At the start of next year i am looking at doing the Molesworth Station with a some mates and family. I have been looking forward to this trip for a long time. The main question is i have a family member who wants to come along who has a AWD RAV4 (please don't laugh ) with centre diff lock, do you reckon this vehicle is able to make it through Rainbow Road? Is low range required? Also I was also wanting to know about peoples experiences of the trip and if they had any photos?
awd with centre diff lock is classed as 4wd. awd is a classification given to vehicles with no centre diff lock. The only limiting thing thus for the rav4 will be the lack of low range. Given that the rainbow road is a popular road he will be fine. There won't be a hill on it that you will require anything lower than 1st high range, unless you are going off the track, which is a no no in that area. If my dad can drive through there then youll be able to get through there in a mini (I drove my mini further than he did in his disco once! - driver skill or lack of it )
A definite yes, I went through there about four years ago with a Mazda MPV 4wd, a Nissan Mistral, a SWB Rav4 and a LWB Suzuki. No problems at all for any of the vehicles. Enjoy, it is a great place
'95 Jeep Cherokee (XJ)
1936 Ford Flathead V8 Colonial Cab (restoration project)
We did the trip in March 09 in a Ssanyong Actyon Sports. We really only needed to use 4WD once or twice. Can't recall if we used 4H or 4L. With a little more care we could have made it through without using 4WD at all. A RAV 4 should have no problem.
A word of caution remember there is no cell phone coverage, no shops, fuel etc on the trip. Take plenty to eat and drink. It could be very hot at that time of year. It could be very dusty, particullary if you're travelling in a convoy.
We travelled from Hanmer to Blenheim a comfortable day trip.
We went to Island Pass from Blenheim yesterday, and apart from the snow over the top, there's nothing to stop the average car getting through, although a shovel may be useful if some of the fords get washed out. Great country though! Be aware you need to pay a $25 toll (per vehicle) and arrange keys to come through the Rainbow....
4wds are required for the rainbow road but 2wd cars are allowed on the molesworth. basically just a gravel road - dont recall any fords but a few gates to open which is annoying when you are alone on a bike
i went thu near at the end of the roads open season this year and it was being graded all nice and smooth again. i think it opens again at the end of december unless you arange access with the station
Thanks for your replies and all your help. I thought it would be fine but i had to check. Call me paranoid but i always like to check these things before trips. I would rather check and be fine than get into a situation that i shouldn't have been in, in the first place. I am looking forward to the trip. Thanks again.
just to dig up an old post, but anyone been through from hamner to SH63 recently. I should have stopped at the road closed sign at hamner, but got all the way till the second locked gate at rainbow end, must have been a lot of rain, bit sketchy in a lift hilux, mind you i did leave hamner at 6pm. 3 hours in and out to rainbow end.
Just been for a walk around that area. We drove up that road from hamner (is that rainbow?) and over the mailing pass and down to the river i think this area was called st james station though. We were in 4x4s but could have done it in a car easy.
Theres been a bit of rain lately the Rainbow road usually washes out through the winter and then gets fixed/sorted for the summer which is when the power guys go in and it opens up. The worst of it is ussualy the shingle fans just south of Hells gate. I recovered a campervan from there 2 winters ago that tried to drive through
yes, Hells gate was open but the gate at the other end was shut. was basically just rain related, but at night when the map I had showed a straight gravel road, I didn't exect so many washouts and water crossings at top of tyre level.
) with centre diff lock, do you reckon this vehicle is able to make it through Rainbow Road? Is low range required?
