biking
Queen Charlotte Track
The Marlborough Sounds feature mind-blowing views of beautiful bays and inlets, sparkling turquoise waters, little private beaches and lush native forest. Combine this with awesome luxury accommodation and there’s no wonder that riding a mountain bike on the Queen Charlotte Track is becoming more popular every year.
The Marlborough Sounds feature mind-blowing views of beautiful bays and inlets, sparkling turquoise waters, little private beaches and lush native forest. Combine this with awesome luxury accommodation and there’s no wonder that riding a mountain bike on the Queen Charlotte Track is becoming more popular every year.
Activity in brief
- Distance:
- 71km
- Duration:
- 3 days
- Start - End:
- Ship Cove - Anakiwa
- Transport:
- Water Taxi
Terrain: A generally a wide and well maintained track. Can get muddy, especially in winter. Some steeper climbs and descents.
Accommodation: Private Lodges
Nearest Town: Picton
Activity Overview
The Queen Charlotte Track winds through 71Km of The South Island’s Marlborough Sounds: an amazing geographic feature made up of hundreds of waterways that were once river valleys, but have since been ‘drowned’ by rising sea levels. This is also an area steeped in history: the trail starts at Ship Cove where Captain Cook made his base in the South Pacific.
Between this beautiful coastline the hills and mountains climb steeply and feature a mixture of ancient rainforest, regenerating native bush and farmland with plenty of native birds for company. Keep an eye out for dolphins and seals in the water too!
The trail has a predominantly wide and smooth surface but some decent climbs and tricky descents make the whole ride best suited to reasonably fit cyclists with mountain biking experience. Lodge accommodations with comfortable ensuite rooms and great restaurants make each overnight stop a relaxing experience. We also arrange transportation, luggage transfers and bike hire if required.
"THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE RIDE WAS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME! THE WORK YOU DID FOR US MADE THE TASK OF GETTING READY FOR OUR HOLIDAY EASY! EVERYTHING DOVE TAILED REALLY WELL. THE MOUNTAIN BIKE RAIDING WAS FANTASTIC. THE WEATHER TURNED OUT PERFECT TOO SO ALL IN ALL JUST GREAT. THANK YOU" KATE, NZ
Itineraries
Personalised Itineraries
- You can choose to ride the trail in as many days as you wish, while water taxis allow for great flexibility, allowing you to ride in a way that suits you - starting or finishing in a place of your choosing or even missing out a section if you like.
- You can even do a combination of biking, hiking and kayaking different parts of the track and sound.
- We can also arrange extra accomodation in Picton for before and after your ride and return airport shuttles if required.
Contact us and we can help you with some great advice and also organise all the details for you.
Include the Queen Charlotte Track in your unique Multi-Activity Trip
You can combine this ride with any other activity on this website to create your own unique itinerary.
When you develop your own tailor-made itinerary with us, it's fully customised with your choice of activities, accommodation and transport around New Zealand - Click here for more information about Multi-Activity Trips or Enquire Now to get started.
BOOK this trip online now...
Three Day Ride
- Accommodation in luxury lodges on trail included.
- Water taxi transportation to and from start/end of the track included.
- Pack lunches for days 2-3 included.
- Luggage transfers included.
- QCTLC private land access pass included.
- Mountain Bike hire available.
- Return shuttles from Blenheim Airport to Picton available.
Day One: Ship Cove to Punga Cove Resort (27km). Your first day starts in the morning with a water taxi ride out to historic Ship Cove. The trail starts off quite steeply and winds through a mixture of stunning old-growth podocarp and beech forest. Pass through Resolution Bay then on to Endeavour Inlet where the historic Furneaux Lodge is a great place to stop for lunch. The final undulating coastal section of the trail delivers you to Punga Cove Resort for your first night's stop.
Day Two: Punga Cove to Portage Resort (25km). Day two starts with a grunty climb up on to a ridge but your hard work will be rewarded with truly spectacular views of the Marlborough Sounds on both sides. At the end of the day you descend from Torea Saddle to the Portage Resort and your second night on the trail.
Day Three: Portage to Anakiwa (20km). The final day on the trail takes you to the end of the Sound at Anakiwa . This is a lovely ride through mature native bush, with some superb cruisey downhill sections. The water sparkling through the trees below you, is a fitting finale to this wonderful bike trip. You will be returned by boat from the Anakiwa Jetty to Picton, arriving back by late afternoon.
Pricing: Three Day Ride
From NZD$760 per adult and from NZD$430 per child (15 years or younger). Includes all accommodation, pack lunches, water taxi transportation to and from start/end of the track, luggage transfers and QCTLC private land access pass.
Three Days Standard Mountain Bike Hire: From NZD$150 per person.
Three Days E-Bike Hire: From NZD$375 per person.
Book NowActivity Planning
When to go
The climate in this part of the South Island is generally one of the sunniest in the country, although bad weather and especially strong winds can pop up at any time of year.
What to bring
Bike - Good quality mountain bike or e-bike with suspension and knobbly tires, helmet, pump, tools and spares.
Light waterproof hiking shoes or biking shoes
Gloves
Light waterproof jacket
Lots of warm clothes
Bidon (Water bottle)
Sunscreen
Insect repellant
First-aid kit
Torch
Communication device
Accommodation
Accommodation on the trail
Punga Cove Resort
Punga Cove has the most incredible setting amongst native forest and overlooking a lovely bay. Its the perfect get-away-from-it-all location. Ensuite accommodation is found dotted among the bush and has been recently renovated. The restaurant is one of the best in the sounds and there's also a more informal wharf-side bar - great for toasting the end of your day!
Portage Resort
The Portage Hotel is beautifully located over-looking the Kenepuru Sound. There's a great bar and restaurant to relax at the end of the day, a pool and well appointed, ensuite accommodation in chalets.
Accommodation in Marlborough
We can organise your accommodation in the wider Marlborough region for before and after your ride if you wish. Please let us know what sort of accommodation you are looking for when you make your booking for this activity, and we can discuss the options with you.
Transportation
BLENHEIM AIRPORT TRANSFERS
We can arrange return on demand transportation for you between Blenheim Airport and Picton - please contact us for more information.
Three Day Ride - Water Taxi
After a morning briefing in Picton you board a fast and safe launch for a gorgeous hour long cruise along Queen Charlotte Sound up to the start of the trail at Ship Cove. On Day 3 you are returned to Picton again by boat from the main finish point at Anakiwa. Bike transport on the boats is included.
Also if you're out on the track, and decide you've had enough, then you can be picked up by water taxi at various points, so there is always an escape route! We can sort this out for you at any time you wish.
Personalised Itineraries - Water Taxi
For a truly personalised ride you can get boat transfers to skip various sections of the track if you wish, or finish the trail early. We can advise you on your best options when you make your booking.
Route Map
For more information about us or our services contact us on
+ 64 3 390 1584
or email us at [email protected]
Enquire Now North Island Biking
Biking trails in the North Island area.
South Island Biking
Biking trails in the South Island area.
Most Popular Biking
These trails are popular for a reason: well maintained, easily accessible, great accommodation options and mind blowing scenery too! However, this does mean that they will get very busy in the peak season and accommodation gets booked up months in advance. Take the hassle out of your adventure and allow us to organise it all for you.
Family Friendly Biking
If you are keen to go on a multi-day biking adventure, and want your younger children to share the experience, then we can find the best option for you. The trails here are mostly flat with wide, smooth surfaces. There are plenty of townships along the route where you can stop for a break and refreshment and there are opportunities to skip various sections too, if required. Luggage transportation and a variety of accommodation options are also available to make things easy.
Secluded Biking
These amazing rides get you out into some incredible unpeopled wilderness, where you will find tranquillity and excitement in equal measure. We can help you find your perfect bit of solitude, and organise all the details for you too.