As a paying passenger in the lead vehicle of this 4WD tour you can enjoy being driven in convoy style on private farms as well as Molesworth and Rainbow Stations in the beautiful Marlborough high country, in exchange for assisting our guide with small tasks.
Blenheim
7.45am
First two nights are staying in shearer’s accommodation on a high country station in the Awatere Valley. You will have your own individual bedroom please bring your own sleeping bag, pillow and towel. Bathroom facilities are shared. The third night is at Glenalvon Motels in Hanmer Springs ensuite rooms; it is situated across the road from the thermal pool complex.
Daily breakfasts are full cooked or continental style on the station and continental served in the dining room at Drifters Inn, two lunches are on farms with the owners and other lunches are picnic style enjoyed in the wide open spaces of the backcountry, evening meals are two courses, and tea breaks will be served from our onboard supplies of locally roasted plunger coffee or tea and home baking from the cake tins. BYO drinks for evening dining.
If you have any particular food allergies or tastes please let us know on your pre trip booking form.
Your role will be to travel in the lead vehicle with the tour leader so you will be in a prime seat with personal attention. To open any gates along the route To assist with unloading catering supplies from the lead vehicle each night To assist with cooking of a BBQ meal on the first night of tour. To assist with cooking 2 breakfasts in the shearers accommodation and loading lead vehicle with supplies each day To assist with morning tea setups during the day
Meet with your co-driver at 8.15am at your accommodation in Blenheim before meeting other group members at the Blenheim Railway Station car park at 8.30am, short briefing and introductions. Your drive starts by taking the coastal route around the Wairau Lagoons with its interesting history and wonderful views to your first farm track drive, then another farm with a good track and great views overlooking the Awatere Valley and Pacific Coast. A pleasant surprise for morning tea awaits you then you head up the valley to a high country station for lunch and a guided tour with the owner around their beautiful property consisting of high country, vineyards and pine plantations. Saying goodbye to drive to your overnight farm accommodation in the upper reaches of the Awatere Valley arriving about 5.30pm to settle in enjoy a few drinks and help prepare a BBQ.
After helping to cook a hearty farm style breakfast we will set off around 9am to drive up the Grey River and explore the 35,000 acre station with the owner coming with us for the day. Morning driving includes river crossings, driving round spurs, through flat grassy expanses with a cuppa in a backcountry hut. The return route lets you enjoy the same country from a different perspective arriving back at the homestead for lunch. Back on the track again to drive along a ridge line up to a height of 5,000 feet with great back country views over neighbouring stations including Molesworth Station. Driving down from the heights back to the valley floor with a home cooked meal awaiting and stories of the day over drinks to while away the evening.
After helping to cook breakfast it’s time to see a piece of Muller Station with our host, share morning tea at a hut before we say goodbye to head toward Molesworth. See the original Molesworth cob cottage then head south into Molesworth Station. Enjoy a picnic lunch at the old Acheron accommodation house surrounded by nature and the extensive hills. Driving into Hanmer Springs via Jollies Pass around 4.30pm with time to enjoy the thermal pools or shopping before drinks and dinner.
Departing at 9am and heading into the back country over Jacks Pass, stopping to enjoy the scenery at various vantage points and investigate the numerous alpine plants on the way to Lake Tennyson, where we will enjoy morning tea with an amazing back drop of mountain scenery. Highlights will include Island Saddle, the Tarndale Lakes, and Rainbow Station. Returning to Blenheim through the many vineyards that are creeping into the upper reaches of the Wairau Valley by 5.30pm.
