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Island Gully Hut - The Molesworth

June 28, 2026

Island Gully Hut - The Molesworth
Nestled near the headwaters of the Wairau River, Island Gully Hut sits above the wide river flat, with uninterrupted views across to the rugged Turk Range. Located within the vast Molesworth Station, it is surrounded by spectacular mountain scenery and has long provided welcome shelter when the weather blasts through the exposed valley.
The hut can be reached from the north via Rainbow Station Road during the summer months, or from the south over Island Saddle on the Wairau–Hanmer Springs Hydro Road. Whether you're exploring by four-wheel drive, motorbike, mountain bike, or simply taking in the incredible landscape, it's a memorable place to stop and appreciate the scale of this remote part of New Zealand.
This area holds many special memories for me. As a child, I travelled through here with my family, fascinated by the wide open valleys and vast high-country mountain landscape. As a youth, I returned on two wheels while competing in the Rainbow Rage mountain bike races, and today I still find myself drawn back, whether driving or biking through. Every visit brings back those memories while offering something new to discover.
This painting of Island Gully Hut is a opportunity to capture not only the expansive scenery of the area, but also the light wrapped around the curve of the mountains and the soft blues and ochres that make the area so beautiful while recording the sense of adventure that this place holds for me. While still at a very early stage I hope this artwork evokes those same memories for others who have travelled through Molesworth Station or plan to explore this remarkable part of the South Island.


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