Blenheim i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Queen Charlotte Track
The Queen Charlotte Track (71km; 3–5 days) takes in beautiful scenery on the stretch of land between Kenepuru and Queen Charlotte Sounds. Although the trail can be hiked in either direction, most people start at Ship Cove (where Captain James Cook took shelter between 1770 and 1777) and walk back toward Anakiwa near Picton.
The Queen Charlotte Track is also popular with mountain bikers, except in summer (Dec–Feb) when bikes are not permitted. It takes around 13 hours to ride the length of the track.
Ship Cove to Resolution Bay (4.5km; 2 hours)
The track begins at Ship Cove, a one hour boat ride from Picton. Captain James Cook took shelter here on five separate occasions between 1770 and 1777. There is an historic reserve here that features Cook’s Monument.
From Ship Cove, the track climbs through native bush to a lookout that offers breathtaking views to Mount Egmont (Taranaki) in the North Island and then descends to Resolution Bay where there are cabins and a campsite.
Resolution Bay to Endeavour Inlet (10.5km; 3 hours)
The track from Resolution Bay follows an old bridle path to Endeavour Inlet where there are a couple of accommodation options, but no campsite.
Endeavour Inlet to Camp Bay (11.5km; 4 hours)
From Endeavour Inlet, the track follows the shoreline to Camp Bay where there is a DOC campsite and backpackers’ accommodation at Mahana Homestead Lodge and the Punga Cove Resort.
Camp Bay to Torea Saddle (20.5km; 8 hours)
This is the hardest part of the track, but you are rewarded by breathtaking views of the sounds from the ridge-top walk. Although there are a couple of campsites on this section, many people hike it all in one day and stay in the small village of Portage, near Torea Saddle.
Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay (7.5km; 4 hours)
This section climbs out of Torea Saddle and follows the ridge along the highest points of the track offering more spectacular views. There is a DOC campsite at Mistletoe Bay.
Mistletoe Bay to Anakiwa (12.5km; 4 hours)
The final leg of the walk follows old bridle paths descending to a DOC campsite at Davies Bay (Umungata) before the final easy walk into Anakiwa. At Anakiwa there’s a backpackers’ hostel and a shelter with a toilet and payphone where you can wait for your transport back to Picton.
Nydia Track
The Nydia Track (27km; 2 days) connects Tennyson Inlet with Kaiuma Bay, near Havelock. It follows the shoreline of Nydia Bay and crosses the Kaiuma and Nydia Saddles.
The Pelorus Mail Boat offers transport packages with a bus or ferry drop off at Shag Point near the start of the track and pick up at Duncan Bay.
There is a DOC hut on the track; but most backpackers prefer to stay at the On The Track Lodge, on Nydia Bay about halfway along the track.
Havelock InterCity coach stop
Havelock is served by InterCity Coachlines route linking Nelson and Picton.
Coaches stop at the bus stop outside the Mussel Pot restaurant at 75 Main Road in the centre of Havelock.
Picton ferry terminal
The Picton ferry terminal handles Blue Bridge and Interislander ferries to Wellington.
The ferry terminal has quite good facilities including a cafe (open 8am–2pm daily), storage lockers, vending machines and Wi-Fi internet access (free in the Blue Bridge waiting area, but $2/hour in the Interislander waiting area). There is a complimentary shuttle bus that connects the ferry terminal with the Picton i-SITE information centre and Picton town centre (stopping outside Oxleys Tavern on the corner of Wellington Street and London Quay).
Most car rental agencies have their offices outside the ferry terminal and along nearby Auckland Street. InterCity coaches to Christchurch and Nelson also depart from outside the ferry terminal.
There are also water taxis that connect Picton with various spots in the Marlborough Sounds. Many backpackers use these to get to the Queen Charlotte Track and some of the more remote hostels in the Sounds.
Book Bluebridge ferry tickets here:
Picton railway station
Picton is the northern terminus of the South Island’s rail network and the terminus for the Coastal Pacific train that runs between Picton and Christchurch via Kaikoura.
Picton train station is on Auckland Street, across the road from the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre and just a 200m-walk from the Interislander ferry terminal.
Picton InterCity coach stop
InterCity coaches on the Picton–Nelson and Picton–Christchurch routes terminate at the bus and coach stop outside the entrance to the Picton Interislander Ferry Terminal, north of Picton’s town centre.
InterCity’s Picton–Nelson coach services also stop at the bus stop outside the i-SITE Visitor Information Centre.
Picton i-SITE Visitor Information Centre
Palmerston North railway station
The Northern Explorer train stops at Palmerston North railway station en route between Auckland and Wellington, which runs daily (except Wednesdays). The station is also the terminus for the Capital Connection rail service that runs between Palmerston North and Wellington Monday–Friday.
The train station is on Matthews Avenue, off Tremaine Avenue, around a half-hour walk northwest of the city centre.