Archived content: This media release was accurate on the date of publication. 

Introduction

The Acheron Road through Molesworth Station is to reopen on Friday 22 March.

Date:  21 March 2013

The Acheron Road through Molesworth Station is to reopen from 7am this Friday 22 March, after sufficient rain fell to reduce the fire danger.

The road will be open until the end of its opening season – Sunday 7 April.

‘We’re very pleased the conditions have allowed us to reopen the road over the long Easter weekend,’ says Department of Conservation South Marlborough Area Manager Dave Hayes.

‘Easter has traditionally been a popular time to travel through Molesworth Station’.

The road had been closed on 12 March due to the high fire danger in the station at the time.

The gates to the road will be open from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm. Visitors are asked to take extra care with flammable items such as cigarette butts to avoid igniting fires, and no fires are permitted at any time.

People wanting more information about travelling the road, can call DOC’s South Marlborough Area Office, ph +64 3 572 9100, or ask at visitor centres in the region.

The journey through the station can be made as a day trip, taking around six hours between Blenheim and Hanmer, or people can camp overnight near the Molesworth Cob Cottage and Acheron Accommodation House. If you are making a round trip through Rainbow Station to St Arnaud, a 4WD vehicle is required. This is a toll road that is open from 26 December until 1 April.

Several tracks provide opportunity to get out of vehicles and enjoy short walks with panoramic views.


Related link

Visiting Molesworth Station 

Contact

Dave Hayes, DOC South Marlborough Area Manager, phone +64 3 572 9100

Trish Grant, DOC Nelson/Marlborough communications advisor, phone +64 3 546 3146 

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