Queen Charlotte Track - "A spectacular trip through the Marlborough Sounds"

Day 1: Ship Cove – Endeavour Inlet

Taxi boat : 1:30 hour. Walking Distance : 15kms – 3h30 to 5 hours

Depart Picton at 8am to Motuara Island which is a Bird Sanctuary. Arrival at Ship Cove at 10:30 am. Before starting the walkway you may wish to take the 30 minute sidetrack to the waterfall nestled in native bush at the back of Ship Cove. From the moment you begin the Queen Charlotte walk, you will be immersed in a journey of discovery and natural wonder. Heading south from Ship Cove you begin the Queen Charlotte Track with a 2 hour walk to Resolution Bay. Climbing away from Ship Cove, the beauty of the walkway is soon revealed. A deep canopy shades the profusion of tree ferns, the occasional nikau palm and other plants. A lookout offers a pleasant respite and good views of Motuara Island and the outer Queen Charlotte Sound. Beyond it you can make out Kapiti Island and the North Island. From Resolution Bay the track follows an old bridle path ascending over a ridge and leads down into Endeavour Inlet. The gentle inclining track passes through stands of kamahi and then beech forest as it passes over a saddle. The track then gradually descends through sections of manuka, five finger and mahoe are followed by a magnificent stand of original native bush and crystal clear streams. Slowly snatches of the nearby sea and foreshore come into view.

Day 2: Endeavour Inlet – Camp Bay

Walking Distance: 12 km - 3 to 4 hours

Once farmland, this part of the walkway has reverted to nature and the forest is again resplendent. See groves of tree ferns in the gullies, some wearing "skirts" of old fronds and others standing unadorned such as the tall black tree fern (mamaku). See also a wonderful predominance of manuka, kanuka and broadleaf species such as five finger on the slopes. Small stands of original beech and patches of kohekohe/mahoe remain near the sea. A wide range of birds inhabit the bush including silvereyes, tomtits and grey warblers. The area is rich with history, and the population was once over 400, many of whom worked the antimony mines.

Day 3: Camp Bay – Portage Bay

Walking Distance: 24 km –5h30 to 7h30 hours

This section is the most challenging and rewarding of the track. After climbing away steeply from Camp Bay, sweeping panoramas of the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds come into view. Traversing the ridge, the true magnificence of the Sounds is inescapable when you are greeted with an incredible panorama of Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds through the entire 360 degrees. Make sure you've got your camera handy.

Day 4: Portage Bay - Aanakiwa

Walking Distance: 20 km –4h30 to 6h30 hours

Once again, the walk follows the ridge. Kamahi, manuka and kanuka are prolific here, protecting shrubs and trees that will soon grow to shelter the way. The two highest points on the way to Mistletoe Bay/Te Mahia are over 400m. From their summits you get a strong feeling that Kenepuru, Mahau and Queen Charlotte Sounds are indeed the sunken valleys between the peaks and ridges you are walking on. Before dropping into Mistletoe Bay/Te Mahia, take a short side trip to a lookout over lovely views of the waterways below and see the ridge you have travelled along stretching back to the east. The track goes into mature forest before descending into Bottle Bay. From here the track sidles just above the sea to Davies (Umungata) Bay. It is a pleasant and undulating walk. The last hour to Anakiwa again follows an old bridle path. A wide and easy path, it runs through mature forest featuring large beech trees and is a perfect conclusion to your Queen Charlotte experience. Meet the taxi boat at 3:30 pm.