New Zealand is a beautiful country and one that is leading the way when it comes to eco-tourism; if you are planning a visit, you absolutely must include the stunning Queen Charlotte Track. Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough Sounds offer unique coastal panoramas at a place where mountains meet the sea.
Walk the Track
The Queen Charlotte Walk is over 70km and can be split into sections, which are as follows:
- Ship Cove to Endevour Inlet – There are no roads, so a vessel arrival is the only way to reach Ship Cove, which is the start of this amazing walk. Camping is not permitted at Meretoto/Ship Cove, there are toilets and a pleasant area where you can prepare your gear for the coming walk. The 17km walk traverses a largely unspoilt forest, which is full of wildlife.
- Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay – This section hugs the coastline through pristine forests with a diverse range of birdlife. This section is 11.5km and scenic views are guaranteed.
- Camp Bay to Torea Saddle – The longest and also the most strenuous section of Queen Charlotte Walk, but you’ll forget about the hardship when you get to the top of the ridge. The best views on a clear day are well worth the effort to reach a pinnacle that looks over Marlborough Sounds. The 24.5km walk usually takes 8-9 hours.
- Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay – An 8km stretch, this epic section follows the ridge line all the way to Mistletoe Bay, where private accommodation is available. A couple of campsites are close to Onahao Lookout, which takes you down to Te Mahia Saddle. This stretch is 8km in length and many hikers like to camp here for a night.
- Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa – The final route of this epic track follows the old bridal paths that run high above the waterline. A highlight is passing through a beech forest that is home to an array of wildlife species and the last hour is a pleasant walk to Anakiwa, where you can catch the ferry to Picton. The 12.5km walk is, for many, their favourite section and there is overnight accommodation and few souvenir shops.
We are sure that you will fall in love with Queen Charlotte Track and make sure you have enough memory for 100s of still images and a few clips of video.
