The Queen Charlotte Track is a popular tramping and cycle track setup in the early 80s following the route Captain Cook would take from Ships Cove.
You can walk the whole track over four days. On our time budget, we went for a one day stretch, which involved a boat to the start point of Furneaux Lodge, and back from the end point of Punga Cove (yes Mark, it sounds like Byker Grove!)
James Cook named the Queen Charlotte Sound for the wife of British ruler George III, in 1770.
A sound is a valley that is then flooded for some reason. In this case, it was the sea level rising at the end of the ice age. Interestingly, Milford and Doubtful are actually fjords, not sounds.
First, a stop at Motuara island to pick up some people. The island was the first island to be rewilded.
When the Europeans moved into the area, they used it for farming, removing much of the natural plants and trees. They are now going through a period of rewilding by removal of the poisonous pines and animals that had been imported that were killing the native birds, namely stoats, rats, ferrets and possums. Firstly, on islands that can be easily isolated. Once the bird populations have increased, they can then be reintroduced to other areas of the country.
We then stopped at Ships Cove. This was the first place Captain Cook stopped in New Zealand, and he liked it so much that he ended up staying 270 days over 5 visits. This area had not been farmed, so you could see what the natural planting was.
A quick stop at Resolution Bay to drop some other walkers and feed the blue cod. Apparently, they, and indeed many other fish, change from female to male to get the right mix.
Finally our stop and we are off tramping!
Made it!
A very nice meal at Escape to Picton for our reward, with a very nice Marlborough to help it down. The baked avocado with soft blue cheese and caramelised onion was the winner though.
Heather and Mark's travel blog 