Molesworth Recreation Reserve
Located in the Marlborough region
Introduction
Molesworth is a land of extremes. This vast landscape contains scree-scarred mountains, wide river valleys and tussock slopes. Check the Acheron Road is open if you intend to drive through.
Find things to do and places to stay Molesworth Recreation Reserve
Access and activities in Molesworth Recreation Reserve are managed by a permit system. Find out when you need a permit for walking and tramping in Molesworth.
Good trout and salmon fishing are available in the rivers, streams and lakes of Molesworth. Please park your vehicle and walk, as off-road driving and driving on farm tracks is prohibited. Walking access is possible up stream margins and major rivers.
Fishing permitted only during the open season (October 1 to April 30) and requires a licence from Fish & Game New Zealand
Anyone wanting access when the Acheron Road is closed must apply for a special permit from the South Marlborough Area Office.
Access and activities in Molesworth Recreation Reserve are managed by a permit system. Find out when you need a permit to drive on Acheron Road.
Acheron Road is only open in the summer and can close in that time without warning. Check if Acheron Road is open.
Access and activities in Molesworth Recreation Reserve are managed by a permit system. You need a permit at all times to horse ride. Find out about permits.
Acheron Road is only open in the summer and can close in that time without warning. Check if Acheron Road is open.
Routes and logistics need to be carefully planned. See the indicative horse trekking routes (PDF, 7,232K)
Access and activities in Molesworth Recreation Reserve are managed by a permit system. Find out when you need a permit to mountain bike on Acheron Road.
Acheron Road is only open in the summer and can close in that time without warning. Check if Acheron Road is open.
Rafting the Clarence River is a multi-day wilderness experience, offered by a number of adventure tourism companies employing qualified guides. Trips are generally four days and five nights.
Rafts are launched at the Acheron River confluence and the journey ends 214 kilometres later where the Clarence meets the sea. Rapids are a moderate grade two and three. October to December is the main rafting season, when water levels are sufficiently high.
The Acheron River is narrow and unpredictable, particular the section known as the Shute, just above the confluence with the Clarence River. Rafting this section is not advised.
Access and activities in Molesworth Recreation Reserve are managed by a permit system. Find out when you need a permit to drive on Acheron Road.
Acheron Road is only open in the summer and can close in that time without warning. Check if Acheron Road is open.
The 1347 m Island Saddle is the highest point on a publicly accessed road in New Zealand.
From Blenheim, follow SH1 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 Acheron Road through Molesworth is open.
From Hanmer, take Jacks Pass Road a short distance past the Hurunui i-SITE and about 750 metres along that road turn right into the Clarence Valley Road. Follow this road over the pass and turn right for Molesworth and the Acheron road.
- Watch out for wasps, especially in late summer and autumn.
- Check if you need an activitiy permit.
- Check if Acheron Road is open.
- Molesworth Recreation Reserve Bylaws 2017 apply.
- The weather here ranges from scorching summers to freezing snowy winters.
Molesworth care code
- Open fires are not allowed, even in cottage fireplaces. Use portable stoves for cooking.
- Leave gates as you find them.
- Keep vehicles to the formed roads.
- Dogs are prohibited.
- Don't remove or damage native plants and animals.
- Check for seeds and plants on your gear before entering.
- Remove rubbish.
- Respect our cultural heritage.
- Toitu te whenua – leave the land undisturbed
Useful contacts
Fish & Game
Marlborough office, +64 3 578 8421
Nelson office, +64 3 544 6382
Rainbow Station
Email: info@rainbowstation.co.nz
Phone: +64 3 5224 413 between 8.30 am – 4.00 pm
Rainbow Station website
Molesworth Recreation Reserve contains special and diverse biodiversity, including tiny inconspicuous endangered plants. Almost half of the over 60 endemic plant species found in South Marlborough grow on Molesworth.
Molesworth has a rich farming history. The area is also home to the historic Acheron Accommodation House (1862) and the historic Molesworth Cob Cottage (1866).
Learn about the history from interpretation panels, camp outside the Cob Cottage, picnic by the mighty Acheron River or enjoy walks from 10 minutes to several days duration.
The 180,787 ha reserve is New Zealand’s largest farm, running the country's biggest herd of beef cattle, numbering up to 10,000.
Check, Clean, Dry
Clean all gear when moving between waterways to prevent the spread of didymo and other freshwater pests.
Contacts
| Whakatū / Nelson Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 546 9339 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
Millers Acre/Taha o te Awa 79 Trafalgar Street Nelson 7010 |
| Postal Address: |
Private Bag 5 Nelson 7042 |
| Full office details | |
| Rotoiti / Nelson Lakes Visitor Centre | |
| Phone: | +64 3 521 1806 |
| Fax: | +64 4 471 1117 |
| Email: | nelsonlakesvc@doc.govt.nz |
| Address: |
View Road St Arnaud |
| Postal Address: |
PO Box 55 St Arnaud 7053 |
| Full office details | |
