Top Ten New Zealand Off-the-Beaten-Path Adventures

Every Kiwi worth his or her salt will know of Molesworth Station, New Zealand's largest farm, flanked by Nelson Lakes National Park to the west and the massive Kaikoura Range to the east. Through the center of the station runs a gravel road that is open to the public for six weeks in summer. Molesworth presents a unique chance to ride a horse or a mountain bike through what Kiwis call the High Country: endless mountains, tussock grass, and rivers.

Overnights let you take up to a week to pass through, via the Molesworth Homestead, Isolated Pass, and the historic Acheron Accommodation House, to the Clarence River. Cyclists can start at Picton (from the ferry) or Blenheim and finish in Hanmer; horse riders will probably opt to start in the Awatere Valley, unless they are in a guided party.