4WD Trails in Marlborough

Marlborough is gateway country for South Island touring — the Marlborough Sounds, the Wairau Valley spine, and the Awatere Valley (Molesworth entry) all sit here. It's where a large proportion of South Island 4WD adventures begin or end.

The Marlborough Sounds has an extensive network of unsealed access roads serving farms, DOC reserves, and holiday baches. The Queen Charlotte Drive and the Kenepuru Sound roads are partly gravel and require a capable vehicle. The Awatere Valley east of Seddon heads towards the Molesworth and the Rainbow.

Year-round driving is possible in the Sounds and valley floors. The Awatere route to Molesworth is seasonal (November through April). Rain can make the Sounds tracks slippery and steep sections tricky with a trailer.