Molesworth Station

We thought it couldn’t get any better, but after crossing the Nevis and Ahuriri Valley (Ōmarama Saddle), which were already highlights, we were sent by the Sounds to Sounds Route over Molesworth Station. Once again, we found ourselves in a remote, desert-like bikepacking dream.

We barely saw any humans. Besides a few motocross bikers who left us with a cloud of dust, our only encounters were a couple friendly locals at the campsites.

Herds of cattle wandered across the road, and now and then, a massive bull stood its ground, watching us as we passed. The little adrenaline boost did its job while paddling.

Molesworth Station is New Zealand’s largest farm, stretching over 180,000 hectares in the Marlborough region of the South Island.

It took us about 2.5 to 3 days (roughly 60-70 km a day) to cross with fully packed bike bags. Just one rugged gravel road, following the Acheron River, with smooth hills draped in a coat of golden grass. Water is available in the river or at the campgrounds, and filtering is mandatory.

The road carves its way through beige, earth-colored mountains, leading towards a wide, blue sky – making the cycling experience feel unreal.

In moments when I turned the volume on my earphones especially loud, I melted into an abstract, psychedelic scenery.