QCT: Punga Cove to Portage Bay 24.5 kms

 Day 6 - 26 Feb

Well, today is the biggy! 24.5 kms and a huge climb at the start. If the walk to dinner yesterday up through Punga Cove to the restaurant up on the top of the hill overlooking the resort was any indication then we are in for it!

We had asked them after dinner at the restaurant to microwave our rolled oats so we could get an early start in the morning.

Up before 6 am and on the way by 7 - just light. Snagged this from our balcony as we left - lasted barely a few minutes!

Why does my pack feel heavier today???

Made good going and reached Totaranui Viewpoint by 8:30 with lovely views out over the Marlborough Sounds. 

To the west, the Kenepuru Sound has come into view also. We zig and zag between the two Sounds which are to the left and right of us as we trek along. The greens and blues of the water are amazing.

We enjoyed lovely stretches of walking along carpets of tan-coloured pine needles. 

This part of the walk today is private land managed by the QCTLC rather than the Dept. of Conservation (DOC) which manages the other parts of the track. Rod Eatwell was one of the landowners who was a driving force behind the development of the walk, earlier called the Kenepuru Walkway and which was completed and renamed the QCT in 1991. We have been accompanied by the sounds of farm activities drifting up from the valley below to the west.

Then the climbing gradually got steeper and we finally made it to Eatwell’s Lookout (an extra 1.5 kms out and back - and STEEP!) arriving at 9:30, half an hour later than I had anticipated. We are certainly the first on the track today judging by the cobwebs I’ve been breaking through all morning.

We think this is the highest point (467 m). We enjoy cake, water, views and the serenity. A weka emerged out of nowhere to mop up the crumbs!

As we descend, we get glimpses of the Bay of Many Coves - and bump into Louise and Deb from Parkes (NSW) who we play ‘hare and tortoise’ with all day.

The ascent begins again and every time we see a seat, we stop even if only for a few minutes.

Most seats are at viewpoints and the scenery is fantastic. We stop for a quick lunch at Black Rock Station - another viewpoint - but are pestered by wekas being very assertive regarding our sandwiches!

We were certainly pleased to see the (sealed!) road at the end of the track leading down to our accommodation at the Portage. We arrived just short of 4:30 pm which is the ETA I had estimated - so a good effort! Ended up walking 26.8 kms and climbed 997 m.

Showered, had a quick nap, did stretches followed by a lovely NZ gin and tonic on the balcony overlooking Portage Bay before dinner. Then watched the sun set.