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A beautiful forested trail with views of the Queen Charlottte Sound.


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Map Key

7.5

Miles

12.1

KM

89%

Runnable

688' 210 m

High

6' 2 m

Low

1,286' 392 m

Up

980' 299 m

Down

6%

Avg Grade (3°)

17%

Max Grade (10°)

Dogs No Dogs

Features Commonly Backpacked · Views

A trail pass sold by QCTLC is needed to run this trail. It can be purchased at many places, including at the Anakiwa trailhead. In 2017, a single day trail pass cost $10, and a five day trail pass cost $18. The Queen Charlotte Track passes through both public and private land. The trail pass helps fund maintenance, enhancement, and access to this beautiful, well-maintained track.

Description

This is the first section of the Queen Charlotte Track when running it from Anakiwa to Ship Cove. It can be navigated in either direction. The Queen Charlotte Track from Anakiwa to Mistletoe Bay runs through a dense, lush fern forest. Much of this section is close to the shoreline with spectacular views of Queen Charlotte Sound, its coves, bays, and islands.

From Anakiwa, the Queen Charlotte Track immediately enters the dense forest along the shoreline. Although the forest is dense, there are great views of the sound and islands because the track is so close to the shoreline. Over the first 1.6 miles, the trail climbs slightly from sea level and then returns to sea level, at Davies Bay (also shown as Umungata Bay on maps), 1.6 miles from the Anakiwa trailhead.

At Davies Bay, there are campsites and a toilet. Davies Bay has a beautiful small beach too. This is a good place for a snack/lunch break.

After Davies Bay, the trail begins to climb gradually, staying close to the shoreline in the dense forest for about a mile. As the trail climbs, the views across Queen Charlotte Sound get more expansive and spectacular. About 2.6 miles from the Anakiwa trailhead, the trail starts to move inland from the shoreline, as it continues to climb gradually for another 1.7 miles, to its high point for this section. Although the trail is never far from the shoreline, views of the sound become less frequent due to the dense vegetation.

After the trail reaches its high point (for this section) about 4.3 miles from the Anakiwa trailhead, it descends very gradually, with some flat stretches as it goes to Mistletoe Bay. Although the trail descends, it remains high above the water. This stretch of the trail is also slightly inland from the shoreline, so views of the bays and coves depend on breaks in the vegetation. Mistletoe Bay is reached about 7.5 miles from the Anakiwa trailhead.

Flora & Fauna

Lush fern forest.

Contacts

Shared By:

Joan Pendleton

Trail Ratings

  5.0 from 2 votes

#1

in Picton

#1387

Overall
  5.0 from 2 votes
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Trail Rankings

#1

in Picton

#17

in New Zealand

#1,387

Overall
3 Views Last Month
943 Since May 14, 2017
Intermediate Intermediate

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Photos

Enjoy great views looking down Queen Charlotte Sound toward Anakiwa from the Queen Charlotte Track.
May 14, 2017 near Picton, NZ
You'll have a pleasant view looking down on Dave's Bay from the Queen Charlotte Track.
May 14, 2017 near Picton, NZ
Ferns abound in the dense vegetation of the Queen Charlotte Track.
May 14, 2017 near Picton, NZ
There's a nice beach at Dave's Bay, a campground on the Queen Charlotte Track.
May 14, 2017 near Picton, NZ
Boats can be seen moored offshore in Queen Charlotte Sound from the Queen Charlotte Track.
May 14, 2017 near Picton, NZ

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