{{Short description|Cattle station in New Zealand}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}{{Use New Zealand English|date=March 2026}}
[[File:Molesworth station at -42.097089, 173.231521 041A5707 D.jpg|thumb|Molesworth station]] [[File:Molesworth Station Fence Gate.jpg|thumb|right|Molesworth station includes high-country areas.]] [[File:Molesworth east near Smokey Stream.jpg|thumb|Molesworth east]] '''Molesworth Station''' is a [[High country (New Zealand)|high country]] [[cattle station]]. It is located behind the [[Kaikōura Ranges|Inland Kaikōura]] Mountain range in the [[South Island]]'s [[Marlborough District]]. It is [[New Zealand]]'s largest farm, at over {{convert|1800|km²|acres}}<ref name="SHARING">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/land-information-nz/news/article.cfm?o_id=433&objectid=10398453&pnum=2|title=Mathew Clark: Sharing our land's bounty|last=Clark|first=Mathew |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|pages=2 of 2|accessdate=30 January 2010|date=29 August 2006}}</ref> and supports the country's biggest herd of cattle. It also hosts government science programs, such as research into [[bovine tuberculosis]] and related research into [[common brushtail possum|possums]].<ref name="PROGRESS">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/landcare-research-ltd/news/article.cfm?o_id=303&objectid=10010226&pnum=1|title=Scientists make progress in war on TB|date=2005-02-09|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|accessdate=30 January 2010}}</ref> The station helps rabbit population reduction.<ref>[https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/nelson-marlborough/lake-tennyson-interp-info.pdf Department of Conservation] accessed 23 February 2019</ref>
The present station was formed in 1949 when a third station, St Helens, was added to Tarndale and Molesworth stations which had been amalgamated in 1938 after the runholders "walked off" the land. The three stations had once run around 95,000 head of sheep. The land was brought back into production by a major investment in rabbit control followed by revegetation of the barren ground. Cattle replaced the sheep.<ref name=bro>[https://www.doc.govt.nz/globalassets/documents/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/nelson-marlborough/molesworth-brochure.pdf Department of Conservation ''Molesworth Recreation Reserve''] accessed 21 August 2021</ref>
The land is owned by [[the Crown]] and is leased for farming. On 1 July 2005, administration of the land was handed to the [[New Zealand Department of Conservation]].<ref name="SHARING"/>
The [[HVDC Inter-Island]] transmission line passes through the station.
==Molesworth Station== ===Livestock and their managers=== Molesworth is a high country cattle station. Its [[Aberdeen Angus|Angus]] and Angus/[[Hereford cattle|Hereford]]-cross cattle range free on the high country in summer months and graze in the warmer valleys during winter. They are cared for by a team of [[Stockman (Australia)|stockmen]] camping with their dogs and horses in remote huts. Each October/November they achieve a [[calving rate]] of 92 per cent. The calves are weaned just before their mothers drop their next calf. Surplus [[Heifer (cow)|heifer]]s are sold as two-year-olds and [[Steer (cow)|steers]] as three-year-olds.<ref name=bro/>
Permanent staff is five and another half-dozen stockmen are employed except in winter. During the most active periods there are around 80 horses and up to 45 working dogs working on the station. Molesworth uses aircraft to find cattle at mustering and to pick up any missed by the muster.<ref name=bro/>
===Weeds pests and diseases=== Weed control is expensive. [[Blackberry|Briar]], [[Carmichaelia|broom]] and [[wilding pine]] and the flatweed, [[hieracium]]. Possums and ferrets can transmit [[bovine tuberculosis]]<ref name=bro/>
==Climate==
{{Weather box|width=auto |metric first=y |single line=y |collapsed = Y |location = Molesworth, elevation {{convert|890|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–1992) | Jan record high C = 31.9 | Feb record high C = 35.1 | Mar record high C = 30.6 | Apr record high C = 26.9 | May record high C = 21.4 | Jun record high C = 18.9 | Jul record high C = 14.9 | Aug record high C = 18.2 | Sep record high C = 23.8 | Oct record high C = 25.0 | Nov record high C = 27.2 | Dec record high C = 29.9 | year record high C = 35.1 |Jan record low C = -2.8 |Feb record low C = -4.1 |Mar record low C = -6.9 |Apr record low C = -8.2 |May record low C = -12.5 |Jun record low C = -14.0 |Jul record low C = -13.0 |Aug record low C = -12.2 |Sep record low C = -9.4 |Oct record low C = -8.3 |Nov record low C = -6.7 |Dec record low C = -4.6 |year record low C = -14.0 |Jan high C = 21.3 |Feb high C = 21.2 |Mar high C = 18.8 |Apr high C = 15.4 |May high C = 11.8 |Jun high C = 8.4 |Jul high C = 6.9 |Aug high C = 8.6 |Sep high C = 11.7 |Oct high C = 13.8 |Nov high C = 16.2 |Dec high C = 18.7 | year high C = |Jan mean C = 13.9 |Feb mean C = 14.0 |Mar mean C = 11.8 |Apr mean C = 8.6 |May mean C = 5.8 |Jun mean C = 3.0 |Jul mean C = 1.8 |Aug mean C = 3.3 |Sep mean C = 5.9 |Oct mean C = 7.8 |Nov mean C = 9.8 |Dec mean C = 12.2 | year mean C = |Jan low C = 6.6 |Feb low C = 6.7 |Mar low C = 4.8 |Apr low C = 1.7 |May low C = -0.3 |Jun low C = -2.4 |Jul low C = -3.3 |Aug low C = -2.0 |Sep low C = 0.0 |Oct low C = 1.7 |Nov low C = 3.4 |Dec low C = 5.7 | year low C = |rain colour = green |Jan rain mm = 44.8 |Feb rain mm = 46.5 |Mar rain mm = 50.6 |Apr rain mm = 46.1 |May rain mm = 49.5 |Jun rain mm = 60.0 |Jul rain mm = 53.2 |Aug rain mm = 50.7 |Sep rain mm = 58.1 |Oct rain mm = 72.5 |Nov rain mm = 47.1 |Dec rain mm = 47.8 |year rain mm = |source 1 = NIWA<ref name= NIWA> {{cite web |url = http://cliflo.niwa.co.nz |title = CliFlo – National Climate Database : Molesworth |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 19 May 2024}}</ref><ref name=NIWA2>{{cite web |url = https://cliflo.niwa.co.nz/ |title = CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent number: 4461) |publisher = NIWA |access-date = 15 Jul 2024}}</ref> }}
==Tourism== There are restrictions in place to protect the working farm. Bad weather may also close some other areas.<ref name=bro/>
Molesworth Recreation Reserve ('Molesworth Station') is located NW of Kaikōura. It is accessible from Hanmer Springs in the south, Seddon in the north east, and St Arnaud in the north.
The primary route through Molesworth is the Acheron road, from Hanmer Springs to Seddon. This is the only route suitable for 2WD vehicles. Caravans, trailers, buses, and vehicles over 7m length are not permitted. The road is a single track for the most part. The road is unsealed but there are no fords, and the gradients are not steep. The road is approximately 200 km, with a maximum speed of 50 km/h, though practical road speeds are lower making for at least a 6hr journey.
===Hanmer Springs to Acheron Accommodation House=== Two different routes are available for this section. Jacks Pass, and Jollies Pass which is poorly maintained and requires 4WD.
===Acheron Accommodation House=== This is an historic house, and no accommodation is now provided. However simple camping facilities are available. The house itself is a [[Cob (material)|cob]] construction. [[File:Acheron cob house.jpg|thumb|Acheron cob house]]
===Acheron valley=== The road follows the Acheron river for much of the route through Molesworth. In places the river runs in a gorge, and there are a number of historic bridges. The scenery is open grassland for the most part. [[File:Acheron river in Molesworth NZ.jpg|thumb|Acheron river]] [[File:Student Bridge at Molesworth NZ - Designed by Canterbury University students in 1944.jpg|thumb|Student Bridge designed and built 1944 by C.U.C. engineering students]]
===Isolated Flat === Travelling north, the road departs from the Acheron river to briefly follow the Severn river, then over the Isolated Saddle about 100m above the plain. It then descends again to the Isolated Flat, and again follows the Acheron river. [[File:Molesworth Severn river and view towards Raglan Range from -42.151149, 173.086001.jpg|thumb|Molesworth Severn river]]
===Wards Pass=== Leaving the Acheron River, the road goes over Wards Pass, a climb of about 160 m, which brings the route into the upper reaches of the Awatere valley.
===Molesworth Homestead=== The historic homestead and the modern farm yards are located to the north of the Reserve. There is also a simple camp site here.
===Awatere Valley=== Leaving Molesworth station, the road continues through farmland in the Awatere valley. In the higher reaches the valley is narrow and the farming primarily stock (sheep and beef), but in the lower reaches towards Seddon it broadens and more cultivation becomes apparent including vineyards.
==See also== *[[Station (New Zealand agriculture)]] *[[Wards Pass]]
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/marlborough/south-marlborough/molesworth-station/ Molesworth Station] at the Department of Conservation *[http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-visit/marlborough/south-marlborough/molesworth-station/plan-and-prepare/map-of-molesworth-station/ Map of Molesworth Station]
{{Marlborough Region|state=collapsed}} {{coord|-42.09024|173.1924|region:NZ_type:landmark|display=title}}
[[Category:Geography of the Marlborough District]] [[Category:Geography of the Canterbury Region]] [[Category:High Country stations]]