Best of the New Zealand Queen Charlotte Track Walk - 3 days

3-Day Best of the New Zealand Queen Charlotte Track Walk – A Pack Free Guided Walking Tour by Life’s An Adventure

Life’s An Adventure invites you to experience the stunning Queen Charlotte Track on a 3-day Pack Free guided walking tour that highlights the best sections of this iconic trail in the Marlborough Sounds, at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. Spanning 70 km from historic Ship Cove to Anakiwa, the Queen Charlotte Track offers an unforgettable journey through some of New Zealand’s most beautiful coastal scenery.

This carefully curated 3-day walk takes you to the most scenic parts of the trail, with boat transfers each day to access the highlights. Walk through ancient beech forests, along fern-fringed coves, and across ridgelines that reveal breathtaking views of Queen Charlotte Sound and Kenepuru Sound. Each step offers a unique perspective on the natural beauty of the Marlborough Sounds, from tranquil bays and lush greenery to panoramic coastal vistas that stretch as far as the eye can see.

Itinerary - Summary

Day One: Queen Charlotte Track - Walk Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge 17kms. 6 hours walking with breaks. Grade: Medium to hard. Elevation gain: 622m Note: Guests will be required to arrive at Picton the day before the tour starts. Picton can be reached by flying into Wellington and then either flying from Wellington to Picton (30-minute flight) or taking the ferry from Wellington to Picton (a 3-hour cruise through the Cook Straits). Suggestions for Picton Hotels are included in our pre-departure information.

Meet your guides at 7:30am at London Quay Wharf Picton this morning. From here we join a scenic boat cruise to Ship Cove. Today we walk in the footsteps of explorer Captain James Cook. Walking through magnificent virgin rainforests, you will emerge at the ridgeline for breathtaking views of Cooks Strait and Resolution Bay before descending to the sheltered shoreline of Endeavor Inlet. From here we’ll make our way to the Furneaux Lodge where we’ll spend the next 2 nights. Enjoy time to relax in your suite soaking up the views, or take a swim in the Sound before meeting the group for a sensational a la carte dinner featuring local produce and superb Marlborough Sounds wines.

Day Two: Queen Charlotte Track - Walk Punga Cove to Furneaux Lodge 12kms. 4 hours walking with breaks. Grade: Medium. Elevation gain: 349m After a delicious breakfast we board the cruise again to take us to our walk from Punga Cove where we will traverse the coastline and walk back into our accommodation. Along todays walk, we’ll explore forests rich in small bird life. We start our gradual climb out of Camp Bay to Kenepuru Saddle, the track passes through native forest and traverses over low saddles offering amazing vantage points for the photographer. The last section of our walk tracks down to the water & straight back into our accommodation at the Furneaux Lodge. Enjoy time to relax in your room or simply soak up the views. Tonight, the group comes together for dinner in the restaurant served with New Zealand’s fine wines and delicious cuisine.

Day Three: Queen Charlotte Track - Walk Torea Bay to Lochmara Lodge - Celebratory Lunch - Nelson 7kms. 3 hours walking with breaks. Grade: Medium to hard. Elevation gain: 442m After breakfast, we travel by private water taxi from Furneaux Lodge to Torea Bay where where we’ll enjoy our walk to Lochmara Lodge. The track starts with a steep climb from the Torea Saddle to the highest point on the Queen Charlotte Track. The climb takes about 45 – 60 minutes. After a stop for morning tea and taking in the sensational views we’ll continue to follow the track to Lochmara Lodge. The views are magnificent, looking out over both the Kenepuru Sound and the Queen Charlotte Sound. Enjoy some time looking round the wild life centre at Lochmara Lodge before a celebratory lunch at the cafe at the Lodge. We will then join our water taxi through the Marlborough Sounds back to Picton. Arriving around 3pm

Note for those finishing the tour on this day and wanting to catch a ferry to Wellington tonight, you will have the option to take a shuttle bus to the ferry terminal. 

For those wanting more walking why not add on our 3-day Abel Tasman Tour

Inclusions

• Pack Free Walk – Carry as little as your water, lunch and camera
• 2 nights accommodation at Furneaux Lodge overlooking Marlborough Sounds
• Boat transfers to the trail Heads each day
• 3 delicious lunches
• A la carte dining in Restaurant every evening featuring local produce
• Fine New Zealand Marlborough Sounds wines with evening meals
• 2 x Hot and cold breakfasts
• Fresh fruit and trail mix to enjoy during your walk
• Professionally guided – Our guides which we refer to as “CEO – Chief Experience Officers” who are passionate, well trained and enthusiastic with the ability to bring to life a depth of information. We have two guides on every walk to ensure we can cater for different walking abilities, with one guide a local to the area with great local knowledge.
• National Park Fees
• Return transfers to and from Picton

Click 'Go to Bookings Site' for more information.