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Guided walking & holiday packages
Touring: France, Vietnam, & Bhutan

About the Marlborough Sounds and the Queen Charlotte Track
The Marlborough Sounds encompass 20% of New Zealand's total coastline. This convoluted maze of waterways consists of three Sounds, namely the Queen Charlotte Sound, the Keneperu Sound and the Pelorus Sound. Within the area are pristine native forest ranging from towering 800 year old rimu trees, lush ponga tree ferns and beautiful native orchids, all plunging down to the shoreline. The myriad of bays, coves and inlets are perfect for exploring by sea kayak.

The Queen Charlotte Sound is the most well known of the three Sounds, and is dominated by bush-clad shorelines, deep bays and coves. The Kenepuru Sound is the smallest of the three Sounds. The Pelorus Sound has expansive waterways, with some exposed areas. Whilst Tennyson Inlet and Nydia Bay are two particularly beautiful areas, the rest of the sound does have a predominance of farmland and forestry.

Stretching from Ship Cove to Anakiwa, this 71 km track will wrap you in the mystical beauty that is the Marlborough Sounds, and totally absorb you for five magical days. The Queen Charlotte Track, located at the top of the South Island in the Marlborough Sounds is unique for its stunning coastal views, historical landmarks and wonderful variety of native bush and wildlife. This walk is as much about a walking holiday as it is an environmental, cultural and lifestyle experience. The unique aspects of this track are also the variety of accommodation available along the track and the water transport services which allow your luggage to be transferred each day, while you enjoy the track itself.

Over five days, we cover a maximum of 71 kilometres of well maintained walking track from Ship Cove to Anakiwa. The track is walked at a comfortable pace and we only need carry a light day pack as our luggage is transported on to each accommodation. You will need to have an average to above-average level of fitness and in good health, to enjoy this walking itinerary.
The Queen Charlotte Track is a long track, not a steep track. This means that the distances walked each day (particularly on days 4 and 6), are challenging. The terrain is regarded as undulating with hills ranging from sea level to a maximum of 400 metres. The track covers a variety of gradients with some rough surfaces, hence the need for strong comfortable footwear.

A short walk in New Zealand
Dates and costs
2-12 March 2009
$2720 per person twin share, $3320 single, commencing in Wellington and finishing in Christchurch, New Zealand

Best Travels, 82 Bellevue Street, CAMMERAY, NSW 2062
tel (61+) 2 9929 9391 besttravels@ozemail.com.au