This itinerary truly showcases the beautiful and stunning Marlborough Sounds and the Queen Charlotte Track. A fantastic South Island walking & hiking tour, the four day guided walk is packaged with boutique accommodation to ensure you enjoy the comforts at the end of the day. You will also have the chance to sample Marlborough’s award winning wines and fresh seafood.
Highlights: Queen Charlotte Four Day Guided Walk with Marlborough Wine and Cruise Trip.
Kia Ora and welcome to Blenheim, Marlborough’s main town.
On your arrival, you will be transferred through to Picton. Enjoy the afternoon relaxing before your pre-track briefing tonight.
Accommodation:
Escape to Picton, Sea Room with Breakfast
Located in Picton by the town’s waterfront, Escape to Picton is a boutique hotel offering a fantastic inhouse restaurant and bar. The Sea room is decorated in creamy blue tones with a queen-sized bed taking centre place on the beautiful polished floor.
Picton Harbour
Today’s approximate walking times: 14kms (8.7 miles), 5 hours
The Queen Charlotte Track is known as the finest and most diverse coastal track in New Zealand. This boutique walk enjoys the comforts of exclusive lodgings during your walk along with travelling in a small group that offers more interaction with both guide and fellow walkers.
Meet your guide this morning and cruise to Motuara Island for a short walk of the Island’s Bird Sanctuary. Enjoy spectacular 360 degree views of the Marlborough Sounds and New Zealand’s endangered bird species from the lookout. Continue to Ship Cove, this scenic and historic reserve was a favourite anchorage for Captain Cook during his explorations in the 1770s as well as being a significant site for local Maori. Walk through a mixture of stunning podocarp and beech forest with punga ferns and other New Zealand native foliage.
Lunch and dinner are included.
Accommodation:
No Road End
Nestled under Mount Furneaux and at the head of Endeavour inlet, No Road Inn is the perfect place for you to spend the first night of your Queen Charlotte Track walk, offering quality accommodation, a superb wine list, and mouth-watering cuisine.
Queen Charlotte Track
No Road Inn, Marlborough Sounds
Today’s approximate walking times: 11.7kms (7.3 miles), 4 hours
Today’s coastal walk takes you through regenerating native bush to the call of bellbirds, fantails and other native birds. The track continues through native bush and over a small swing bridge to the head of Endeavour Inlet. Learn more about antimony and the mining industry that thrived here in the 1880s and follow the track into Big Bay where pristine native beech forest awaits. Continue Camp Bay and Punga Cove.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Accommodation:
Mahana Lodge
Your hosts John and Ann have shaped Mahana into an oasis for the weary with its delightfully restored historic homestead and purpose built hiker lodge with four ensuite rooms and shared guest lounge. Visit John’s extensive organic vegetable garden, enjoy free range eggs and dine this evening on the deck, soaking up the beautiful views whilst enjoying a delicious home cooked meal.
Queen Charlotte Track, Marlborough Sounds.
Mahana Lodge, Marlborough Sounds
Today’s approximate walking times: 23.6km’s (14.6 miles), 8 hours
Return to the ridgeline and continue your hike along the Queen Charlotte Track. A challenging but rewarding day on the ridgeline between Punga Cove & Torea Saddle. Enjoy stunning views around every corner, stare in awe at the sunken river valleys of the Marlborough Sounds from the iconic Eatwell’s Lookout. At different times, you will see both the Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds – this truly is a spectacular section of the track.
Conclude your walk at Portage Bay and enjoy a water taxi to Raetihi Lodge.
Note, those who feel like a day’s rest today can opt for a boat ride around the bays’ of the Queen Charlotte Sound and transfer across Kenepuru Sound to Raetihi Lodge. (additional cost)
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included.
Accommodation:
Raetihi Lodge
Since the 1930s, Raetihi Lodge has built a reputation as one of the most popular destinations in the Marlborough Sounds. Extensively rebuilt, accommodation and facilities are rated 4 star with luxury and comfort amidst the serenity and nature of the Marlborough Sounds.
Waterfall, Queen Charlotte Track
Raetihi Lodge, Marlborough Sounds
Today’s approximate walking times: 20.5km’s (12.7 miles), 7 hours
Board your water taxi and transfer across the bay to Portage and ascend to the ridgeline once again. Take in the stunning views back towards Picton as well as into the turquoise waters of the Kenepuru Sound. Then, open farmland and a grand native bush section to finish is a fitting finale of your walk. From the Anakiwa Jetty, your cruise back to Picton by water taxi.
Breakfast, lunch are included.
Accommodation:
Escape to Picton, Sea Room with Breakfast
Located in Picton by the town’s waterfront, Escape to Picton is a boutique hotel offering a fantastic inhouse restaurant and bar. The Sea room is decorated in creamy blue tones with a queen-sized bed taking centre place on the beautiful polished floor.
Marlborough Sounds
Finish your Marlborough Experience with the Full Day Wine & Cruise Tour. Enjoy a Marlborough wine tour this morning, followed by a delicious waterfront lunch (own expense) and a relaxing seafood cruise in the afternoon. As you cruise in the stunning Marlborough Sounds, enjoy fresh local seafood and Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.
Accommodation:
Marlborough Vintners Hotel, Vineyard Room with Two Course Dinner and Continental Breakfast
Set amongst the tranquil vineyards of Marlborough, Marlborough Vintners Hotel offers breath-taking views over the vineyards and gardens from the comfort of your spacious suite.
Marlborough Sounds Cruise
Your New Zealand Walking Itinerary concludes today with a private transfer to Blenheim Airport.
Connect with your onwards flight (flight not included).
Marlborough Vineyard
New Zealand Walking Tour
Booking Terms & Conditions:
Currency
All pricing is in New Zealand Dollars and includes 15% GST (Goods & Services Tax).
Pricing
Pricing is subject to availability and confirmation of the stated itinerary at time of booking. If we are unable to confirm the stated hotels and services, we will endeavour to confirm substitutes at similar rates, however additional costs may apply.
Rental Car Terms & Conditions:
Inclusions: unlimited kilometres, airport/ferry collection fee, full insurance (subject to reduced excess), front windscreen cover, personal accident insurance, guaranteed replacement vehicle in case of accident.
Exclusions: insurance excess reduction of $345.00 including GST (note, standard insurance excess is $3,450.00 including GST), bond, petrol costs, one way fee ($57.50), optional extras, (all additional expenses to be paid direct)
Payment Policy
We do require a non-refundable deposit of NZD$250.00 per person before we go ahead with securing any reservations.
In addition, some of our suppliers may require further deposits to cover their strict cancellation policies, in this case we would advise you at the time of quoting and confirming your itinerary.
The balance of your booking would be required 45 days prior to your travel date. If you book inside 45 days, full payment would be required at time of booking.
Payment can be made by electronic wire transfer and should include the additional NZD $25.00 bank fee. We also accept Visa and Mastercard at an additional fee of 3.1%.
Bank Account Details
Bank Name & Address: Westpac Bank, Mid City Queen Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Account Name: Inspired New Zealand Travel
BSB Number: 03-0296
Account Number: 0011146-000
Swift/Routing Code: WPACNZ2W
Amendments
We are happy to amend your itinerary and dates, however please keep in mind that some of the original services may not be available for your new dates, which may incur additional costs for substituted services. Amendment fees may apply with multiple changes.
Cancellation Fees
Once Confirmed Non-refundable Deposit of NZD $250.00 per person
Inside 45 – 21 Days A Cancellation fee of 30% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 20 – 8 days A Cancellation fee of 50% of your total booking value will apply, along with any cancellation fees applied by our accommodation, sightseeing and other providers.
Inside 7 Days Full Cancellations, 100% charge
We will however do our very best to recover and minimise these cancellation fees but recommend that you purchase Travel Insurance to cover yourself.
