Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
just perfect for jumping off. It's a 9km, four-hour walk from Torea Saddle to Mistletoe Bay,
making the bay ideal for a lunch break or lazy afternoon.
Just beyond the junction with James Vogel Track, the Queen Charlotte Track arrives at
Onahau Rd and Te Mahia Saddle, which heads south to provide vehicle access to Mistletoe
This pleasant, low-key resort has a range of rooms and an on-site store with pre-cooked
meals and pizza.
Turn down Onahau Rd towards Mistletoe Bay for 500m, where you will see the sign back
on to the Queen Charlotte Track. Past the road you follow old bridle paths above Onahau
Bay, passing through regenerating forest and skirting grazing land for about 1½ hours before
a long, gentle descent through beech forest above Bottle Bay. There are wonderful vistas on
this section, with Queen Charlotte Sound visible to the Grove Arm.
From Bottle Bay there are views to the water, which sparkles through an understorey of
ferns, pittosporums, five-finger, broad-leaved rangiora and tawa. About 2½ to three hours
from Mistletoe Bay, you reach the spacious camping area at Davies Bay (Umungata) Camp-
site.
The last hour of this long journey is one of its best parts. The track passes through Iwitu-
aroa Reserve and its splendid stands of beech, before emerging at the Anakiwa car park
where there is a shelter, toilets, and an ice-cream and coffee caravan if you time it right. The
local outdoor pursuits school has a jetty here where boat services will pick you up for the
trip back to Picton. The jetty's also a good launch pad for a refreshing dip after a sticky
day's walking.
At the end of the track is
Anakiwa Backpackers
( 03-574 1388;
www.anakiwabackpackers.co.nz;
401 Anakiwa Rd; dm $33, d $85-105;
)
, a soothing spot to rest for
the night, or longer.
SIDE TRIP: ONAHAU LOOKOUT
1 HOUR, 150M ASCENT
Onahau Lookout Track is reached three hours from Torea Saddle. Follow the left fork as it
climbs to the lookout, located between Lochmara and Onahau Bays. This is the best view-
point of the entire trip and a rewarding moment as you look back at the ridge you have tra-
versed all the way from Camp Bay.
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