1 Day Mountain Bike Trip – Ship Cove to Punga Cove

Things To Know

• Trail Description

  28.5km - 4-6 Hours ride

  Depart on either the 8am (summer) or 9am (winter) water taxi service to Ship Cove. 

  From Ship Cove, it's a good climb to the Ship Cove Platform to start your day.  Here you will be rewarded for your efforts with wonderful views (on a good day) across Motuara Island and its small neighbor Hippa Island with the North Island often visible beyond.  To the south you can see Resolution Bay below and beyond.  Depart the Ship Cove platform and wind your way downwards into Resolution Bay.  The next section descends into Resolution bay through regenerating forest, mainly Manuka and Kanuka.

  The track then winds just above Resolution Bay Cabins and starts a gradual but steady ascent towards the Tawa Bay Saddle through mainly regenerating forest.  The sight of seating as you pass through the saddle with a view to Endeavour Inlet and beyond is a welcome sight.  Rest here to enjoy the vistas for a while and enjoy your lunch.

  From Tawa saddle the trail is mainly down hill with views into Tawa Bay and, as you proceed, views towards the head of Endeavour Inlet.  The latter stages of this section are through pristine New Zealand native forest with some wonderful examples of native beech trees through to fibrous kiekie climbers high in the tops of tall rimu trees.  A small settlement called The Pines with houses nestled in the bush is passed along the way.  Furneaux lodge offers a change for a coffee or a beer in their historic homestead on your way.

  From Furneaux lodge the track continues through thick native forest before crossing the sole swing-bridge on the track, a wide sturdy structure.  From the head of Endeavour Inlet the track is wide and undulating as it passes through flat farmland with lovely views down the inlet.  

  This is the easiest section of the Queen Charlotte Track, the track following the curve of the coastline with the water never far away and a pleasant time can be had enjoying the coastal views along the way.  But care should be taken along some stretches particularly when damp as they can be very slippery. 

  As you turn the corner into Big Bay, a wide sweeping bay with a shallow tidal area at its head, the vegetation changes to more lush costal forest with some beautiful tracks of beech forest.  Punga ferns are prolific in the damp gullies.

  Camp Bay, with a pleasant beach nearby, is a popular Department of Conservation camping spot and marks about 5min to your final destination Punga Cove.  Your water taxi pick-up is 3:30pm at Punga Cove so there is time to toast a fantastic day while you wait. Return to Picton by 5.00pm/5:30pm.

  Now available all year round on any 8am service in Summer.

• Track

  Track Section	Distance	Approximate Times
  From Ship Cove	28.5km	approx 4-6 hours
  From Resolution Bay	22km	approx 4 hours

• Grade Indicator Keys

  0% Novice (Grade 2) - Suitable for a confident rider on roads or trails. Easier gradients, trail surfaces are mainly firm but may include muddy or loose rocks.

  62% Intermediate (Grade 3) - Suitable for most experience cyclists with a good level of fitness. Trail surfaces are mainly firm but may include muddy or loose sections, and obstacles such as rocks or tree roots.

  28% Advanced (Grade 4) - Suitable for fit, more experienced cyclists with good off-road and/or on-road skills. The trail surface includes firm and loose sections, with lots of rocks and tree roots.

  10% Expert (Grade 5) - Suitable for experienced cyclists with excellent off-road skills and a high level of fitness. Challenging with long, steep climbs, precipitous descents and potentially dangerous drop-offs, as well as rocks, roots, and ruts to navigate.