Marlborough Journals

Queen Charlotte Walk

An October 1999 trip to Marlborough by Quan

Quote: A must in New Zealand is walking one of its tracks, famous or not so famous. Being in New Zealand mainly for business, I did not have the three or four days to spend walking, but even with very little time, you can still walk.

Queen Charlotte Walk

Overview

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Queen Charlotte Walk is less well known, and therefore less crowded than many of the other more famous tracks in New Zealand. Nevertheless, it has stretches that can be challenging, though it is billed as suitable for all ages. From what I hear, it is probably one of those that you can take the whole family on.

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From Ship Cove to Resolution Bay

Attraction

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Queen Charlotte Walk was an unexpected pleasure. We came to Queen Charlotte almost by accident, as we did not want to spend the weekend in Wellington, having already spent more than a week there. Someone told us that the Queen Charlotte Walk was easy, the way there through the ferry beautiful, and the view from Queen Charlotte worth seeking out. So off we went. Once in Picton, the access route to Queen Charlotte Walk, we discovered that the whole walk is actually a three to four-day journey, but that you can do the walk in sections. The starting point for many of the three to four-day walk is Ship Cove, so on that particular day about 5 couples disembarked and walked the hill up to ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on January 3, 2001

From Ship Cove to Resolution Bay
Queen Charlotte Walk
Marlborough, New Zealand

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Getting to and from the Queen Charlotte Track

Story/Tip

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Even getting to the Queen Charlotte Walk and back is an adventure in itself. I don't know of anywhere else where the only way to get to the start of a hiking trail is through a boat. Essentially, for those of you who want to hike only sections of the Queen Charlotte Wal, you would determine the starting point for your hike, then book a ride on a boat that would take you there. The skipper then asks where you want to be picked up, and based on the estimated walking time, tells you where and when he will come to pick you up. The trick of course is that you better be punctual, or the boat will leave without you. The problem of course is that unless you get to the starting trail very early, and other...Read More

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More practical information on Queen Charlotte Track

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For those of you interested in tracking New Zealand, but are put off by the crowded Abel Tasman Park Track, or the difficult to get into Milford Sound Track should definitely try this one. The Queen Charlotte Track is officially called a walk, and supposedly it is suitable for people of all ages and all fitness level. That may be true and fine, but having gone through Queen Charlotte, I have a warning. New Zealanders are such outdoors people that their definition of walk is really our definition of a good hike, and their assessment of how long it takes to cover a distance should be taken with a grain of salt, especially by those who are taking the shorter 1-2 hours walk. Build in some extra time, ...Read More

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Is it really a walk?

Story/Tip

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Is Queen Charlotte Walk a walk, a hike, or a military boot camp? New Zealanders must have considered Queen Charlotte a stroll, for nowhere in any brochure or any tour book was there a warning that a little bit of work is required. Of course, the fact that the top of the walk is 1100 feet high should have served as a warning, seeing as we started at water level when the boat dock into the entrance to Ship Cove. Anyway, the trails are real good climbs, and at one point, I was so tired that I just had to yell at the top of my lungs, to relieve some frustration. That said, I really enjoyed the absolute gorgeous scenery, and well, my sense of accomplishment when we actually completed the walk. ...Read More

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Taking the InterIslander

Story/Tip

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Getting to Queen Charlotte Walk from Wellington is half the fun. Queen Charlotte is located in convoluted Marlborough Sounds, with numerous coves, bays, and islands that offer up an interesting vista, as well as protected areas where many can kayak. We took the interisland ferry from Wellington, which takes about 3 hours, and is totally worthwhile. As you set out on the interislander ferry, be sure to stand at the rear of the ferry to admire the Wellington skyline. Once on open water, the passage is a bit ordinary, until you get to Marlborough Sounds. The many islands and bays of Marlborough requires that the ferry weaves in and out, while the fog and mist mean that once in a while, sud...Read More