Queen Charlotte Track facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Queen Charlotte Track |
|
|---|---|
Te Mahia Bay, a typical view from Queen Charlotte Track
|
|
| Length | 71 km (44 mi) |
| Location | Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand |
| Designation | Walking Track and "Great Rides" Cycle Trail |
| Trailheads | Ship Cove, Anakiwa |
| Use | Tramping, Cycling |
| Highest point | Ridgeline near Bay of Many Coves 470 m (1,540 ft) |
| Lowest point | 0 m (0 ft) |
| Difficulty | Easy (walking), Grade 3–4 (Mountain biking) |
| Season | All year |
| Sights | Sounds, sandy beaches, lush coastal native bush |
| Hazards | None |
| Surface | Dirt |
| Website | Department of Conservation and Queen Charlotte Track Inc |
The Queen Charlotte Track is a famous walking and biking trail in New Zealand. It's about 71 kilometers (44 miles) long. This amazing track stretches through the beautiful Marlborough Sounds region, connecting Queen Charlotte Sound and Kenepuru Sound. The track starts at Ship Cove in the north and finishes at Anakiwa in the south.
For most of its path, the track goes through native bush. It follows the top of hills between the sounds, giving you awesome views of the water on both sides. Since early 2013, the Queen Charlotte Track has also been part of the New Zealand Cycle Trail. This means mountain bikers can enjoy it too!
Contents
Exploring the Queen Charlotte Track
The Queen Charlotte Track is looked after by the New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). It's a well-made path that's easy to follow. This track is one of the most popular places for tramping (which is like hiking) in New Zealand. It's also open for mountain biking for most of the year.
Walking and Biking the Track
The walking path is mostly made of clay soil. There are bridges over all the main streams. The track goes from sea level all the way up to 470 meters (about 1,540 feet) high. It's not a super difficult track, but it is quite long. For example, one section between Camp Bay and Torea Saddle is over 23 kilometers (14 miles) long!
You can walk the entire track in 3 to 5 days. If you're on a bike, it usually takes about 13 hours, which most people split over two days. The Queen Charlotte Track is also great for shorter day trips. You can get onto the track from several road access points like Camp Bay, Torea Saddle, Te Mahia Saddle, and Anakiwa. You can also get there by boat from places like Ship Cove, Resolution Bay, Endeavour Inlet, and others. Boat transport is available from and to Picton.
Staying on the Track
As you travel along the Queen Charlotte Track, you'll find several campsites run by the Department of Conservation. There are also private places to stay, as some parts of the track cross private land. You can also take side paths to cool spots like the Bay of Many Coves and Lochmara Bay.
If you are an adult walking or biking on certain private land sections, you need a special pass. This pass is called a Queen Charlotte Track Land Cooperative (Q.C.T.L.C.) Pass. It helps pay for keeping the track in good shape and making sure everyone can use it.
Where is the Track?
The Queen Charlotte Track is located in the Marlborough Sounds region of New Zealand. It connects several bays and inlets. Here are some of the key points along the track:
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Ship Cove |41°05′41″S 174°14′04″E / 41.0946°S 174.2345°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Resolution Bay |41°06′53″S 174°13′04″E / 41.1148°S 174.2178°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Endeavour Inlet |41°06′09″S 174°11′03″E / 41.1025°S 174.1842°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Camp Bay/Kenepuru Saddle |41°07′47″S 174°08′33″E / 41.1296°S 174.1426°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Torea Saddle/Portage Bay |41°12′19″S 174°01′58″E / 41.2053°S 174.0328°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Mistletoe Bay/Te Mahia Saddle |41°13′11″S 173°58′16″E / 41.2196°S 173.971°E |class="note"|
|- class="vcard" |class="fn org"|Anakiwa |41°15′52″S 173°55′22″E / 41.2644°S 173.9227°E |class="note"|
See also
In Spanish: Senda Queen Charlotte para niños
