Home / Our CompanyFour Day Gourmet Queen Charlotte Track Guided Walk
This 4 day guided walking package is pure luxury! After an exhilarating walk each day, at night we come to rest at an upmarket accommodation place complete with gourmet restaurant, fine wines and a superb setting. This tour features small walking groups with an emphasis on discerning service, attention to detail and knowledgeable, local guides with an extensive repertoire on the area. It is THE gourmet package for the Queen Charlotte track!
Itinerary
NB. A pre-tour briefing is conducted the day prior to departure. Details will be forwarded with your booking confirmation.
Day 1 – Ship Cove to Endeavour Inlet
(approx. 5 hours/14km)
We will collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the boat
trip to Motuara Island for a bird sanctuary tour en route to Ship Cove.
Learn about the fascinating marine life of this area and, if we are lucky,
see dolphins as well! Enjoy a short warm up walk on Motuara Island Bird
Sanctuary to the lookout – this affords spectacular 360deg views of the
Marlborough Sounds – and see many of New Zealand’s endangered bird species.
Arrive late morning at Ship Cove to begin our walk. This scenic & historic
reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations
in the 1770s. Experience virgin beech forest at its best plus stunning views
throughout today’s walk. NB. Our visit to Motuara Island is weather dependent
– this is due to the fact there are no toilets or shelter on the island.
Accommodation – Furneaux Lodge
Built early this century, Furneaux Lodge comprises the original homestead,
restaurant, bar, fully self-contained chalets and upmarket studio units
in a delightfully picturesque setting. Furneaux Lodge has an excellent restaurant
for dinner and/or breakfasts.
Day 2 – Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay/Punga Cove
(approx. 4 hours/12km)
Today’s mainly coastal walk takes you around the inlet through regenerating
native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other NZ native birds.
Pause at the head of the bay to learn more about antimony & the mining industry
that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into
Big Bay before working your way towards Camp Bay and, five minutes on from
there, Punga Cove.
Accommodation – Punga Cove
Nestled amidst the native bush, Punga Cove’s well-appointed individual chalets
are a welcome respite. The gourmet restaurant with its impressive view caps
off a perfect day and is also open for breakfasts overlooking the bay.
Day 3 – Punga Cove to Torea Saddle/The Portage Hotel or Lochmara Lodge Wildlife Recovery & Arts Centre
(approx. 8 hours/22.5km)
NB. Optional boat trip available to Portage or Lochmara for non-walkers
(at own cost)
A challenging day on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle. Truly
grand vistas abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. Those
who feel like a day’s rest can opt for a boat ride around the bays of the
Queen Charlotte Sound. We use two different accommodation providers for
our third night of this walk depending on departure date.
Accommodation
Lochmara Lodge Wildlife Recovery & Arts Centre
Set on the tranquil shores of the Queen Charlotte Sound is the Marlborough
Sounds’ only Wildlife Recovery & Arts Centre. Built by Marlborough locals
Shayne Olsen and Louise Bright, since 1997 Lochmara Lodge has achieved national
and international recognition as one of the best places to stay in New Zealand.
This is a place where visitors can learn, interact and appreciate New Zealand’s
flora, fauna and art, while still offering a unique accommodation experience
in beautiful ensuite units with seaviews. Set in 11 acres, the property
features aviaries and enclosures with endangered species breeding programs,
organic vegetable garden and orchard, educational signage, sculpture trail
and art gallery. It also now has its very own fully licenced café and restaurant,
where the cuisine is based on sustainability. The cuisine is simple, rustic
and full of flavour, using ingredients that truly give you a taste of this
beautiful environment, the Marlborough Sounds.
The Portage Resort Hotel
Nestled at the narrowest point between Queen Charlotte & Kenepuru Sounds,
The Portage Hotel is a well-established accommodation place with a fine
restaurant, relaxed cafe & comfortable, recently upgraded natural timber
chalets. Breakfasts are available as well in the restaurant from 7am.
Day 4 – Torea Saddle/The Portage or Lochmara to Anakiwa
(approx.7 hours/20.5km)
Farewell Portage or Lochmara Lodge and ascend to the ridgeline once again,
enjoying stunning views. Open farmland and a grand native bush section to
finish is a fitting finale. Today you return by boat from the Anakiwa Jetty
to Picton to compete your journey.
Four Day Guided Gourmet Package
- 3 nights superior, sea view twin share accommodation with own private ensuite
- All meals – restaurant meals (3 course) plus complimentary glass of wine each evening
- Packed gourmet lunch each day
- Guiding services
- Water transport to and from track
- Luggage transfers
- Single supplement available
- Picton accommodation transfers
Other Queen Charlotte track and Marlborough Sounds trip options
For further information on the walking packages available, please click on the links below
Guided Walks
- One Day Guided Walk & Wildlife Tour
- Four Day Boutique Lodges Guided Walk
- Four Day Gourmet Guided Walk
- Four Day Gourmet Walk & Kayak
- Five Day Gourmet Guided Walk
Independent Walks
- Four Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
- Five Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
- Boutique Lodges Five Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
Sea Kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds
Click on these links for further information on some of the popular options for sea kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds with Wilderness Guides!