Private Guided Hike on Queen Charlotte Track
The one day guided walk is an opportunity to learn about the interesting history, flora and fauna of the Marlborough Sounds. Departing from your accommodation, we travel for an hour up the Queen Charlotte Sound to Ship Cove, the official start of the Queen Charlotte Track. Ship Cove is one of the most historic areas in the Sounds as it was one of James Cook's most popular destinations on his many world travels. The area is surrounded by bountiful virgin bush and the walk to the top of the ridge provides spectacular views. In the damper gullies mixed vegetation of subtropical rain forest is found and on the drier spurs, South Island beech forest. At the top of this steep section is a viewing platform. From here looking south one can see the snow-capped peaks of the Kaikoura Range and looking north, Kapiti Island and the coast north of Wellington. The gentle climb out of Resolution Bay takes you to the saddle overlooking Tawa Bay in Endeavour Inlet - named after one of James Cook ships. Tawa Bay was so named because local Maori gathered berries from the Tawa trees in this area. Tawa berries were used for colds and stomach pains. The Track then leads down towards the head of Endeavour Inlet, past the small settlement of The Pines and on to Furneaux Lodge. At Furneaux Lodge a Water Taxi will meet you for the return journey back to your accommodation.