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D’Urville Island to Hawea 4WD Tour

Q: Can I get the full itinerary?

Yes. Itineraries are revised each season, so the current version is sent out on request.

Q: Do I drive my own vehicle?

Yes. You drive your own 4WD as part of a small convoy.

7 days and 8 nights, the length of the South Island

Enquire about this tour 021 924 427

D’Urville Island · Marlborough · Canterbury · Otago

D’Urville Island to Hawea 4WD tour

This seven day four wheel drive tour starts at the very top of the South Island on D’Urville Island in the outer Marlborough Sounds and runs the length of the island south to Lake Hawea.

It is the only itinerary we run that begins with a boat. D’Urville is the eighth largest island in New Zealand, it has no public road access to speak of, and the country on it is steep, coastal and completely different from the high country the rest of the trip covers.

You drive your own 4WD in a small convoy. The trip fee includes motel type accommodation, evening meals with the team, your guide for the trip, station crossing fees and prizegiving.

Check 2027 availability

Length: 7 days, 8 nights
Starts: D’Urville Island, Marlborough Sounds
Finishes: Lake Hawea, Otago
Season: February to April

Itinerary

Day by day itinerary

Itineraries for this trip are revised each season as new tracks and new station access come available, so rather than publish a version that goes out of date, we send the current one out on request.

Email Steve at steve@4x4treks.co.nz or call 021 924 427 and he will send you the latest D’Urville Island to Hawea itinerary with the dates that are open.

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Vehicle dwarfed by a hanging glacier and alpine peaks in the Southern Alps

What the trip covers

From the Sounds to the Southern Alps

Starting at the top of the island means the trip changes character more than any other itinerary we run. Coastal Marlborough country at the start, high country stations through the middle, and the Otago lakes at the finish.

The finish at Lake Hawea puts you at the edge of the Southern Alps, with Mt Aspiring National Park and the Hunter and Dingle valleys all within reach.

As with every trip, tracks are weather dependent and route choices get made on the day.

Compare the other New Zealand tours

2027 Program

11 to 18 February 2027 Muzzle Station
20 to 27 February 2027 Canterbury, Otago & Southland
12 to 20 March 2027 Canterbury, Mackenzie Country & Otago
21 to 28 March 2027 Canterbury, Otago & Southland
15 to 25 April 2027 GDT Trip, Australian group Provisional

See the full 2027 programme

Common questions

About this 4WD tour

Where does the D’Urville Island to Hawea tour start and finish?

It starts on D’Urville Island in the outer Marlborough Sounds at the top of the South Island and finishes at Lake Hawea in Otago.

How long is the tour?

Seven days of driving across eight nights.

How do you get vehicles to D’Urville Island?

D’Urville has no bridge or public road access, so vehicles are taken across by barge. Steve arranges the crossing as part of the trip.

Can I get the full itinerary?

Yes. Itineraries are revised each season, so we send the current version out on request rather than publishing one that goes stale. Ask Steve and he will email it to you.

What is included in the trip fee?

Motel type accommodation, evening meals with the team, your guide for the trip, station crossing fees and prizegiving.

Do I drive my own vehicle?

Yes. You drive your own 4WD as part of a small convoy, with a briefing before the first day and a track briefing each morning.

When does this tour run?

The season runs February to April. Get in touch for the current dates.

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