Home / Our CompanyGuided Walks on the Queen Charlotte Track With Wilderness Guides Picton, plus self guided independent walking options.
When English explorer Captain James Cook sailed into the settled waters of the Marlborough Sounds in the late 17th Century, he must have believed this was paradise. Join us for a modern day journey in Cook’s footsteps along the renowned 71km Queen Charlotte Track. Explore this vast network of drowned river valleys from the unique perspective of this well-formed track. Here lush coastal beech forest reaches out to greet lapping tides of ever-changing hues.
The Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds has rapidly become known as the finest and most diverse coastal track in New Zealand.
It is located at the top of the South Island, accessed by boat from Picton to its beginning at the scenic and historic reserve of Ship Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound. This is an area steeped in both Maori and European history. Today the stunning Marlborough Sounds are known as a maritime and eco-tour haven – popular all year round with sailors, hikers, trekkers, mountain bikers, adventure seekers and eco-tourists.
The Queen Charlotte Track is 71km long and most people walk the track over four days, although there is the ability to do any combination from one to five days. One of the advantages of this walk is the ability to catch a water taxi if on any given day you decide not to walk. The track is also popular with mountain bikers and certain sections are able to be biked all year round. Most sections of the track are wide and benched and all major streams have been bridged. Boots and a good level of fitness are recommended for this track. Running shoes or walking sandals can also be suitable during the height of summer. Just ask us about current track conditions and we’ll be happy to advise you!
Queen Charlotte Track options are also varied, to suit your particular level and taste. Guided walks are for those who want to combine their walking experience with the knowledge and security of a professional guide, great gourmet food and local wine, and top-notch track accommodation. Unguided track packages are for more independent hikers, who wish to walk the track independently but with certain elements like accommodation, water transport and daily lunches pre-arranged.
For further information on the walking packages available, please click on the links below
Wilderness Guides offer the most extensive range of guided walking and independent hiking packages to experience the Queen Charlotte Track – available here to book online today. Our boutique lodge guided walk was even rated as one of the 25 Best New Trips in the World 2008 by National Geographic Adventure Magazine!
As Queen Charlotte Track specialists, the tours featured on this website offer value for money, exceptional service and a commitment to the track environment. Both independent and guided walk options from one day to multi days are available depending on the style of experience you prefer.
As a general rule, if you would like an upmarket tour with an emphasis on gourmet food and wine with everything provided including interpretation on the area, then a guided walk is for you.
If you are more independent of spirit but would still like certain elements such as your accommodation, transport and daily lunch arranged, then the independent packages offer this. Or, perhaps you want a custom package designed – we can do that for you too!
We offer the following guided walk packages - click on these links for detailed itineraries
- One Day Guided Walk & Wildlife Tour
- Four Day Boutique Lodges Guided Walk
- Four Day Standard Guided Walk
- Four Day Standard Walk & Kayak
- Five Day Standard Guided Walk
We offer the following Independent self-guided walk packages - click on these links for detailed itineraries
- Standard Four Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
- Standard Five Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
- Boutique Lodges Five Day Independent self-guided Walking Package
Other Queen Charlotte track and Marlborough Sounds trip options
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!
- One Day Guided Kayak
- One Day Guided Kayak & Walk
- One Day Kayak & Mountain Bike
- Four Day Gourmet Walk & Kayak