Queen Charlotte Track

There is no road to Meretoto/Ship Cove so you will need to arrange boat transport to start your walk there. Camping is not permitted at Meretoto/Ship Cove but there are toilet facilities. Most visitors to Meretoto/Ship Cove take time to explore the historic site and enjoy reading the interpretation panels around the site. The track climbs away from the beach, passing through a largely unmodified forest, where the high canopy is complemented by a diverse understorey of shrubs and small trees. On the ridges higher up, beech trees dominate. After 50 minutes walking, you will reach a lookout point at a saddle, where you will enjoy good views of both the inner and outer Queen Charlotte Sound. Beyond the saddle, the track drops into Resolution Bay, where there is a DOC campsite at Schoolhouse Bay and further along, private cabin accommodation.

From Resolution Bay the track passes over a ridge and into Endeavour Inlet. It winds downward and follows the shoreline to the head of the inlet, where interpretation signs recall the antimony mining era. Hostel and motel accommodation are available on the way.

From Endeavour Inlet the track stays near the shoreline and wanders through regenerating forest rich in small birds. It rounds Big Bay to Camp Bay where there is a DOC campsite and, a little further on, private accommodation. It is possible to bypass Camp Bay by using a direct track to Kenepuru Saddle.

The track passes through private land in this section. Make sure you have your Q.C.L.T.C. Pass, see link below in Essential Information. This is the longest and most arduous section of the journey; most mountain bikers will need to push their bike in various places here. However, from the top of the ridge you will be well rewarded with magnificent panoramas of the Sounds. Climb out of Camp Bay to Kenepuru Saddle and follow the ridge separating Queen Charlotte Sound from Kenepuru Sound. Above Bay of Many Coves and Kumutoto Bay are two DOC campsites, Bay of Many Coves and Black Rock, each with water, toilets and a cooking shelter. From Camp Bay, it's 3 hours to the Bay of Many Coves campsite and 6 hours to Black Rock campsite. Eventually the track descends to Torea Saddle between Portage and Torea Bay. There is a DOC campsite at Cowshed Bay and private accommodation in Portage Bay.

The track passes through private land in this section. Make sure you have your Q.C.L.T.C. Pass, see link below in Essential Information. This part of the journey also follows the ridge line. Here gorse and manuka are prolific, sheltering shrubs and trees that will one day shade the way. A side walk leads to a lookout just before the descent to Te Mahia Saddle begins. At Mistletoe Bay there are cabins and campsites. To book contact Mistletoe Bay Eco Village (external site). There is also private accommodation at Te Mahia Bay.

The track passes through private land in this section. Make sure you have your Q.C.L.T.C. Pass, see link below in Essential Information. Beginning on the road above Mistletoe Bay, this section follows old bridle paths high above the water. The track rounds an obvious point and descends to the DOC campsite at Umungata (Davies Bay). The final hour’s walking is on an easy path through mature beech forest to Anakiwa. At Anakiwa are a carpark, shelter, toilets and phone near the track end, and a public jetty opposite the Outward Bound school. Here you can catch a bus or a boat to Picton or to nearby accommodation.

There are many places to stay, including six DOC-managed, ‘self-registration’ campsites on the track, each with toilets and water supply. Some also have cooking shelters and picnic tables. You will need to carry your own cooker and food with you. A number of private accommodation providers offer hostel, cabin, motel and hotel lodgings, and tent sites alongside or close to the track.

There are a number of different places you can access the track. Various transport options are available – one of the more common options for the full walk is to take a boat out to Ship Cove and walk back towards Anakiwa (or vice versa). Visit https://www.qctrack.co.nz/ for a list of transport operators. Use this location in Google Maps to find the Anakiwa end. Use this location in Google Maps to find the Ship Cove end Boat operators may also be able to carry your pack between accommodation places.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz . We recommend trying these online learning tools: Trip Planning Tramping / field Skills Basic Navigation Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel .

Strong northerly winds are common through the Cook Strait and will affect some parts of the track more than others. Rain is likely with passing frontal systems.

No dogs.