Skip to contentSkip to menu

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Standard Independent Walk

Up to 49.3 kms/17 hrs hiking over 3 days

Days
3

Pricing From
$785

Difficulty

Book Now

Overview

For those with limited time, you can take a 3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk package from Picton at the top of the South Island of New Zealand. All your accommodation, daily packed lunch, luggage transfers and Picton water taxi pick ups or drop offs are arranged. You can then hike the New Zealand Queen Charlotte Track at your leisure. All you need to organise is your breakfast and dinner!

When English explorer Captain James Cook sailed into the settled waters of the Marlborough Sounds in the late 17th Century, he must have believed this was paradise. Join us for a modern day journey in Cook's footsteps along the renowned Queen Charlotte Track. Explore this vast network of drowned river valleys from the unique perspective of this well-formed track. Here lush coastal beech forest reaches out to greet lapping tides of ever-changing hues.

Each night you come to rest at a comfortable accommodation place complete with gourmet restaurant, fine wines and a superb setting. NB. Package price based on standard accommodation - upgrade option available.

Tour Grading: C

  • No hiking experience necessary.
  • You need to be reasonably fit and enthusiastic.
  • Terrain mostly tracks.
  • Light day pack carried, with luggage transported by water taxi.
  • Options for non-walkers available

To get to Picton, probably the best way is to take the Interislander Ferry across from Wellington to Picton. Alternatively you can take the Coastal Pacific Train* up from Christchurch to Picton. 

*The train will have daily departures over summer from 27 September 2019 to 26 April 2020 only. 

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

3 Day Queen Charlotte Track Independent Walk

Itinerary

Open All
Day 1Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge, Endeavour InletAbout 14 kms/ 5 hours walking

Day 0 - A pre-tour briefing is held the day prior to departure. Details will be forwarded with your booking confirmation.

We collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the water taxi to Ship Cove where your walk begins. This scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a site of significance for local Maori. Bush is mainly a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track. Your walk concludes at the historic Furneaux Lodge.

Option: Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary Tour

This island reserve is located in the Outer Queen Charlotte Sound opposite Ship Cove and you will be delivered there by boat with your guide to spend 1 ½ hours exploring the short walk, 360deg lookout views and wonderful New Zealand native birdlife including the rare South Island Saddleback (Tieke), little blue penguins in their nesting boxes, the cheeky robin and friendly fantails. After your visit here, you will be collected by boat again and transferred to the start of the walk at Ship Cove.

Accommodation - Furneaux Lodge 

Furneaux Lodge offers a range of accommodation depending on your requirements. Our waterfront suites are contemporary one bedroom apartments, and are absolutely private with stunning views. The self-contained two bedroom chalets have panoramic views and are great for family groups and people hiking the Queen Charlotte Track.

Day 2Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay/Punga CoveAbout 11.7 kms/4 hours walking

Today’s coastal walk takes you from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove through mostly regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other New Zealand native birds. From Furneaux Lodge, the track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Pause there to learn more about antimony & the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits before working your way towards Camp Bay and, five minutes on from there, your accommodation for the evening at Punga Cove.

Accommodation - Punga Cove

Set amongst stunning scenery in the magnificent waterways of New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds, Punga Cove is the perfect retreat for people wanting to relax in style.

Day 3Punga Cove to Torea Saddle and PictonAbout 23.6 kms/8 hours walking (also a morning water taxi option back to Picton)

2 Options:

Punga Cove to Torea Saddle/Portage Bay (approx. 8 hours/22.5km)

  • It’s a challenging day walking on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle near Portage. Truly grand vistas abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. You will be collected from Torea Bay at 5pm and return to Picton at 5.30pm approx.

Take the morning water taxi transfer from Punga Cove to Picton

  • The water taxi will come and pick you up at approx. 10.15am (This time table is valid is from October through to April - return time to Picton 12.30) or pickup at 11.30 (This time table is valid all year round - return time to Picton around 12.30-12.45pm). Cruise around the bays and make your way to Picton, arriving there early afternoon

Cost per Person

  • Adult: NZ$785.00
  • Child: NZ$525.00

Pricing is based on twin-sharing studio. If you require triple share, you need upgrade to a 2-bedroom chalet.
Child rate: 3-12 years

Itinerary

Open All
Day 1Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge, Endeavour InletAbout 14 kms/ 5 hours walking

Day 0 - A pre-tour briefing is held the day prior to departure. Details will be forwarded with your booking confirmation.

We collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the water taxi to Ship Cove where your walk begins. This scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a site of significance for local Maori. Bush is mainly a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track. Your walk concludes at the historic Furneaux Lodge.

Option: Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary Tour

This island reserve is located in the Outer Queen Charlotte Sound opposite Ship Cove and you will be delivered there by boat with your guide to spend 1 ½ hours exploring the short walk, 360deg lookout views and wonderful New Zealand native birdlife including the rare South Island Saddleback (Tieke), little blue penguins in their nesting boxes, the cheeky robin and friendly fantails. After your visit here, you will be collected by boat again and transferred to the start of the walk at Ship Cove.

Accommodation - Furneaux Lodge 

Furneaux Lodge offers a range of accommodation depending on your requirements. Our waterfront suites are contemporary one bedroom apartments, and are absolutely private with stunning views. The self-contained two bedroom chalets have panoramic views and are great for family groups and people hiking the Queen Charlotte Track.

Day 2Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay/Punga CoveAbout 11.7 kms/4 hours walking

Today’s coastal walk takes you from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove through mostly regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other New Zealand native birds. From Furneaux Lodge, the track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Pause there to learn more about antimony & the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits before working your way towards Camp Bay and, five minutes on from there, your accommodation for the evening at Punga Cove.

Accommodation - Punga Cove

Set amongst stunning scenery in the magnificent waterways of New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds, Punga Cove is the perfect retreat for people wanting to relax in style.

Day 3Punga Cove to Torea Saddle and PictonAbout 23.6 kms/8 hours walking (also a morning water taxi option back to Picton)

2 Options:

Punga Cove to Torea Saddle/Portage Bay (approx. 8 hours/22.5km)

  • It’s a challenging day walking on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle near Portage. Truly grand vistas abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. You will be collected from Torea Bay at 5pm and return to Picton at 5.30pm approx.

Take the morning water taxi transfer from Punga Cove to Picton

  • The water taxi will come and pick you up at approx. 10.15am (This time table is valid is from October through to April - return time to Picton 12.30) or pickup at 11.30 (This time table is valid all year round - return time to Picton around 12.30-12.45pm). Cruise around the bays and make your way to Picton, arriving there early afternoon

Similar Tours

3 Day Ball Pass Summit Trek
3 Day Ball Pass Summit Trek

Read more

Kepler Track  Premium Package Independent Walk - 3 Day
Kepler Track Premium Package Independent Walk - 3 Day

Read more

3 Day Abel Tasman Self Guided Walk
3 Day Abel Tasman Self Guided Walk

Read more

3 Day Abel Tasman Walking Break
3 Day Abel Tasman Walking Break

Read more