Overview
A five day, self-guided Marlborough Sounds adventure, walking the Queen Charlotte Track, famous for its mix of elevated trails and exquisite views on the South Island. Walking from one lodge to the next, it follows well established trails through coastal bush terrain, native forest and some colossal coastal ridgelines. As well as some sheltered bays such as Resolution Bay. Starting in the waterfront town of Picton, where you spend the night, this Queen Charlotte walking track adventure begins after a fantastic boat trip to the trailhead at Ship Cove. This tour includes a Cougar Line Round Trip Track Pass which covers the boat and luggage transfers.
- Picton Harbour
- Queen Charlotte Sound
- Marlborough Sounds
- Ship Cove
- Resolution Bay
- Endeavour Inlet
- Eatwells Lookout
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Picton
Arrive in Picton and, if time allows, take a short 5mins walk to the centre of Picton Township to try locally-made wine or craft beer. From the township, it’s an easy stroll to Picton Marina, a good place to watch harbour activity and keep an eye out for New Zealand fur seals, which are regular visitors around the pontoons.
- Accommodation: Anchor Down Bed & Breakfast or similar in Picton
Day 2: Picton – Ship Cove – Furneaux Lodge | 17km
Board a water taxi to Ship Cove (included), the starting point of the Queen Charlotte Track and a former anchorage for Captain James Cook. The one-hour journey takes you through Queen Charlotte Sound, passing bays with more chances to see fur seals, dolphins, little blue penguins or even orcas. After arrival, continue on foot towards a wooden footbridge and follow the marked track toward Endeavour Inlet, with a steady climb through dense native forest. After you reach the top, follow the ridgeline as the forest opens to wide views of the Marlborough Sounds. Continue to Resolution Bay and descend to Furneaux Lodge, where you stay the night.
- Accommodation: Furneaux Lodge or similar near Resolution Bay
- Walking for the day: 17km, 5h, ↑622m, ↓997m
Day 3: Furneaux Lodge – Punga Cove Resort | 12km
Follow the coastline of Endeavour Inlet with no significant climbs. The trail winds along the water’s edge, passing through a mix of regenerating forest and coastal bush, but also crosses several small streams. Continue toward Big Bay where we recommend you can stop for lunch at a designated picnic area with a view of the inlet. From there, it is only a short walk to Punga Cove Resort, where you stay overnight. At Punga Cove Resort, there are opportunities for water activities such as spa pools, kayaking and paddleboarding (payable locally), as well as space to unwind in this stunning location.
- Accommodation: Punga Cove Resort or similar
- Walking for the day: 12km, 4h, ↑153m, ↓143m
Day 4: Punga Cove Resort – Picton or Portage Resort | 11/23.5km
You can choose from two options today:
Option one: from Punga Cove, take the trail to Eatwells Lookout and return to the resort for a water taxi back to Picton, where you stay overnight. This 11km return walk involves a steady climb through native bush, following the ridgeline that offers views of Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sound. The final ascent to the lookout is steep, but the effort is rewarded with panoramic views from one of the highest points on the Queen Charlotte Track.
Option two: extend your trip and continue on Queen Charlotte Track to Portage Resort. Leave Punga Cove and follow the uphill road to reconnect with the track. From there, continue along the ridgeline, with the option to take the short side trip to Eatwells Lookout for expansive views. The trail continues south along the ridgeline offering broad panoramas over the sounds, before descending through native forest to arrive at Portage Resort. Please note that if you choose this option, there will be a supplement for staying at Portage Resort.
- Accommodation: Anchor Down Bed & Breakfast or similar in Picton, or Portage Resort
- Walking for the day: 11km, 4-5h, ↑484m, ↓484m, or 23.5km, 8h, ↑780m, ↓760m
Day 5: Departure
If you extend your tour, return to Picton in the morning. If you choose the shorter option, check out after breakfast.
What to expect
Accommodation
Accommodation on this trip includes local B&Bs, lodges and resorts. They have been carefully selected based on a variety of criteria including their location, warm hospitality, fine local food or commitment to responsible tourism. All rooms have en-suite or private bathrooms.
Click to view the default accommodation
Accommodation is subject to availability. In the event of any being fully booked for your chosen dates, we will replace it with an accommodation of equal value and quality level. We will provide exact accommodation details to you upon booking confirmation.
Meals
Breakfast is included on all days. Packed lunches can be pre-ordered at accommodations along the track or purchased from most cafés in Picton. Dining facilities are available at the lodges along the track.
Difficulty and terrain
This tour is graded easy to moderate and includes daily walking distances of 11-23.5km. The track follows a well established and well marked route. The terrain is a mix of ups and downs, with significant elevation changes past Punga Cove Resort (read more about difficulty grades).
We strongly advise you to only follow marked trails and never try to shorten the path through unknown and unmarked terrain. More detailed information on route navigation will be included in your pre-departure pack and you can call our 24/7 local assistance phone number anytime.
When to go
This trip is available from October to April.
The flexibility of self-guided holidays means that there are no fixed dates, so you can start your holiday on any date in the season. For more information, see our blog, Best time to go to New Zealand.
Getting there
Click to view travel options and route planner
Our recommended airports for this tour are Picton Airport (PCN), Marlborough Airport Blenheim (BHE) or Wellington Airport (WLG)
- The closest international airport to Picton is Wellington Airport
- From Wellington, take a car ferry to Picton (3-4h). For ferry times and tickets, visit Interislander or use the Omio planner above
- Picton Aerodrome and Marlborough Airport Blenheim have regular domestic flights to and from Wellington Airport. Both airports offer shuttle services to Picton
- Marlborough Airport Blenheim and Wellington Airport have regular domestic flights to and from Auckland Airport (AKL)
Inclusions
Included
- 4 nights accommodation
- 4 breakfasts
- Luggage transfers
- Cougar Line’s Round Trip Track Pass
- Digital roadbook and a link to detailed itinerary before departure
- 24/7 phone assistance by our local office/representative
Excluded
- Airfare and airport transfers
- Travel insurance (required – get a quote online)
- Any drinks and meals not listed in the itinerary
- Personal expenses and tips
- Any items not specifically listed as included
- eSIM data for international travel (get an eSIM)
Options, extras and supplements
- If you are travelling in a group, a supplement applies to group members who would like to have a room of their own
- This holiday is available for solo travellers. However, a supplement will be charged as the cost of rooms and also luggage or private transfers (when applicable) is not shared. Please note that solo travellers are always accommodated in their own room. For logistical reasons, we don’t offer an option for solo travellers to share rooms with other solo travellers.
- Packed lunches (to be ordered during check-in and paid for locally)
- Supplement for staying at Portage Resort
- Extra night in Picton before or after your tour
- Airport transfers
