FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)No, dogs and other domestic animals are prohibited. They are too disruptive of wildlife. All native birds and flora are protected. Should I hike the Abel Tasman instead? No. The AT is great but very different than the Charlotte. Do the Queen Charlotte Track if you want something less crowded and more remote than the Abel Tasman. Is there a less touristed alternative? The Captain Cook Trail sounds interesting. It is a newer (opened 1994) private hiking Track heading away from Picton out of Ship Cove — the opposite direction of the Queen Charlotte trampers. Cost in 2002 was NZ $230 for 3 days, 2 nights all inclusive out of Picton. It is a fair bit more expensive than the usual backpacker route on the usual Charlotte Track. We have not yet done the Cook Trail, but you can check it out on their website. The Queen Charlotte Track is open year round. Astoundingly, this is quite a dry part of New Zealand enjoying a lot of sunshine. Summer is lovely but crowded & prices go up. Perhaps best would be the Kiwi Spring (Sept, Oct, Nov) or Fall (March, April, May). Some services will not be open, of course, except during summer. Should I tramp in the opposite direction? No. We do not recommend it.
It can be a good idea for a day hike, however. How many days are needed to hike the Charlotte? If you want to do the whole Track, we would recommend no fewer than the standard 3 nights; roughly 80km over 4 days walking. If you do not have that much time, tramp just part of the Track. There are dozens of good alternatives. No booking is necessary except for accommodation. You can simply arrive in Picton and decide then and there depending on the weather and how much time you want to spend. Yes, if you have only 1 day, a popular option is
Depart Picton around 10am, return about 4:30pm. Alternately, you could sleep at Mistletoe Bay, a lovely spot, and return to Picton in the morning. What guidebooks do you recommend?
Where else can I get up-to-date information?
We found the Picton Visitor Centre (close to the Ferry terminal) very helpful. They provide objective, up-to-date information comparing options for accommodation & transportation. It was all the help we needed in Picton. There are surprisingly few useful websites. We’ve linked to them throughout & highlighted some under Links. |
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