saddle, the Tarndale Lakes, and driving through the towering mountains, beech forest and farmland of Rainbow Station. Returning to Blenheim through the many vineyards that are creeping into the upper reaches of the Wairau Valley around 5.30pm.
Meals: Continental style breakfast served in your room. Tea breaks will be served from our on-board supplies of locally roasted coffee or tea and home baking. Picnic style lunch. Dinner at own arrangement.
We just wanted to say a huge thankyou to Chris for the excellent trip we had last week. We all really enjoyed the company of the others on the trip and Chris ensured that everything was amazing. We will definitely be recommending this trip to others.
Our Tag-along Tour through the Molesworth with your company was one of the best experiences we have
had. Everything was more than we expected and our guide Chris was absolutely exceptional.
Thank you for providing such a wonderful opportunity.
Sheryl and I have just completed your 4WD Molesworth Tag Along Tour.
Our four days was an absolutely awesome experience, thanks to Chris.
Our super guide Chris exceeded our expectations. He was patient, friendly and an awesome 4WD coach.
With Chris’s guidance I found I was able to drive safely in unbelievable off road situations.
Thanks also to Ultraquip Hire in Blenheim for their excellent service.
Their Toyota Hilux we hired was perfect for our adventure.
I would certainly recommend more people experience you super tour.
What a wonderful few days we spent on our Molesworth 4WD trip with Chris. It really exceeded our expectations.
Chris was a great tour leader- so nice, easy going, organised, knowledgeable, friendly, calm etc etc. We all got on well as a group and felt like we’d known each other for years- after only 4 days!
It was all so well planned. The accommodation was very good, the food was great, distances covered just right.
All the hosts we met on the trip were so welcoming and friendly. And great cooks!
Wonderful country we viewed everywhere.
Thank you so much- we will recommend this trip to our friends and family.
We had a great trip with Chris. He is very knowledgeable about the high country and on great terms with the runholders. It was a privilege to meet them all and have a glimpse into their everyday lives.
And the food was 1st class.
We thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience.
