4WD Trails in Marlborough
29 trails in Marlborough, New Zealand.
About Marlborough
Marlborough is gateway country for South Island touring — the Marlborough Sounds, the Wairau Valley spine, and the Awatere Valley (Molesworth entry) all sit here. It's where a large proportion of South Island 4WD adventures begin or end.
The Marlborough Sounds has an extensive network of unsealed access roads serving farms, DOC reserves, and holiday baches. The Queen Charlotte Drive and the Kenepuru Sound roads are partly gravel and require a capable vehicle. The Awatere Valley east of Seddon heads towards the Molesworth and the Rainbow.
Year-round driving is possible in the Sounds and valley floors. The Awatere route to Molesworth is seasonal (November through April). Rain can make the Sounds tracks slippery and steep sections tricky with a trailer.
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Popular trails in Marlborough
Showing 25–29 of 29 trails
Pukaka Road
Weld Road
Maungatapu Saddle Microwave Station Access Road
Flemings Road
Maungatapu Track
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive through the Marlborough Sounds on a 4WD trip?
The Marlborough Sounds has an extensive unsealed road network — the Queen Charlotte Road, Kenepuru Road, and the Pelorus Sound fringe are all driveable in a high-clearance 4WD. The roads are steep and narrow in places, with passing bays. Gravel surfaces and steep drops into the water make this demanding driving rather than technical off-roading. No permit is required for most Sounds roads. Allow a full day for a proper Sounds loop.