Molesworth Station tramping tracks
Track category
Tramping track
Description
Molesworth cob cottage
Molesworth Homestead Lookout Track
Time: 10 min (450 m)
Starting from behind the cob cottage the track starts from a gate entrance taking walkers across a paddock to a point for views of Molesworth Homestead and surrounding farm buildings.
Acheron Lookout Loop Walk
Time: 20 min (1 km)
This 20 minute loop walk starting from Acheron Homestead gives views of the homestead, Clarence River and the surrounding valley.
Trig Lookout Track / Mt Chisolm Track
Time: Trig Lookout - 25 min (1.3 km) / Mt Chisolm - 1 hr 20 min (3.5 km)
The track to Trig Lookout and Mt Chisholm starts from the carpark on the Molesworth side of Wards Pass. From the carpark follow a 4WD track to the junction where signs direct you to Trig Lookout and on to Mt Chisholm.
From Mt Chisholm are spectacular views of Molesworth Homestead and its associated farm buildings. From the summit all round views take in the Awatere Valley and Inland Kaikoura Ranges to the east, Acheron Valley to the north-west and views across Isolated Flat and Mt Barefell to the south.
The track is a tramping track marked with poles, is unformed, steep with rough sections suitable for walkers with a good level of fitness.
Pudding Hill, looking towards
Isolated Flat in the distance
Pudding Hill
Time: 2 hr (4 km)
Pudding Hill summit is reached after a 2 hour walk. From here looking south the Acheron River winds its way towards its confluence with the Clarence River. Looking due north the Boddington Range separates Isolated Flat from the Acheron River.
The track standard is a tramping track and is marked with poles. The track is suitable for mountain biking.
If you plan walking to the summit of Pudding Hill, start your day early to allow the necessary time to take in this half day walk.
Mt Augarde Track
Time: 1 hr (1.5 km)
From a car park at the southern end of Isolated Flat is where the track to Mt Augarde starts. Parts of the track are unformed, steep, and rough. Follow the ridge to the summit.
From the summit of Mt Augarde are views north across Isolated Flat and the distant tops of the Severn, Saxton and Acheron Ranges.
The track is marked with poles and is suitable for walkers with good fitness.
Getting there
Awatere turn-off (22 km/185 km)
From Blenheim, follow State Highway One south, then turn right at the Awatere Valley intersection just north of Seddon and the Awatere Valley Bridge. A sign here will indicate whether the Molesworth Road is open.
Along the public Awatere Valley Road, picnic and toilet facilities are offered at the Marlborough District Council's Blairich Recreation Reserve (37 km/161 km) and the Hodder Bridge Picnic Area (76 km/132 km).
Molesworth Cob Cottage (122 km/85 km)
For visitors who have travelled up the Awatere Valley, the original cob homestead built by John Murphy in 1866 is the gateway to Molesworth where the Acheron Road begins. If the road is closed, please go no further.
Places to stay
The Molesworth Cob Cottage and Acheron Accommodation House are the only camping sites along the Acheron Road, located at either end of the route through Molesworth Station. Costs per night are $6.00 per adult and $1.50 per child.
On the Hanmer-Rainbow Road, the four-bunk Island Gully and the six-bunk Sedgemere Hut are available to the public. While a woodburning stove is provided for heating, hut users should bring their own firewood and it is recommended that gas stoves be carried in for cooking.
A DOC hut pass is required for each person overnighting here. Camping is allowed at Lake Tennyson, Coldwater Creek and Sedgemere, adjacent to the access way to the tarns. Non-vehicle based freedom camping is permitted in Public Access Zones during the periods that they are open.
Guides and commercial tourism providers