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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -41.22288, 173.97095. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- 45 - 60 min return
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Take either the James Vogel Track circular walk or the longer round trip on the Peninsula Track.
This DOC directory entry covers Mistletoe Bay tracks in Marlborough, within Queen Charlotte Sound/Tōtaranui area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: 45 - 60 min return
- DOC grade: Easy
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Description
James Vogel Track
45 minute circular track with a link to the Queen Charlotte Track.
Peninsula Walk
1 hour round trip on the peninsula between Mistletoe and Waterfall bays.
The walk has several slumps on the track near Mistletoe Bay Campsite. These are slippery and hard to navigate in wet conditions. Track users must be prepared to get wet and muddy. Wear suitable footwear for slippery conditions.
Getting there
Queen Charlotte Drive, between Picton and Havelock, is the main road in the Sounds. Other roads are narrow, winding, and most are unsealed.
Water taxi services are available from Picton, Havelock, and French Pass to parts of the Sounds. You can also hire yachts, launches, motor boats, and sea kayaks.
Know before you go
The weather in the Sounds is generally mild, but conditions can change quickly, especially on the water. Ensure that you have adequate equipment and experience, and, if you are going out on the water, check the marine weather forecast.
Light fires only in designated areas.
Boil, filter, or treat water for drinking. On some tracks you must carry water.
In late summer and autumn, carry antihistamine if allergic to wasp stings.
Water safety
If you plan to enjoy the water, learn how to stay safe when swimming, boating and fishing.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
