The Queen Charlotte Track is regarded as one of New Zealand’s classic walkways. The 70km track stretches along a unique and diverse coast line from Ship Cove to Anakiwa with breath taking views from the ridge line and the sparkling waters of the Kenepuru and Marlborough Sounds below.
The track is part of Te Araroa – New Zealand’s Trail, a 3000km walking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff which officially opened in 2011. Te Araroa is called “the ultimate 5 month New Zealand experience” but walking sections of the trail, such as the Queen Charlotte Track, is an excellent way to enjoy part of the adventure.
The Queen Charlotte and surrounding area is part of the special history of the Sounds. The track itself is based on a network of pioneer day bridle paths – a humble beginning for what has become such an outstanding walking track in New Zealand. A poignant date in history was 1770 when Captain James Cook became the first European to set foot ashore in the Sounds, even though Abel Tasman had previously visited the area in 1642. Cook anchored in Ship Cove, a place of endearing beauty and he stayed there five times between 1770 and 1777 and this tranquil retreat has remained virtually unchanged from that time. He gave the name of ‘Queen Charlotte’ to the Sound, named after the wife of King George the Third.
Since that time, the area has been the scene of a diverse range of activities from gold and antinomy mining, whaling and fishing through to tourism and forestry leaving the Queen Charlotte Sound and its immediate area full of interesting history.
With the Track growing in popularity over the years it now has a worldwide reputation as a great New Zealand hiking and biking trail. Today walkers and mountain bikers from all over New Zealand and around the world enjoy the 70 km of the Queen Charlotte Track.
You can walk the entire track over four days or enjoy a short day walk depending on your timetable. An enjoyable day trip (summer or winter) is the 15km walk from Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge. It’s a 5 hour walk through bush track, along the ridge line and then coastal track to the lodge. At almost every corner is a panoramic view and then there’s sparkling topaz and aquamarine waters below. It’s a magic location to escape in nature for a day…….Cougarline water taxis http:cougarline.co.nz depart Picton at 9am (check seasonal timetable) and drops passengers at Ship Cove, picking up from Furneaux Lodge at 4pm. Take a back pack, water, lunch ….and don’t forget your camera too.
