Queen Charlotte Track - Guided

Some departures may start/end with accommodation in Picton.

All daily distances are approximate and this itinerary is subject to change. RAW Travel reserves the right to make necessary itinerary changes based on local conditions, group safety, extreme weather or unforeseen difficulties with local suppliers due to ongoing effects of COVID-19.

Arrive into Blenheim and be transferred from the airport to your accommodation in Picton, the heart of a region synonymous with quality wine around the world – Marlborough. Surrounded by mountains, which also protect it from the southerly winds, this stunning town is one of New Zealand’s sunniest, and is responsible for around three quarters of the country’s wine production. Your accommodation this evening is located amongst the vineyards.

Accommodation: Jasmine Court Hotel, Picton

After breakfast, make your own way to the meeting point where you will be introduced to your guide and fellow trampers and receive your briefing for this walk (this trip is operated by our local partner so you will be joined by other non-RAW Travel walkers in your group). 

The journey begins on the water as we cruise to Motuara Island before being dropped at the scenic Ship Cove – one of Captain Cook’s favourites during his explorations in the 1770s. As you cruise, your guide will share their knowledge of the local marine life, before a short walk on Motuara Island sanctuary to learn about the rare birdlife recolonised there.

In Ship Cove will spend a little time exploring the Captain Cook memorial, as well as gaining an understanding around the significance of the area in the Maori culture, before setting off on our walk. As we climb away from the beach, we will be passing through a large section of beautiful beech forest where the high canopy is complemented by a diversity of native shrubs and small trees. After about a good hour of hiking, we will come to a lookout point offering up stunning views of both the inner and outer Queen Charlotte Sound/Totaranui. From here the track descends into Resolution Bay and follows a well-graded old bridle path over a ridge, winding downward to the shoreline of Endeavour Inlet. 

On the descent, we start to catch glimpses of our lodge accommodation for the evening. Nestled in the heart of the Marlborough sounds and only accessible by boat or foot, our lodge offers a true immersion in nature surrounded by 2000 acres of pristine forest. It is the ideal location to relax and enjoy a fresh, local and seasonally inspired menu for dinner. 

Accommodation: Furneaux Lodge

Meals: B, L, D

Our easy walk today mainly takes us along the shoreline and wanders through beautiful regenerating indigenous forests rich in native birdlife. The track continues through lush bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. We will have the opportunity to pause the walk there to learn more about antimony and the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. We set off following the main track onwards and into Big Bay before walking our way towards Camp Bay and Punga Cove.

Punga Cove Resort has individual chalets set amongst the bush clad hillside providing stunning views across Endeavour Inlet. You’ll have time to take advantage of the accommodations spa or take a swim in the solar-heated pool before we’ll enjoy our dinner in the award-winning restaurant.

Accommodation: Punga Cove Resort

Meals: B, L, D

Our walking day will start early as we are taking off to the most challenging and rewarding section of the Queen Charlotte Track. We’ll be walking on the ridgeline between the Queen Charlotte and the Kenepuru Sound. The track is very undulating and therefore can be challenging for some people. The ridgeline here separates Queen Charlotte Sounds from Kenepuru Sounds offering stunning panoramic views across both the Sounds. This is a truly spectacular section of the track as we will see both the sounds at different times. Wonderfully rewarding views around every corner of our track. Enjoy the scenic views as we walk before descending to Portage Bay where we will have a well deserved rest for the night from our long walk today. The Portage has a range of comfortable ensuite rooms and their restaurant provides excellent food with a selection of local wines to match.

Accommodation: The Portage Hotel

Meals: B, L, D

Another early start for your final day on the Queen Charlotte Track as we ascend to continue following the ridge line, enjoying stunning views back towards Picton as well as into the turquoise waters of the Kenepuru Sound. After Mistletoe Bay, where the track follows old bridle paths high above the water, we will descend down into Umungata (Davies Bay). The final half hour’s walking is on an easy path through mature beech forest as we arrive at Anakiwa. 

Our water transport collects us and, as we travel back to Picton, we can relax and reminisce on the magic of the last days on the beautiful Queen Charlotte Track. It’s then time to farewell your guide and fellow trampers.

Enjoy an additional night at leisure in Picton before departing tomorrow. 

Accommodation: Jasmine Court Hotel, Picton

Meals: B, L

Your trip finishes today. Check out is 10am.

Meals: B

• Pre-trip planning, guidance and support from our experienced team
• 4-days guided walking with experienced, licensed local guide 
• Local briefing with local guide in Picton from our NZ operator
• Water transport to and from track
• Daily meals as outlined above
• 3 nights lodge-style accommodation with private ensuite (twin-share superior rooms) 
• 2 nights motel-style accommodation with private ensuite (twin-share, superior rooms)
• Luggage transfer on all trekking days
• Queen Charlotte Track Land Co-op Pass
• 15% NZ GST
• Transfers between Blenheim and Picton
• Carbon offset for your trip and for every walk we plant an Indigenous tree on your behalf

• Single supplement (add $880 per person)
• Flights to and from your destination
• Travel insurance

The terrain on the Queen Charlotte is varied and the itinerary mixes easily manageable sections with more challenging days. While more of a long track rather than a steep one, a moderate level of fitness is recommended to make the most of this exhilarating experience.

The track’s terrain is undulating and mostly on wide clay soil paths. This means in the dry sections it is quite firm underfoot however in wet conditions may prove to be quite slippery. 

All major streams have been bridged so there are no water crossings on this itinerary.

We have graded the Queen Charlotte Track as a moderate walk and so a good level of fitness is ideal, preferably with some multi-day trekking experience. There are some ascents and descents over uneven terrain, along with some clay soil paths  which can be slippery underfoot after any rain. There are also some sand walking and tide crossings. Training and preparing on hills with your equipment (particularly with the footwear you’ll use on the hike!), and walking several hours over varied terrain (4-7 hours a day), will help prepare you. The better prepared you are, the more you will enjoy this beautiful walk.

This region of New Zealand is renowned for its quality food and drink – the consistently sunny region combined with fertile land, produces delicious goods from cheese, conserves/honey, berries and olive oils through to alcoholic beverages (wine, beer and the world class cider). On this trip you will get to experience some gastronomical delights as you walk.

Breakfast is included daily (cooked or continental) and you will get a packed lunch to take with you on each day’s walk, which includes food such as Ploughman’s sandwich (roll, croissant or wrap), fresh fruit, quiche, muffin/banana bread, salad, cheese and crackers, trail mix, energy bars, free range hard boiled eggs and so on. 

For your lodge dinners you will experience more high-quality food accompanied by a  glass of Marlborough wine. The lodge accommodation has a reputation for serving fresh, local and seasonal cuisine.

Most dietary requirements can be catered for, please ensure you discuss your requirements with your consultant at the time of booking.

The Tasman region of New Zealand is fortunate to be one of the country’s sunniest areas making it a perfect year round destination. Even in winter, though cooler in temperatures, you will often find you are walking under blue skies and sunshine.

If you are particularly keen to do some swimming along the Coastal Track, then the warmer months are best – though trying to avoid the summer school holidays will be more enjoyable along the trail.

It can be quite windy on the coast but rainfall is quite evenly distributed throughout the year and so repeated days of rain are pretty rare. Although Summer time is the most popular season to visit the national park, the locals firmly believe that the shoulder months of Spring and Autumn are the optimum periods in which to visit. During these months the crisp, cool mornings along with calm ocean waters and quiet beaches will equate to a wonderfully peaceful and serene experience.

RAW Travel supports and welcomes solo travellers. Our guided group departures are based on twin share. If you are a solo traveller, we will match you up with another traveller of the same gender. Due to the lodge sizes single rooms are very difficult to obtain, however we can request this for you, for a supplement cost. Please enquire with your consultant at the time of booking for further details.

This trip is operated by our local partners in Marlborough so you will often be joining a mixed group of walkers (not just RAW Travel).