Including bike, helmet, repair kit, and return water transport (no private land access pass required).
If you seek a thrilling challenge, then this is the ride for you! Beginning at the historic Ship Cove and including water transport to and from Picton, this challenging ride demands plenty as you climb over two 200m saddles, but offers many rewards of beautiful sea views and pristine native forest.
Duration: 9 hours, 4-6 hour ride time
Total Distance: 28.5km (17.5 miles)
Grade: 3-4 with loose rock, roots, and rutty single track.
Minimum number of persons: 1
Inclusions: Bike, helmet, repair kit & pump, and return water transport (no private land access pass required).
Please be aware the Queen Charlotte Track is a scenic but physically demanding and technical track for mountain bikes, recommended for experienced single-track riders. There are no sections rated for novice or beginner riders (grade 1-2).
You will encounter loose rock, tree roots and branch litter, along with rutty climbs and descents along the track. All but the most experienced riders will end up pushing at points, and after heavy rain the clay-based trail is very slippy with reduced traction and mud build up.
For novice riders we recommend walking; alternatively riding locally to Picton along the Picton Waikawa Track or sections of the Link Pathway.
28.5km - 4-6 Hours ride
Depart on either the 8am (summer) or 9am (winter) water taxi service to Ship Cove.
From Ship Cove, it's a challenging climb to the Ship Cove Platform to start your day. Here you will be rewarded for your efforts with wonderful views (on a good day) across Motuara Island and its small neighbor Hippa Island with the North Island often visible beyond. To the south you can see Resolution Bay below and beyond. Depart the Ship Cove platform and wind your way downwards into Resolution Bay. The next section descends into Resolution bay through regenerating forest, mainly Manuka and Kanuka.
The track then winds just above Resolution Bay Cabins and starts a gradual but steady ascent towards the Tawa Bay Saddle through mainly regenerating forest. The sight of seating as you pass through the saddle with a view to Endeavour Inlet and beyond is a welcome sight. Rest here to enjoy the vistas for a while and enjoy your lunch.
From Tawa saddle the trail is mainly down hill with views into Tawa Bay and, as you proceed, views towards the head of Endeavour Inlet. The latter stages of this section are through pristine New Zealand native forest with some wonderful examples of native beech trees through to fibrous kiekie climbers high in the tops of tall rimu trees. A small settlement called The Pines with houses nestled in the bush is passed along the way. Furneaux lodge offers a change for a coffee or a beer in their historic homestead on your way.
From Furneaux lodge the track continues through thick native forest before crossing the sole swing-bridge on the track, a wide sturdy structure. From the head of Endeavour Inlet the track is wide and undulating as it passes through flat farmland with lovely views down the inlet.
This section of the Queen Charlotte Track track follows the curve of the coastline with the water never far away and a pleasant time can be had enjoying the coastal views along the way. But care should be taken along some stretches particularly when damp as they can be very slippery.
As you turn the corner into Big Bay, a wide sweeping bay with a shallow tidal area at its head, the vegetation changes to more lush costal forest with some beautiful tracks of beech forest. Punga ferns are prolific in the damp gullies.
Camp Bay, with a pleasant beach nearby, is a popular Department of Conservation camping spot and marks about 5min to your final destination Punga Cove. Your water taxi pick-up is 3:30pm at Punga Cove so there is time to toast a fantastic day while you wait. Return to Picton by 5.00pm/5:30pm.
Now available all year round on any 8am service in Summer.
| Track Section | Distance | Approximate Times |
| From Ship Cove | 28.5km | approx 4-6 hours |
| From Resolution Bay | 22km | approx 4 hours |
0% Novice (Grade 2) - Suitable for a confident rider on roads or trails. Easier gradients, trail surfaces are mainly firm but may include muddy or loose rocks.
62% Intermediate (Grade 3) - Suitable for most experience cyclists with a good level of fitness. Trail surfaces are mainly firm but may include muddy or loose sections, and obstacles such as rocks or tree roots.
28% Advanced (Grade 4) - Suitable for fit, more experienced cyclists with good off-road and/or on-road skills. The trail surface includes firm and loose sections, with lots of rocks and tree roots.
10% Expert (Grade 5) - Suitable for experienced cyclists with excellent off-road skills and a high level of fitness. Challenging with long, steep climbs, precipitous descents and potentially dangerous drop-offs, as well as rocks, roots, and ruts to navigate.
Our team live, work and play in this fantastic region - your guides are local people. Call us on +64 3 5735432. Freephone (NZ only): 0800 266 266. Freephone (Aus only): 1800 281 827
