Upper South Island and the West Coast Sights

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1. Queen Charlotte Track

Picton is the entryway to the Queen Charlotte Track, which stretches 73.5 km (45 miles) along peninsulas, around inlets, and on ridgetops, playing hide-and-seek with the Marlborough Sounds along the way. The Department of Conservation provides a few camping areas, but there is also a variety of other accommodations, including backpacker hostels, lodges, and plush resorts. (Booking ahead for any type you choose is advised.) Boat companies Cougar Line or Beachcomber Cruises can drop you at various places for one- to four-day walks (guided or unguided). You can also mountain-bike on this track—it's the longest single track ride in New Zealand. (The outermost section, Ship Cove to Keneperu Sound, is closed to bikes from December 1 to February 28). The boat companies can deliver and retrieve you and your bike to and from points along the track. For walkers and bikers they'll also carry your luggage between overnight stops. Some of the track passes through private land. Track users must buy a Queen Charlotte Track Pass, which contributes toward track maintenance. The track has steep inclines and long drop-offs, and the weather can be unpredictable. It also gets busy in summer, and is part of Te Araroa, the Long Pathway walking trail that runs the length of New Zealand. Though it's relatively easy to access, the track shouldn't be taken lightly.