Awatere Valley Road

The Awatere Valley Road cuts a rough line through some of Marlborough’s most isolated high country, following the Awatere River from State Highway 1 through working sheep stations toward the Kaikoura ranges. This 70-kilometer gravel track passes through Muzzle Station and climbs toward Wards Pass, with multiple ford crossings of the Awatere River that can run deep after rain. The road ends at a locked gate near the Canterbury border, but not before delivering expansive views across the Inland Kaikoura Range.

The route demands high clearance and 4WD capability for the river fords and rough station tracks beyond Muzzle Station homestead. Best tackled in summer when river levels drop, though even then you’ll want recovery gear and experience reading water. No services exist beyond the sealed section, so carry fuel, food, and water for multi-day exploration. This is classic New Zealand high country – vast, empty, and unforgiving to the unprepared, but rewarding drivers with solitude few Kiwis ever experience.