Our water taxi ride to Resolution Bay took us 2 hours. The Taxi stopped at three other bays to pick and drop off people.  We were very lucky to stop in Endeavour Inlet and watch a 40 plus pod of dolphins swim past the boat, well worth the delay.  11am, we stepped on to the wharf at Resolution Bay in time to see the feeding of the local blue cod and one moray eel.  So take a loaf of bread with you and try feeding the fish by hand.  Keep a couple of slices of bread for the Weka.  A hot plunger coffee and a muffin can be brought from the shop just to the left of the house. You might have to ring the bell for service.  You are on country time now, not, hurry up city time.   The tracks run around to the right of the house, and uphill, just follow the arrows.  Take the time to use the toilet; the next one is at the saddle.  Not very nice though.

Walk up through the paddocks and on to the old bridle path, from here on the track is a breeze to follow, just a 5 minute uphill walk, and then away you go to the saddle an easy walk.  The first half hour in to the walk the views of the sounds are quite breath taking to start with, but as you clock up the hours, there is always a better view around the next corner. 

The next amazing thing to see is the little gray Weka running along the track. If you stop and keep still, the Wekas will walk right up to you and feed out of your hand.  If you don’t stop after leaving Resolution Bay, you should reach the summit in 45 min. We arrived at 1205H. Lunch time. The view was fantastic, we could see over to our night accommodation at Punga Cove, 5 hours away. It might be quicker to swim across.  If you are thinking of putting your food down on the seat and getting the camera out to taking a photo don’t. All you will see is a flash of grey Weka, running off with your honey and peanut butter sandwich.        

Back to civilisation, bugger, Furneaux Lodge. Yes noisy people. Radio and speed boats. How to pollute a beautiful bay over night.  A quick call in, just to top up with fresh water and get out of there.  The place was busy with people.  They zip over from nelson for a quick steak and a bottle of wine.  If only they knew what they were missing out on.

From here on, the track widens out to a service road.  You might bump into a 4x4 and people running between the Furneaux and Endeavour lodges.  Not a lot to see alone this road till you cross the swing bridge.   You can save some time and walk across the bay if the tide is out. To do so, walk down to the Endeavour lodge and out on to the beach walk over to the right and make your way to the boat shed on the far side. The main track turns off 50m before the boat shed.     

Once across the bridge you steep out on to farm land. Or more like old McDonald’s farm. We saw a wild pig and a lama plus the common sheep and cows.  There is a board there for you to read on the history of Endeavour inlet.  And how they mined antimony.  We were amazed to see a track side store with an honesty box it was selling trinkets and a small verity of toiletries.

30 min minutes from Furneaux lodge is the next turn off to the right.  Easy flat walking from here on.  There are small farm blocks you walk through. So shut the gates and don’t take the sheep home for a pet. 

The track to Punga Cove was the roughest section of track on the whole walk.  For the amount of people who walk to the cove, what a disgrace.  Camp Bay, not too bad. It’s tucked up in the trees, with private tent sites, water and toilets, but to many people there. One good point about the camp site is just around the corner. A 4 star lodge with bar and restaurant.

Another 15 minutes to our B&B. 1800H   we arrived with just enough time for a hot relaxing shower before tea. Good timing.

After a splendid meal of fresh fish, caught out in front of the homestead that afternoon. And not forgetting the desert. We sat out on the front lawn and watched the sun set over the hills.

Summary

We left Picton by water taxi at 0900H.

Started walking at 11100H And arrived at 1800H. A 23 Ks walk in very hot sunny day.  The walk took us 5 hours and 40 minutes all up.  One 30 minute climb out of Resolution bay 0 to 230 Mt, then downhill to Furno. From there on the walk was as flat as a pancake.  Plenty of toilet stops and I mean flushing toilets and two places to buy food if you need it. As for the views of the ocean great.  FANTISTIC WALK.

A 12 km walk, mostly up hill. We started the walk at sea level, climbed to 446m.  Then walked back down to sea level again. 0900 Hours. The weather is a little on the grey side today, it was so disappointing to see the top of the range is covered in cloud.  So there go the views.  To get back on to the track, head for the road.  If you are in camp bay, walk up and through to the lodge to the top of the road.  The start is to the right, up the dirt track. Just follow the signs.

There are too many places to stop for a coffee. Some nice chap, cut down a handful of old trees so we could sit on the stumps and look out to sea. He all so installed a toilet for the girls to use. Great people the south islanders. How would you like to live in this isolated little bay? No annoying sales men would come knocking on your door out here.  The track up to here is a little boring.  Nothing to see but trees and more trees.   When you think that was the last hill to climb, look again, yes one more. When you reach the top, start to walk down hill, there is a track to a look out on the left. Sorry but it was covered in cloud so we gave it a miss. Not to say there were no other views to be had.  There must have been at least four good views of The Bay of Many Coves. Where the power lines cross over the ridge, there is a great spot to sit on the grass for another coffee.

Arrived at The Gem resort 1430 hours.   Time for a quick snack at the restaurant before the water taxi arrives at 1530 Hours.

SUMMARY

4hours 15 Minutes, 12Ks of walking.  A lot of walking for very little gain. If it was not for the pigs, I would not recommend this section. By far, yesterday was certainly the best section to walk.  Starting from Ships Cove is the way to go. And then finish at Punga cove. But make it a two day journey, take your time.