Day Walks are a great way to experience parts of the Queen Charlotte Track – an excellent option for those whose time is limited, or who would like to walk some of the track but are unable to commit to the whole track.
Some of the walks can be reached by road; others are accessible only by boat. For water taxi time tables and fares, please contact one of the water taxi companies. Queen Charlotte Track Land Cooperative Passes are required for walks or bike rides which take you through private land. Those walks or rides which are entirely on Department of Conservation land do not need a Track Pass. You can also do Day Bike Rides on the Queen Charlotte Track.
Below you will find a list of options for Short Walks, Half Day Walks and Full Day Walks.
Anakiwa to Davies Bay |
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Travel by road from Picton to Anakiwa (about 30 minutes) where you start your walk. The track follows an old bridal path from Anakiwa though the beech forest to Davies Bay where there are barbecue facilities, toilets and a campsite area with safe swimming beach. |
Torea Bay to Lochmara Lodge |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Torea Bay (about 20 minutes). From Torea Bay a short walk up the road takes you to the Queen Charlotte Track. Turn left onto the Track. Here you start the steep climb from the Torea Saddle to the highest point on the Queen Charlotte Track. The climb takes about 45 – 60 minutes, and then follow the track to the well marked Lochmara Lodge turnoff. The views are magnificent, looking out over both the Kenepuru Sound and the Queen Charlotte Sound. The sign showing the way to the privately maintained track down to Lochmara Lodge is reached about 1 hour after the summit. Enjoy some time looking round the wild life centre at Lochmara Lodge before catching the water taxi back to Picton. |
Torea Bay to Mistletoe Bay |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Torea (about 20 minutes). Follow the road for about 15 minutes to the intersection with the Queen Charlotte Track. Turn left onto the Track. From here it is a steep climb (about 45 – 60 minutes) to the highest point on the Queen Charlotte Track. The views are stunning as you descend from the summit. The Track continues on through patches of native forest and farm land. If you have the time and energy, it is well worth while climbing to the top of the Lookout just before you follow the road down to Mistletoe Bay wharf. |
Torea Bay to Black Rock Shelter |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Torea Bay (about 20 minutes). Follow the road for about 15 minutes to the intersection with the Queen Charlotte Track and turn right onto the Track. From here follow the track northwards to the Black Rock Shelter. The track takes you through some magnificent native forest and although it is up hill all the way to the Shelter, the grade is reasonable. The views are from the Shelter are well worth the climb. Return the way you came. |
Anakiwa to Grove Arm Lookout |
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Travel by car from Picton to Anakiwa. Follow the old bridal path from Anakiwa through the Beach forest to Davies Bay, and then continue on through mature beech forest to the lookout where 180 degree views of the Queen Charlotte sound provide an excellent photo opportunity. |
Head of Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to the Head of Endeavour Inlet – about 1 ½ hours. The walk takes you through native forest to the site of the old Antimony mine at the head of the Inlet. Take some time to read the interesting interpretation panels there. Continue around the shore, with pasture land on either side and then through native forest with views right down the Inlet to the main Queen Charlotte Sound. It is a relatively easy 4 hours walk to the Camp Bay site, where you can swim and picnic while you wait for your water taxi. |
Camp Bay to Eatwell’s Lookout |
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The water taxi will take you from Picton to Camp Bay (about 1 ½ hours). There is a steep uphill climb through forest for about 30 minutes from Camp Bay to the road, then follow the road to Kenepuru Saddle where you rejoin the Queen Charlotte Track. Turn left onto the Track and follow this for about 1 ½ hours till you get to the sign pointing to Eatwell’s Lookout. Climb for another 20 minutes to the Lookout. The views all along the track are quite stunning, and the 360 degree view from the Lookout is amazing. Well worth the climb to get there. Then it is return to Camp Bay (down hill all the way) to catch your water taxi back to Picton. |
Anakiwa to Te Mahia Saddle Lookout |
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Drive to Anakiwa, and set off along the Track towards Davies Bay. Continue climbing up through the Beech forest. The track takes you through forest, and then open farmland (around 3 ½ hours) until you get to Te Mahia Saddle. At Te Mahia Saddle, you will find the sign pointing you to the Lookout, where you can enjoy the most wonderful views of Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds. Return back the way you came – and don’t forget the return trip is all downhill. |
Ship Cove to Head of Endeavour Inlet |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Ship Cove (about 1 ½ hours). If time permits, explore the beautiful area at Ship Cove which Captain Cook visited during his voyages to New Zealand. The walk itself begins with a steep climb out of Ship Cove to great views over Motuara Island bird sanctuary and further north to the North Island. The track then climbs over the saddle into Resolution Bay and through regenerating farmland up to the saddle overlooking Endeavour Inlet. Sit and enjoy the view before you start the descent through magnificent native forest down to the head of the Inlet. Your water taxi will pick you up at the Furneaux Lodge wharf. |
Torea Bay to Anakiwa |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Torea Bay (about 20 minutes). Follow the road for about 15 minutes to the intersection with the Queen Charlotte Track. From here it is a steep climb (about 45 – 60 minutes) to the highest point on the Queen Charlotte Track. The views are stunning, looking out over Kenepuru Sound and Queen Charlotte Sound as you descend from the summit and continue on through patches of native forest and farm land. The final section of the Track between Mistletoe Bay and Anakiwa takes you through some very fine beech forest. There is a place to shelter if need be near the wharf where the water taxi will pick you up. |
Torea Bay to Camp Bay |
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Travel by water taxi from Picton to Torea Bay (about 20 minutes). Climb up the road to the intersection with the Queen Charlotte Track. Turn right onto the Track. This is a challenging walk but worth every minute of it. The walk follows the ridge line giving absolutely magnificent views over both Queen Charlotte Sound and Kenepuru Sound. Most of the walk is through forest – native forest at the start of the walk and then through pine forest towards the end. You meet the road at Kenepuru Saddle, walk down the road towards Camp Bay or Punga Cove Resort, depending on where your water taxi pick up will be. |