Queen Charlotte Track

Introducing Queen Charlotte Track

The hugely popular, meandering Queen Charlotte Track offers gorgeous coastal scenery, isolated coves, luxury accommodation and pristine campsites. The coastal forest is lush, and from the ridges you can look down on either side to Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds. The 71km track connects historic Ship Cove with Anakiwa, passing through privately owned land (40% of the track) and DOC reserves (not national park). Access depends on the cooperation of local landowners; respect their property by utilising designated campsites and toilets, and carrying out your rubbish. DOC charges a $5 ‘Track Tribute’ fee through the summer season, payable at Picton i-SITE. See Sleeping & Eating below for accommodation and camping charges.

Queen Charlotte is a well-defined track, suitable for people of average fitness. You can do the walk in sections using local water-taxi transport, or walk the whole three- to five-day journey. Sleeping options are only half a day’s walk apart; boat operators will transport your pack along the track for you. Though there aren’t the hordes that tramp the Abel Tasman Track, there’s some solid summer traffic. As with Abel Tasman, you can do part of the trip by sea kayak.

Mountain biking is a brilliant alternative: it’s possible to ride the track in two or three days, guided or self-guided. Note that the section between Ship Cove and Kenepuru Saddle is off limits to cyclists from December to February. During these months you can still be dropped by boat at the Saddle and ride to Anakiwa.

Ship Cove is the usual (and strongly recommended) starting point – mainly because it’s easier to arrange a boat from Picton to Ship Cove than vice versa – but the track can be started from Anakiwa. There’s a public phone at Anakiwa but not at Ship Cove. Between Camp Bay and Torea Saddle you’ll find the going toughest. About halfway along there’s an excellent viewpoint, Eatwell’s Lookout, about 20 minutes off the main track (45 minutes return).

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009