Molesworth Station, High country cattle station in Marlborough District, New Zealand.
Molesworth Station is a high country cattle station behind the Inland Kaikōura Range in Marlborough, covering over 1,800 square kilometres, New Zealand's largest farm. The Acheron Road crosses it as a single-track unsealed route, following the Acheron River through a gorge with several historic bridges, past open grassland, over the Isolated Saddle and Wards Pass, and down the Awatere valley.
The station came together in 1949 when three separate properties merged into one operation, creating one of the country's largest cattle holdings. Before this consolidation, the land had been worked intensively for sheep farming for many decades.
The station's name comes from Molesworth, a runholder family; the land was worked by runholders who "walked off" in 1938 before the Crown resumed it. Today visitors pass the cob-built Acheron Accommodation House, a historic structure that once served travellers and now offers simple camping facilities.
The only 2WD route is the unsealed Acheron Road from Hanmer Springs to Seddon, about 200 km and at least six hours at low practical speeds. Caravans, trailers, buses and vehicles over 7 m are barred. Jollies Pass needs 4WD. Bad weather can close areas; simple campsites sit at Acheron Accommodation House and Molesworth Homestead.
The property supports New Zealand's largest cattle herd made up of Angus and crossbred animals that live outdoors year-round. These herds shift from high summer pastures down to sheltered valleys when cold weather arrives, following patterns shaped by the mountain landscape.
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