About this trip.
The Marlborough Sounds on two wheels
The Queen Charlotte Track threads between forested ridgelines and sheltered bays at the top of New Zealand's South Island, linking Ship Cove — where Captain Cook anchored repeatedly in the 1770s — to the small settlement of Anakiwa. It's one of the country's classic long-distance trails, and one of the few where cyclists and walkers genuinely use the same path, though bikes are restricted on the northernmost section during summer to keep things civil at peak walking time.
This is a landscape of green hills sliding straight into blue water. The sounds are drowned river valleys, so the track spends much of its time high above them, dipping down to jetties and tiny bays where water taxis call in. There are no roads along most of it. You reach your lodgings the same way hikers do — off the track, often at the end of a wharf.
Six days of riding
The holiday runs six days and five nights, which gives a reasonable pace for the full length of the track rather than a compressed sprint. You start at Picton, cross by water taxi to Ship Cove, and ride south-west in stages over the following days, with overnight stops at lodges in the sounds before finishing at Anakiwa and transferring back to Picton.
Because there's no parallel road, your luggage travels by boat while you ride. Most days involve a climb onto a ridge and a long, occasionally technical descent to the next bay — the kind of riding that rewards a bit of mountain-bike experience rather than a road cyclist's smooth turnover. Expect roots, loose gravel, and the occasional stretch where you'll want to walk.
How the holiday is arranged
Macs Adventure runs this as a self-guided trip, so you ride at your own pace with route notes and transfers organised in advance. Prices start from £645 per person, which puts it at the more accessible end of long-haul self-guided cycling. Included elements typically cover accommodation, water-taxi transfers for you and your bags, and the guidance pack; flights to New Zealand and bike hire sit outside that.
It suits cyclists who are comfortable on singletrack and happy to spend the day in remote country without passing through towns or cafés. The track has no shops along its length, so lunches and snacks are packed each morning from the lodges. Riders looking for a gentle coastal potter will find it harder going than the brochure photographs suggest; those used to off-road trails will find one of the more scenic stretches of anywhere they've pedalled.
The shape of the trip.
What's typically in the price, what isn't.
A general guide for walking holidays of this kind. Check the operator's booking page for the final inclusions on this specific trip.
Typically included
- ✓Hotel accommodation, double or twin en-suite rooms
- ✓Daily breakfast at each hotel
- ✓Luggage transfer between hotels on every walking day
- ✓Detailed route notes with maps and GPX files
- ✓24/7 support line in English for the duration of the trip
Typically not included
- ×Flights to and from the country of travel
- ×Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- ×Lunches — typically a village picnic or café stop
- ×Some evening meals — depends on the specific itinerary
- ×Alcohol beyond any wine included with set dinners
- ×Optional room or transfer upgrades
Everything you might be wondering.
Q1How hard is it really?
The grading is set by the operator and usually reflects daily distance and total ascent. As a rule of thumb: if you can comfortably manage a 5-6 hour hillwalk at home on a weekend, a moderate-graded route will be fine. Read the day-by-day notes carefully, and train with a loaded pack in the months before.
Q2Can I do this solo?
Yes — self-guided walking holidays are well suited to solo travellers, and some operators waive the single-room supplement on certain departures. The route notes are written for confident independent walkers, and most operators run a 24/7 support line.
Q3Do I need to speak the language?
No. Hotels and restaurants on the route are used to English-speaking walkers. A phrasebook for menus and a few polite basics (hello, thank you, please) is all you really need. The operator's support line speaks English.
Q4Can I bring my dog?
Some routes are dog-friendly, others aren't — it depends on whether all the accommodation on the itinerary accepts dogs. Check with the operator before booking. If you do bring a dog, you'll need a pet passport, up-to-date rabies vaccination, and a lead for villages.
Q5What if it rains?
The route is walkable in rain — your luggage travels ahead regardless, so you'll always arrive somewhere dry. Some trails get slippery in wet weather and the operator's support line can arrange a taxi for any stage if conditions are properly bad.
Q6How do I get there from the UK?
Most routes are reachable by a short flight to a nearby airport, followed by train or transfer. The operator will usually point you at the nearest airport and can advise on rail connections. Some will book train tickets on your behalf for a small fee.
Q7Can I shorten or extend it?
Usually yes. Many operators offer shorter versions of a route as a standalone, and most will add extra nights at the start or end at their own rates. Ask when you enquire — they'll tailor it before booking.
Q8What about cancellation?
Typically a deposit (usually 20-25%) is taken at booking, with the balance due 8-10 weeks before departure. The operator's own terms apply — Mooch doesn't handle the booking or refunds. Travel insurance is strongly recommended.
Three walking holidays, side-by-side.
Other walking holidays on Mooch in the same spirit. All prices per person, from the operator.
