Queen Charlotte Walkway – From £895

Your trip begins with a personalised eco-tour, with guide, on board a Cougar Line catamaran. During the morning, your guide will share their knowledge of the sea birds and marine mammals as you travel to Motuara Island in the outer Queen Charlotte Sound. Here, you may have the opportunity to see the rare South Island Saddleback and South Island Robin, who have been re-colonised on to this island sanctuary.From Motuara Island you will cross the Sound to be dropped off at Ship Cove, where you will begin your walk on the Queen Charlotte Track. Ship Cove is one of the most historic areas in the Sounds, as it was one of James Cook’s most popular destinations on his many world travels. The area is surrounded by bountiful virgin bush, and the walk to the top of the ridge provides spectacular views.

As you make your way down into Endeavour Inlet, you will spy Furneaux Lodge, your first night’s accommodation. You will stay in twin share Studio Suites.

Dinner will be served in the restaurant with a glass of wine.

After a leisurely breakfast at Furneaux Lodge, you may like to take a walk up to the waterfall and see the magnificent stands of virgin native bush. Re-join the track as it winds its way around the coastline to the other side of Endeavour Inlet. Prolific birdsong dominate the day as you walk through some regenerating and virgin native bush. Your accommodation this evening is at Punga Cove Resort in twin share chalets. Dinner is served in the restaurant with a glass of wine.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

This is your chance to explore the area on foot, row on the lake, or just relax and read a novel. There is an activity for everyone. Take a stroll to the waterfall, or hike up to the lookout for a view down the river flats and your first glimpse of the Routeburn Track. If you are ready for a challenge you can climb higher to the unchartered tops and marvel at Fiordland’s mountain scenery.

Today you can sleep in, rest, relax, and enjoy the leisure activities around the Portage Hotel. If you feel like a little more activity, you may like to go fishing, play golf on the local rural golf course (a unique experience!), or go sea kayaking for the day with your guide. Join this intimate paddling experience in the Kenepuru Sound, the smallest of the three sounds. As you paddle from the Portage Bay you may visit a mussel farm, paddle past a shipwreck from a bygone era, or experience a chance encounter with dolphins. You will have time to stop on a tranquil beach, where you can enjoy a leisurely lunch, go for a swim or a short bush walk, before paddling back to the Portage bay foreshore. No experience is necessary to enjoy this trip, and your guide will ensure that you have a fun, safe sea kayaking experience.

Your final day on the Queen Charlotte Track. Today, you will ascend to a ridgeline track which provides wonderful vistas of the Sounds as you walk along. After Mistletoe Bay, the track sidles along the hill and drops down into Davies Bay before the last half hour through mature beech forest, ending at Anakiwa where your water transport will collect you for your return to Picton.