Track description

Walking the track

Queen Charlotte Track

You can walk or ride the track in either direction, but it is best to set out from Ship Cove. If you wish to have your packs carried between accommodation places, you can arrange this with the boat operators. The walking times mentioned below are only a guide and lean more towards a person with a slow walking speed. A day walker with a light day pack will take less time than a tramper with an overnight pack. The track itself is well signposted but some accommodation places may not have signs. The private tracks leading off the track to the accommodation places may not always be of the same standard as the main track, which is maintained by DOC staff.

The map in this publication is not a route guide and we recommend that walkers who require more detailed map information purchase The Marlborough Sounds map, also published by DOC.

Ship Cove to Resolution Bay: 2 hr, 4.5 km

There is no road to Ship Cove so you will need to arrange boat transport to start your walk there. Camping is not permitted at Ship Cove but there are toilet facilities. Most visitors to Ship Cove take time to explore the historic site and enjoy reading the interpretation panels around the site.

The track climbs away from the beach, passing through a largely unmodified forest, where the high canopy is complemented by a diverse understorey of shrubs and small trees. On the ridges higher up, beech trees dominate. After 50 minutes walking, you will reach a lookout point at a saddle, where you will enjoy good views of both the inner and outer Queen Charlotte Sound. Beyond the saddle, the track drops into Resolution Bay, where there is a DOC campsite and further along private cabin accommodation.

Resolution Bay to (the head of) Endeavour Inlet: 3 hr, 10.5 km

From Resolution Bay the track follows a well-graded old bridle path over a ridge and into Endeavour Inlet. It winds downward and follows the shoreline to the head of the inlet, where interpretation signs recall the antimony mining era. Cabin and motel accommodation are available on the way.

Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay: 4 hr, 11.5 km

From Endeavour Inlet the track stays near the shoreline and wanders through regenerating forest rich in small birds. It rounds Big Bay to Camp Bay where there is a DOC campsite and, a little further on, cabin accommodation. It is possible to bypass Camp Bay by using a direct track to Kenepuru Saddle.

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Camp Bay to Torea Saddle: 8 hr, 24.5 km (3 hrs to campsite at Bay of Many Coves)

This is the longest and most arduous section of the journey; most mountain bikers will need to push their bike in various places here. However, from the top of the ridge you will be well rewarded with magnificent panoramas of the Sounds. Climb out of Camp Bay to Kenepuru Saddle and follow the ridge separating Queen Charlotte Sound from Kenepuru Sound. Above Bay of Many Coves and Kumutoto Bay are two DOC campsites, Bay of Many Coves and Black Rock campsites, each with water, toilets and a cooking shelter.

Eventually the track descends to Torea Saddle between Portage and Torea Bay. There is a DOC campsite at Cowshed Bay and private accommodation in Portage.

Queen Charlotte Sound

Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay: 4 hr, 7.5 km

This part of the journey also follows the ridge line. Here gorse and manuka are prolific, sheltering shrubs and trees that will one day shade the way. A side walk leads to a lookout just before the descent to Mistletoe Saddle begins. At Mistletoe Bay there are cabins and campsites. To book contact Mistletoe Bay Trust (see the sections on accommodation/camping on page 16, and commercial operators for details of the Trust on page 25). Camp fees can be paid to the camp caretaker. There is also accommodation at Te Mahia Bay.

Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa: 4 hr, 12.5 km

Beginning on the road above Mistletoe Bay, this section follows old bridle paths high above the water. The track rounds an obvious point and descends to the DOC campsite at Umungata (Davies Bay). The final hour’s walking is on an easy path through mature beech forest to Anakiwa. At Anakiwa are a carpark, shelter, toilet and phone near the rack end, and a public jetty 800 metres along the road. Here you can catch a bus or a boat to Picton or to nearby accommodation (see transport details under commercial operators on page 24).

Short walks

With such good access by road and/or sea, most sections of the track can be used for day walks. There are also several short side-trips along the way.

• At Ship Cove, you can take the Waterfall Track to a small waterfall in the forest (30 minutes return).
• Behind Furneaux Lodge is a short walk to another waterfall. It passes through a forest of giant trees entangled in the thick cables of climbing plants and vines (30 minutes return).
• At the head of Endeavour Inlet, a track leads you to the antimony mines worked last century. Keep to the marked track around the shafts (2 hours return).
• In Mistletoe Bay, the James Vogel Nature Track allows you to explore the forest behind the picnic and camping area (45 minutes return). The Peninsula Walk explores the peninsula between Mistletoe and Waterfall bays (30 minutes return).

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