Day 1 – Ship Cove to Furneaux Lodge, Endeavour Inlet
We collect you from your accommodation in Picton to join the water taxi to Ship Cove where your walk begins. This scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a site of significance for local Maori. Bush is mainly a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with ponga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage. This day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track. Your walk concludes at the historic Furneaux Lodge.
Day 2 – Endeavour Inlet to Punga Cove
Today’s coastal walk takes you from Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove through mostly regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other New Zealand native birds. From Furneaux Lodge, the track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Pause there to learn more about antimony & the mining industry that thrived there in the 1880s. Follow the main track onwards and into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits before working your way towards Camp Bay, only five minutes on from there is your accommodation for the evening at Punga Cove.
Day 3 –2 options:
- Punga Cove to Torea Saddle/Portage Bay (approx. 8 hours/24.5km)
It’s a challenging day walking on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle near Portage. Truly grand vistas abound round every corner – a wonderful reward indeed. You will be collected from Torea Bay at 4.30pm and return to Picton at 5.00pm approx.
- Take the morning water taxi transfer from Punga Cove to Picton
The water taxi will come and pick you up at approx. 10.00am or 11:30am (This time table is valid is from October through to April - return time to Picton 11.30am or 13:00) or pick-up at 11.00 (Winter timetable - return time to Picton around 12.30pm). Cruise around the bays and make your way to Picton, arriving there early afternoon.
