4WD Trails in Nelson

Nelson is a small but well-positioned region for 4WD access — flanked by Tasman to the west, Marlborough to the east, and the Kahurangi National Park to the north-west. The city is a practical staging point for multi-day South Island adventures.

Nelson's own 4WD tracks are modest but the region gives easy access to the Molesworth via the Wairau (through Tasman) and the West Coast via the Buller Gorge (SH6). The Dun Mountain Trail access and the Richmond Range back-roads give local options.

Nelson is one of New Zealand's sunniest regions and year-round driving is generally straightforward in the lower country. The Richmond Range tracks can be muddy in winter.