4WD Tracks near Nelson

Nelson is one of New Zealand's sunniest cities and a logical staging point for both the Molesworth route (3 hours via Renwick) and the West Coast (2 hours via Murchison). The local 4WD options are lighter — the Richmond Range back-roads, the Dun Mountain Trail access, and some Tasman Bay coastal back-roads.

The Richmond Range tracks (accessible from the Waimea side east of Nelson) give medium-difficulty forest driving within 45 minutes. The Murchison-to-Westport approach via the Buller Gorge has some unsealed access near the gorge. Kahurangi National Park to the north-west has limited vehicle access — the Cobb Valley road is the main example.

Nelson is the right base for multi-day South Island touring — the Molesworth, West Coast, and Marlborough Sounds are all reachable within a day of driving. Year-round access is straightforward in the Nelson-Richmond immediate area.