Rainbow Station is a working high-country farm near St Arnaud in Tasman, and the popular Rainbow-Hanmer Road runs through it as a tourist route. The station runs a large farming operation and keeps honey bees, a link to the Cropp family, whose grandfather began producing honey from hives at Rainbow Station and around St Arnaud. That heritage grew into Nelson Honey & Marketing and the Royal Nectar skincare range. The drive passes mountain ranges, clear rivers and hidden waterfalls fed by melting snow. Access is by application through the station, so the route suits those who have arranged it in advance.
The road is not formed or maintained to public standards, so parts can be narrow, with blind corners and hazards that may not be signposted. There is no mobile phone coverage, and breakdown services may not operate on the station, so the site recommends a first-aid kit, drinking water, a spare tyre and a high clearance 4WD or AWD vehicle. Weather here can turn quickly, with strong winds, heavy rain and river flooding, so the forecast for your travel date matters. The honey and the grazing sit on the same high country, which is why the valley works as both a station and a scenic drive.