Punga Cove in Queen Charlotte Sound
Punga Cove is a beautiful spot located in Endeavour Inlet / Panaruawhiti within Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui. It is known for the Punga Lodge and its restaurant, which are situated along the Queen Charlotte Track. The location is ideal for those seeking a scenic retreat with easy access to the track.
Activities and Surroundings
The area around Punga Cove is rich with regrowth forest, featuring tree ferns and kānuka. These native species are prevalent in New Zealand's regenerating forests and will eventually give way to larger, more mature trees. South of the cove, you can see poisoned pinus radiata trees, part of a conservation effort to encourage native forest recovery.
Nearby, Camp Bay is just 300 metres west of the lodge along the coast. It offers a Department of Conservation campsite and one of the few accessible beaches on the west side of Endeavour Inlet. Continuing along the Queen Charlotte Track from Camp Bay leads to Furneaux Lodge, The Pines, and further around Endeavour Inlet towards Resolution Bay. Alternatively, heading through Punga Lodge on the track takes you up to Titirangi Road, then to Kenepuru Saddle and the high ridge that extends down the north side of Queen Charlotte Sound towards the track's end at Anakiwa.
How to get to Punga Cove
Reaching Punga Cove is best done by boat, with a journey of about one hour from Picton. For those preferring to drive, road access is available via Kenepuru Sound. This involves navigating the slow, winding Kenepuru Road to Titirangi Road at the northeast end of Kenepuru.
Options on the Queen Charlotte Track
If you don't want to explore the entire Queen Charlotte Track, you can use a combination of boat pick-ups and drop-offs, with walking or biking selected sections to explore parts of the track. From Furneaux Lodge to Punga Cove is also a day walk, and you can also book a boat trip to the start of the track at Meretoto / Ship Cove, then take a day walk to Furneaux Lodge.
