Molesworth & Rainbow stations

Home (Monday 27th April)

Today we simply fly from Palmerston North to Christchurch. We’ll be met by our local guide, Ross Carter. Ross has been guiding visitors to this area for decades and his company, Molesworth Tours, has 40 years experience introducing people to the Molesworth and Rainbow back country and has been leading our trips through the area for more than a decade. 

Departing from another destination

For those departing from another destination we will arrange for you to meet the group in Auckland depending on your location.

Ross will collect us from the airport and we’ll drive north towards Woodchester Station, east of Hanmer Springs and nestled in the shadow of the St James Range. We enter the station along the 6km driveway. 

Here the Kelly family will host us for lunch and show us some astonishing evidence of natures’ power which has transformed their lives forever. 

Later in the afternoon we make our way to Hanmer Springs and our superb centrally located base, the cozy Drifter’s Inn where hosts Adele and Andy MacLeod will look after us for the next four nights.

Dinner will be inhouse at Drifters In.

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Molesworth Station (Tuesday 28th April)

Breakfast from 7.00am in the dining room.

Today we’re collected by Ross in a special 4WD mini-coach and we head over Jack’s Pass and into the Clarence Valley and Molesworth Station. 

We’ll visit iconic points on the massive station such at the 150yo Acheron Accommodation House, Isolated Flat with its hundreds of acres of rippling clover and tussock grass, and the main central homestead complex with its century old cob buildings. Cattle share the sides of the sparkling rivers with Canada Geese and Paradise Ducks. It’s difficult to prepare yourself for the sheer vastness and beauty of the place. 

Passing through sections of the Muller and Tarndale Stations on the way back, we descend back into Hanmer Springs again via the rugged Jollies Pass. A day heavy with memorable moments.

Dinner at Monteiths Brewery Bar

Accommodation: Drifters Inn

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Hanmer Springs (Wednesday 29th April)

Breakfast from 7.00am in the dining room.

There’s time to relax and reflect on yesterday as you have a FREE DAY in Hanmer Springs today. Explore this beautiful alpine village with its many bush walks, wander the tranquil grounds of the old Queen Mary Hospital with its historic buildings or enjoy a soak in the pristine thermal Hot Pools of the spa which gives the town its name. 

Here’s a few suggestions:

• Hanmer Springs shopping
• Hot pools
• Forest walks 
• Jet boating 
• Cafes etc. 
• A Maze-n-Golf
• Conical Hill

Tonight, we’ll dine together at the hotel.

Accommodation: Drifters Inn

Rainbow Station (Thursday 30th April)

Breakfast from 7.00am in the dining room.

Today we’re back with Ross as we again climb rainbow station but, this time, we head west up through the former St James Station and into the Spenser Range to Lake Tennyson. We’ll drive over Island Pass, the highest in the country at 1300 metres, before descending into Rainbow Station itself. 

Craggy beech-covered mountains sweep down to the boulder-strewn rivers that bisect the valleys. Remarkable for its transitioning landscapes, Rainbow Station is much smaller than Molesworth in area at a ‘mere’ 20,500 acres. Usually carrying around 14,000 head of stock – a mix of sheep and cattle this time - its diversity of terrain and climates has made its productivity legendary. What a contrast.

Tonight, we’ll dine together at MK’s restaurant.

Accommodation: Drifters Inn

Hanmer Springs (Friday 1st May)

Breakfast from 7.00am in the dining room.

We depart Hanmer Springs this morning and make our way back to Christchurch Airport but not before a visit to Iron Ridge Sculpture Park on the banks of the Waipara River. Here sculptor Raymond Herber has, over 20 years, transformed a former limestone quarry into a huge, stunning, exhibition space like no other. Then it is on to the airport where, after a late lunch, we catch our flight back home.

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