Queen Charlotte Track – Four Day Independent Walks
The Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds is quickly being renowned as New Zealand’s best and most diverse coastal track, and Wilderness Guides can show you the Marlborough Sounds like no one else! The Queen Charlotte Track is located in a location rich in Maori and European history and renowned as a marine and eco-tourism paradise.
Wilderness Guides offers a comprehensive choice of guided and independent hiking packages to explore this area. This is the premium guided walk package with a focus on great food and wine, superior hosted accommodation, and knowledgeable local guides delivering insight on the flora and wildlife of the Marlborough Sounds. Guests will stay at exquisite boutique lodges, such as the No Road Inn.
The Queen Charlotte Track is 70 kilometres long, and most people walk it in four days, however any combination of one to five days is possible. One of the benefits of this trip is the ability to take a water taxi if you choose not to walk on any particular day. And you only need to carry a daypack, as your overnight bags are transported by water taxi each day.
Guided Walks
As a general rule, if you would like an upmarket tour with an emphasis on gourmet food and wine with everything provided including interpretation on the area, then a guided walk is for you. Guided walks are for those who want to complement their walking experience with the knowledge and security of a professional local guide, great gourmet food and local wine, and superb track accommodation.
Independent Walks
If you are more independent of spirit but would still like certain elements such as your accommodation, transport and daily lunch arranged, then the independent packages offer this. Unguided track packages are for more independent hikers, who wish to walk the track independently but have certain elements like accommodation, water transport and daily lunches pre-arranged.
Or, perhaps you want a custom package designed – we can do that for you too!
Boots and a good level of fitness are recommended for this track. Running shoes or walking sandals may also be suffice during the height of summer.
Four day Standard Independent Walk on the Queen Charlotte Track – 71 km
Like the idea of having everything arranged for you but you’d prefer to walk independently? On this four day standard independent walk, we will organise your accommodation in comfortable standard ensuite rooms, luggage transfers, daily lunch and Picton drop off/pickups for walking the Queen Charlotte Track. All you need to do is purchase your breakfast and dinner along the way. Each night you come to rest at a comfortable accommodation place – Furneaux Lodge, Punga Cove and either Portage Hotel or Lochmara Lodge – complete with restaurant, fine wines and a superb setting.
Portage Option
$870NZ per adult (based on twin share)
$420NZ per child
Single Supplement: $380NZ
Lochmara Option
$990NZ per adult (based on twin share)
$400NZ per child
Single Supplement: $480NZ
Day 0 – A pre-tour briefing is held the day prior to departure. Details will be forwarded with your booking confirmation.
Day 1 – Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge, Endeavour Inlet
We collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the water taxi to Ship Cove where your walk begins. This scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a site of significance for local Maori. Bush is mainly a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track. Your walk concludes at the historic Furneaux Lodge.
Day 2 – Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay/Punga Cove
Today’s coastal walk takes you from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove through mostly regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other New Zealand native birds. From Furneaux Lodge, the track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Pause there to learn more about antimony & the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits before working your way towards Camp Bay and, five minutes on from there, your accommodation for the evening at Punga Cove.
Day 3 – Punga Cove to Portage Hotel/Lochmara Lodge
A challenging but rewarding day on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle. Truly grand views abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. Stare in awe at the sunken river valleys of the Marlborough Sounds from the iconic Eatwell’s Lookout. At different times you can see both the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds as you walk. This is a truly spectacular section of the track. Those who feel like a day’s rest today can opt for a boat ride around the bays’ of the Queen Charlotte Sound. At the end of today’s walk catch the waiting water taxi to your night’s accommodation at Lochmara Lodge or walk from Torea Saddle down to the Portage Hotel. NB. Optional boat trip available to Portage Hotel or Lochmara Lodge today for non-walkers.
Day 4 – Lochmara Lodge/Portage Hotel to Anakiwa
Farewell Lochmara Lodge or Portage Hotel and ascend to the ridgeline once again, enjoying stunning views back towards Picton as well as into the turquoise waters of the Kenepuru Sound. Open farmland and a grand native bush section to finish is a fitting finale after four days of walking. Take time for a photo stop at the picturesque Davies Bay – you won’t want the journey to end. Today you return by boat from the Anakiwa Jetty to Picton, arriving back to Wilderness Guides HQ by late afternoon.
Four Day Upgrade Independent Walk on the Queen Charlotte Track – 71km
As above but Superior ensuite rooms with guaranteed sea views, luggage transfers and daily lunch.
Portage Option
$999 NZ per adult (based on twin share)
$420NZ per child
Single Supplement: $460NZ
Lochmara Option ( Not currently available)
$1140 NZ per adult (based on twin share)
$400NZ per child
Single Supplement: $569NZ
Four Day Boutique Independent Walk – 71km
Like the idea of having your Queen Charlotte Track experience arranged for you and staying in superb accommodation but still walking independently? This four day independent walk combines the best boutique lodge accommodation available in the Marlborough Sounds within access to the Queen Charlotte Track combined with luggage transfers, meals including daily packed lunch and Picton drop off/pickups. If you prefer to stay predominantly in smaller properties with an emphasis on luxury, personal service, local delicacies and conservation, this is the package for you!
$1695NZ per person (based on twin share)
Single Supplement: $570NZ
Meal inclusions:-
Day 1 – lunch/dinner, Day 2 – breakfast/lunch/dinner, Day 3 – breakfast/lunch/dinner,
Day 4 – breakfast/lunch
Day 0 – A pre-tour briefing is held the day prior to departure. Details will be forwarded with your booking confirmation.
Day 1 – Ship Cove to No Road Inn, Endeavour Inlet
We collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the water taxi to Ship Cove where your walk begins. This scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a site of significance for local Maori. Bush is mainly a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track. Your walk concludes at the well-appointed luxury lodge, the No Road Inn.
Day 2 – Endeavour Inlet to Mahana Lodge
Today’s coastal walk takes you from the No Road Inn to Mahana Lodge through mostly regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other New Zealand native birds. From No Road Inn, the track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Pause there to learn more about antimony and the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits before working your way towards Camp Bay and Punga Cove. The delightful Mahana Lodge is a five minute walk past Punga Cove.
Day 3 – Mahana Lodge to Portage Bay/Raetihi Lodge
You won’t want to leave but today we depart Mahana Lodge and return to the ridgeline to continue our hike along the Queen Charlotte Track. A challenging but rewarding day on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle. Truly grand views abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. Stare in awe at the sunken river valleys of the Marlborough Sounds from the iconic Eatwell’s Lookout. At different times you can see both the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds as you walk. This is a truly spectacular section of the track. Those who feel like a day’s rest today can opt for a boat ride around the bays’ of the Queen Charlotte Sound and transfer across Kenepuru Sound to Raetihi Lodge. We conclude our walk at Portage Bay and transfer by waiting water taxi to our accommodation at the beautiful Raetihi Lodge.
Day 4 – Portage Bay/Raetihi Lodge to Anakiwa
Farewell Raetihi Lodge, board the water taxi and transfer across the bay to Portage. Ascend to the ridgeline once again, enjoying stunning views back towards Picton as well as into the turquoise waters of the Kenepuru Sound. Open farmland and a grand native bush section to finish is a fitting finale after four days of walking. Take time for a photo stop at the picturesque Davies Bay – you won’t want the journey to end. Today you return by boat from the Anakiwa Jetty to Picton, arriving back to Wilderness Guides HQ by late afternoon.
Motuara Island Sanctuary
Another offering for all our independent walkers is a guided visit to the Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary in the outer Queen Charlotte Sound prior to starting your walk at Ship Cove. For an additional $115 per person on any of our independent walk packages, join with one of our knowledgeable local guides to visit this rarely visited sanctuary accessed by boat en route to the start of the track and experience a close encounter with New Zealand wildlife.
Motuara Island has a new loop track, a lookout with spectacular 360 degree views of the surrounding islands, Cook Strait and the North Island on a clear day as well as some amazing birdlife including South Island Saddleback (Tieke) which is extinct on the New Zealand mainland as well as friendly bush robins, little blue penguins and stately wood pigeons (kereru).
It truly is a special addition to your Queen Charlotte Track experience – all you need to do is select this tour extra on booking.
