If you intend driving up the Rainbow Access Road it is MANDATORY  that you have a set of chains, from the bottom car-park onwards. Even on days where chains do not need to be fitted,  you MUST still carry a set of chains that will fit your vehicle. Conditions in this Alpine environment can and do change rapidly requiring that you fit chains to leave the mountain. For this reason chains must always be either carried or fitted to your vehicle. You will be turned away at the base of the mountain or at the top car park if it is discovered that you are not carrying chains. The shuttle service is a good regular service for customers who do not have chains for their vehicle.

No chains, No access, No exceptions !

Chain Hire Services

Chain Hire is available from the following locations IMPORTANT: Please ensure you phone ahead and book your chains as turning up on the day may leave you disappointed.

Richmond - Gardiner Motors -
Brightwater - Brightwater Motors - 32-34 Ellis St - 5423756 - please phone and book.
Blenheim - Snow Chainz Ltd - 213 Weld St, Witherlea - 03-5780220
Motueka - Sportsworld -  201 High Street - 5289845
Motueka - Abel Tasman Outdoors - 241 High St - 5288646

Purchasing Chains

Chains can be purchased from the following retailers:

Repco Nelson, 49 Gloucester Street, Nelson ph.03 546 9992
Repco Blenheim, 32 Main Street, Blenheim ph.03 577 8141
Repco Richmond, 8 Gladstone Road, Richmond ph.03 543 9301
Repco Motueka, 400 High Street, Motueka ph.03 528 1101

Don't want to drive up with chains? - check out the other transport options available to you below.

4WD Shuttle From bottom carpark to Rainbow Carpark

Place:
Leaving from bottom carpark

Time:
7 days a week (if mountain is open).
Leaves bottom carpark at: 9:00am, 9:30am, 10:00am, 11:00am & 12:00pm.
Returns to the bottom carpark: 3:00pm & 4:00pm or by arrangement with driver.

Fares:
Adults: $15.00 (return)
School parties: (All people, adult or child) $10.00 (return)
Children: (16 yrs & under) $10.00 (return)
Family of 4: (Max 2 adults & 2 children) $45.00 (return)

Bookings are not necessary
Shuttles leave SHARP at times indicated above.
SHUTTLE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY AT ALL TIMES, PLEASE GIVE WAY.

Nelson to Rainbow Carpark

     

Cactus Tours & Travel

Place:
Six passanger Mitsubishi Delica 4WD (built-in entertainment system)
Nelson i-Site Visitor Centre and/or Main Road Stoke on request.

Time:
Half day departs (Nelson i-Site Visitor Centre) at 10am & return 6pm.
Full day departs (Nelson i-Site Visitor Centre) at 7am & return 6pm.

Fares:
$55pp adult half day   
$60pp adult full day
$45pp under 16's half day
$50pp under 16's full day   
$160 family 2 adults + 2 childern

BOOKINGS ARE ESSENTIAL
To book, freephone Cactus Tours & Travel Ltd on 0800 222 373 or text 027 237 5007
Also bookings can be made at ( Nelson i-Site Visitor Centre).
Book by 9pm the night before travel.

Subject to availablity and Ski field conditions
Prices subject to change
Website: www.cactustoursandtravel.co.nz

Blenheim to Rainbow Carpark

Grapelander tours

Pick-up home or accommodation'cost $45 under 16 $35 family $100 2/2         

bookings essential ph035781088  0274433963

subject to availabity and ski-field conditions

departs7.30-8.00 am back 6 pm

 

Transport from St Arnaud to Rainbow Carpark

Not yet allocated
Interested transport providers
Please contact: 03 5211861

From Nelson or Blenheim

If you are looking for a ride - or you have a car that you want to fill to share fuel costs then go to www.Snowpool.org.nz   You can look for ride on the day you want to go OR offer seats in your own car. Follow the steps in the website - its easy and its NZ's most popular Ski car-pooling website. Please check back regularly if there doesn't seem to be rides for you yet - we have only just added this link and so it may take a week or so for Rainbow drivers and passengers to link up. We suggest a $20 donation for every person taking a car pool from Nelson or Blenheim.
click here for Snowpool
   
Remember to get someone to share costs - you need to advertise your space.
To get a lift you need to advertise that you need a ride.