Queen Charlotte Track

The Queen Charlotte track is heralded as one of the premier New Zealand hiking trails. It is renowned for it's relaxing coastal walks. From fern fringed bays and lush green forest to stunning skyline vistas, it's easy to see why.

Top this with comfortable accommodation in luxury lodges, along with excellent three

course meals and you have all the requirements for a walking, or mountain

biking holiday in style.

Walked over four days, The Queen Charlotte Track (71 km, 40 miles) is well maintained,

with the majority of the streams bridged, and has a variety of gradients and surfaces with a wide compact base, hence stout footwear is advised.

A reasonable level of fitness is required to walk the Queen Charlotte Track, although

there are options available if you wish to travel by water taxi from each lodge, on any given

day of the walk. You only need to carry a light day bag containing your camera, lunch and

water bottle, as your overnight luggage is transferred by water taxi each day.

The beauty of the Queen Charlotte Track is that it can be walked any season as the

Marlborough Sounds enjoys a mild, temperate climate throughout the year. Winter is an

ideal walking time with clear, sunny days and fewer people than the more popular

summer season.

This trip is perfect for couples, especially where one chooses to walk, while the other can

relax and travel to each lodge via water taxi.

Optional Kayaking - afternoon of second day, sit on top kayaks / Entertaining interpretation of cultural and natural history / Flexible itineraries for a holiday as active or as relaxing as you wish / The option of water taxi transport to each lodge if required (extra cost). Return water taxi back to Picton from Anakiwa.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 -

Picton - Endeavour Inlet. Approx. walking time - 5 hours.

Pick up from local accommodation. Boat cruise from Picton - A full commentary is given as we make our way along the Queen Charlotte Sound, before stopping to visit a protected, predator free island to see rare saddleback birds.

Begin the walk at Ships Cove and learn about the historical and natural aspects of this area.

Fabulous 360 degree vistas as we walk amongst tree ferns and nikau palms to our accommodation for this evening.

DAY 2 -

Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay. Approx walking time - 4 hours.

After a relaxed breakfast we make our way around the bay to the lodge at Camp Bay. Discover the fascinating mining history of this area. The highlight of this afternoon's walk is the abundance of native bird life along this section of the track. We may even have the opportunity to meet one of New Zealand's cheekiest native birds, the weka.

Optional kayaking,

DAY 3 -

Camp Bay to Torea Saddle/Portage Bay. Approx. walking time 7.5 hours.

Today's section of the track involves expansive ridge top walking with stunning views for the majority of the day. Considered the most challenging day of the trip, yet extremely well rewarding.

For those who feel like a rest, the option of taking a water taxi to the Lodge is available (extra cost).

DAY 4 -

Anakiwa. Approx. walking time 6.5 hours.

After another filling breakfast we set out for our final destination, Anakiwa. A mixture of established native beech trees and regenerating forest makes up today's walk. Lunch today is served from a look out point with breathtaking views before making our way to the end of the track.

Once we arrive in Anakiwa, our water taxi will be waiting to take us back to Picton.

Itrek Customer Service

Tel: +64 21 268 8879
email: info@itreknewzealand.com
NZ local time is 02:05 AM

Key information

Location: North of the South Island in Marlborough Sounds

Track Open: 1st Sept to 27th April

Trek Dates: Monday departures

Kilometres: 71 kilometres

Duration: 4 and 5 day options

Group Size: Min 4 quests

Grade: C Easy contour with up to 7hrs walking

Accommodation: Luxury lodges, private ensuites

Luggage: Transferred by water taxi each day

View The Photo Gallery for this trip