Stroll
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days

Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days

6 Days
Active

Overview

The Queen Charlotte Track is one of New Zealand's finest coastal walks, weaving through native forest and cresting ridgelines with sweeping views over the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds. What sets this walk apart is the lodge-to-lodge experience. Each night's accommodation is surrounded by nature, so the feeling of being immersed in the Sounds never really stops. The Marlborough region has a well-earned gourmet reputation, and the quality of the food and wine along the track matches the scenery. Bags are transferred by boat each day, leaving walkers free to carry only a daypack.

Highlights

  • Walk the entire linear track from Ship Cove to Anakiwa
  • Explore where Captain Cook landed, and the Cook memorial
  • Experience the magic of walking through thick native forest and lush coastal vegetation
  • Wander by the ponga ferns in deep gullies
  • Enjoy the sound of the forest and surrounds of the spectacular Furneaux Lodge
  • Eatwell lookout, with 360 degree views over Endeavour Inlet and the Bay of Many Covers
  • Stay in very comfortable water-side accommodation where you never leave the track

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Itinerary

Day 1

ARRIVE AT PICTON

The trip starts in Picton in the Marlborough area, we also pick up in Blenheim. Relax in comfort at your accommodation at the marina or take a walk around the foreshore. If you are contemplating walking Abel Tasman then we provide all transfers to and from the track or Nelson (or nearby).

Accommodation

Hotel in Picton

Day 2Ship Cove to Endeavour Inlet
16 km · 4.5-5.5
Day 3Endeavour Inlet to Punga Cove
12 km · 3-4 hours
Day 4Punga Cove to Cowshed or Torea Bay
24 km · 7.5-9.5 hours
Day 5Cowshed Bay to Anakiwa
20 km · 6-7.5 hours
Day 6PICTON AND ONWARD JOURNEY
queen charlotte islands tours

What's Included

Accommodation

4 Hotel, 1 Lodge

Meals

5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners

Transfers

  • Private Vehicle Transfers
  • Ferry transfer

Guidance & Support

  • Printed itinerary & walk notes
  • Stroll walking app
  • 24/7 on-trip support

How We Rate This Walk

4

Stroll Walking Level

Moderate to Challenging

Rated by our team — we walk every route before we recommend it.

Regular hills and varied terrain. These walks involve more challenging sections. Regular walking beforehand is recommended.

View Fitness Guide

4

Days on the trail

12-24 km

Average per walking day

579-1161 m

Gain per day

6/10

Trail difficulty

Where You'll Stay

The accommodation on the Queen Charlotte Track is a highlight in its own right. Each lodge sits directly on the Sounds, with the water at your doorstep from the moment you arrive. Furneaux Lodge, Punga Cove and the Portage Hotel are among New Zealand's finest track-side properties, each combining quality rooms, excellent dining and genuine hospitality in one of the country's most beautiful settings. Your first and final night is spent at Edit Picton, right on the Picton waterfront.

The-Portage
Picton-Hotel-Harbour-View
Picton-Master-Bedroom-View
Furneaux Lodge interior room with water
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days accommodation
Living-area-Albatross-suite
Queen Charlotte Walk
Living-area-Albatross-suite-Punga-Cove
Balcony-at-the-Portage
Bedroom-at-the-Portage

What You'll Eat

A two-course à la carte dinner, cooked breakfast and packed walkers lunch are included on each day of the walk. On your first and last night in Picton, dinner is yours to explore — the town has plenty of excellent restaurants and is a great introduction to the region's celebrated food and wine scene.

Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days food
healthy-hikers-dinners
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days food
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days food
Substantial breakfasts
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days food
Queen Charlotte Track: End to End - 6 Days food

More About This Trip

Departure Dates

Choose Your Start Date

Pick any available date — this is your trip, your schedule

October 2026

Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
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Season & Pricing Guide

Prices shown are per person, twin/double share basis.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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The Queen Charlotte Experience

Wonder
Stroll from historic Ship Cove to Anakiwa, tracing Captain Cook's landings and memorial
Eatwell Lookout's 360-degree panoramas over Endeavour Inlet and the Bay of Many Coves
Waterside nights at Furneaux and Punga Cove amid Marlborough's gourmet reputation
Wellness
Pack-free walking along panoramic ridge-lines with luggage awaiting at each lodge
Enjoy 360-degree from Eatwell Lookout's over Endeavour Inlet and Bay of Many Coves
Easy inlet paths, smooth escarpments and a magnificent final stroll through beech forest
Nature
Old-growth forest, a 1000-year-old rimu, and ponga ferns in deep gullies
Recurring vistas across Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds from the track's escarpment
Large tree ferns, beech forest and isolated coves approaching Anakiwa Bay

From

£1,290/person

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