• Section 5: Queen Charlotte Track

    7. januar, New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Dr Te Araroa uf dr südinsle startet mitem wunderschöne Queen Charlotte Track ide Marlborough Sounds - eine vode Great Hikes of New Zealand! 75km innerhalb vo 4 täg vo Ship Cove bis Anakiwa.

    Bi wunderschönem wätter hani am morge vom 7. Jan s wassertaxi vo Picton zu Ship Cove gno. Unterwägs hämer sogar no e delfin und robbe gseh! Ship cove het au e historischi bedütig. Dört het dr capitain cook einigi zit verbrocht, zum sich vo dr lange pazifikreis erhole und s umligende neuseeland z erkunde. Dr ersti wandertag isch denn 17km, mit zwei steile ufstiig bis zum Endeaver Inlet gange. Dört hani im "Eco Camp" zältlet und ha no znacht buecht wo dr camp host gkocht het - es 5 gang menü mit früschem fisch! D abentür si aber no witergange: nachem ässe simer mit drei anderne wanderer go glüehwürmli sueche und go biolumineszierends plankton im meer luege.

    Am nöchste tag hani mi spontan umentschide und dasi e churze wandertag mach und idr nöchste bucht, statt ufem zältplatz obe ufem bärg zältle. Das gitmer d möglichkeit dr nomitag am strand zverbringe (Punga Cove) und bitzli zit zha mit dr Hawaiki (e neui fründin vo Frankriich/Tahiti). A dere bucht hets sogar e bar gha womer hei chöne go aperol spritz drinke. Usserdäm hämer chöne mit stachelroche bade! Die hämer zwar bitz angst gmacht, aber schiins mache si nüd.

    Wägem churze zweite tag, isch drfür dr 3. Tag e lange gsi: 25km miteme lange astiig am afang. I hami aber fit gfühlt und es isch e churzwilige, sunnige tag gsi mit schöne ussichte. E teil bini miteme dütsche TA walker gluffe (mit de gliche schueh wie ich!). Au die nöchsti nacht isch anere bucht gsi (cowshed bay), was widr e schwumm im meer und e glas wii idr lodge näbdra ermöglicht het.

    Dr letschti wandertag isch widr e lange gsi - 20km bis uf Anakiwa. E grosse teil isch übere grat gange. Was widr e steile ufstiig am afang mitsich brocht het und denn nacher schöni ussicht bis picton und de bärge idr marlborough region. In Anakiwa het denn e duschi und e richtigs bett uf mi gwartet.

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    The Te Araroa on the South Island begins with the stunning Queen Charlotte Track in the Marlborough Sounds — one of New Zealand’s Great Hikes. It covers 75 km over four days, from Ship Cove to Anakiwa.

    In beautiful weather, I took the water taxi from Picton to Ship Cove on the morning of January 7. On the way, we even spotted a dolphin and a seal! Ship Cove also has historical significance: Captain Cook spent time here to recover from his long Pacific voyages and to explore the surrounding parts of New Zealand. The first hiking day covered 17 km, including two steep climbs, and ended at Endeavour Inlet. I camped at the Eco Camp there and booked dinner, which the camp host cooked — a five-course meal with fresh fish! But the adventures didn’t stop there: after dinner, four of us went searching for glowworms and watched bioluminescent plankton light up the sea.

    On the second day, I made a spontaneous decision to keep the hike short and camp in the next bay instead of staying at a campsite up on the ridge. That gave me the chance to spend the afternoon at the beach at Punga Cove and enjoy some time with Hawaiki, a new friend from France/Tahiti. There was even a bar at the bay where we treated ourselves to Aperol Spritz. We also went swimming with stingrays! They looked a bit intimidating, but apparently they’re harmless.

    Because the second day was short, the third day turned into a long one: 25 km with a lengthy climb right at the start. I felt fit, though, and it turned into an enjoyable, sunny day with beautiful views. I walked part of the way with a German TA hiker — wearing the exact same shoes as me! That night was spent at another bay, Cowshed Bay, which meant yet another swim in the sea and a glass of wine at the nearby lodge.

    The final hiking day was long again — 20 km to Anakiwa. A large portion followed the ridgeline, starting with a steep climb and then opening up to stunning views toward Picton and across the mountains of the Marlborough region. In Anakiwa, a hot shower and a real bed were waiting for me.
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