FAQs

We recommend all guests have fully comprehensive travel insurance, and fully comprehensive medical insurance while travelling within New Zealand and planning to partake in any activities.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation for Multi-Day Packages

Within 30 days inclusive of trip departure:
No refunds for multi-day independent and guided track packages available.
Between 60-31 days inclusive before trip departure:
50% of total package price is non-refundable + any non-refundable booking or administration fees, with remaining balance available for refunded. 
Greater than 60 days before your trip departure: 
All non-refundable booking or administration fees will be held, and any remaining balance available for refund. 

Cancelation for Day Trip activities, Guided or Rental;

No refund will be issued if you choose to cancel your booking within 48 hours prior to the trip's departure time.
Full refunds are available for day bookings cancelled outside of the 48 hours prior to the departure time.
In the event your tour is cancelled by Wilderness Guides due to unsafe weather conditions, then a full refund will be given and we will make all efforts to contact you as soon as possible.
Wilderness Guides staff reserves the right to amend or alter your booking for the safety of yourself, other guests, and staff at any time including during the tour without notice. 

Cruise Ship passenger cancellation policy:

No refund will be issued if you choose to cancel your booking within 48 hours prior to the tour departure time, including if you are unable to make the activity due to a change of schedule by your cruise ship for any reason.
Full refunds are available for day bookings cancelled outside of the 48 hours prior to the departure time.
We encourage you to notify us directly of any changes to your cruise ship docking schedule as soon as you are made aware of these.
In the event your tour is cancelled by Wilderness Guides due to unsafe weather conditions, then a full refund will be given and we will make all efforts to contact you as soon as possible.
Wilderness Guides staff reserves the right to amend or alter your booking for the safety of yourself, other guests, and staff at any time including during the tour without notice. 

Cancellations for agent bookings: 

All clients and guests who have been booked with Wilderness Guides by a 3rd party agent (including but not limited to 3rd party agents, websites, or Online Travel Agents such as Viator.com etc) may be subject to the agents own Terms & Conditions which may differ from those presented here by Wilderness Guides. 
Wilderness Guides cannot provide any refund directly to clients and guests for 3rd party agent bookings.

Booking Policy & Payment Policy

Queen Charlotte Track Multiday Packages:

Deposit: Upon confirmation of your requested package departure date, a non-refundable $200NZ per person deposit will be processed. 
This is required for booking all multi-day independent and guided tours/packages.

Final Balance:
Your final balance is due 60-days prior to your package departure date.
70-Days before your package departs you will receive a payment request via email, and have 10-days to complete this.
If this payment is not completed we will attempt to contact you, before the on-system credit-card is charged in full or you package will be cancelled.

Package Amendments: 
An additional $50-per-person administration fee is charged for any amendments to confirmed bookings including but not limited to; changing rooms; changing departure dates; or changing package types.
This administration fee increases to $100-per-person within 60 days from the date of departure. 
All administrations fees are non-refundable.

Package Amendments requested within 60-days will be subject to our full Cancelation Policy if the request requires an alternate room/date as this is considered a cancelation of the original booking.

Child and infant Fares: 
Child rates may be available for those aged 4-15 years old inclusive for applicable packages and tours. 
Infants (under 4 years old) are generally free of charge for applicable packages and tours where sharing with paying adults, however we do not provide lunches so please provide suitable food for your trip for infants.
For Risk Declaration Waiver requirements, persons under 18-years of age are required to have a 18+ signatory.
For further details please contact us at the time of your booking.

Day Trip activity bookings:

Guided Day trip activities or rental activities are paid in full at the time of booking for direct bookings.

No, we don't add a surcharge for paying with credit card for direct bookings. We accept Mastercard and Visa.

Most of our international guest will fly into either Auckland or Wellington airport. 
From Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch International Airports, there are direct flights with Air New Zealand to Blenheim Airport, about 20 minutes’ drive from Picton.

From Wellington city you can instead choose to catch either the Bluebridge or Interislander ferry service across Cook Strait, a world famous boat crossing. 
Your final option from Wellington is to can catch the small local airline, SoundsAir, which has a base at Wellington Airport and connects a short flight into Picton. This charming little journey is a memorable way to experience an aerial view across the sounds

Affordable shuttles are available or you can rent a car.
Please visit https://www.wildernessguidesnz.com/shuttles/ to book a shuttle  if required.

From Christchurch city, a popular scenic option is to catch the coastal train with Kiwi Rail Scenic Journeys to Picton. This is the most relaxing way the enjoy the ocean and mountain views as you travers northward past Kaikoura and through the Marlborough Vineyards.
There are also public inter-city buses and options to rent a car.

Spring temperatures (September/October/November) range from 14degC through to 20degC.
Wind and rain is highly variable day to day through Spring.

Average daytime summertime temperatures (December/January/February) are usually in the early to late 20degC.
Mornings are calm with afternoon winds building most days.
A very hot day would be 30degC.

Autumn (March/April/May) tends to be cooler but very settled with little or no wind, ranging from around 16-18degC in March down to 10-12degC in May.

In winter time (June/July August), the days can be very settled with not a ripple of the water but cold and crisp with overnight lows of less than 0degC and days up to 10degC.

Rain is possible at any time of year but the driest months tend to be January/February/March.
Layered clothing is best including a thermal undergarment, fleece top, shorts, long trousers, warm jacket and rain coat.

There is a large carpark area near our office and you can pay $6NZ per day for as many days as you require to leave your car or camper there.
It is unsecure so don’t leave any valuables in your vehicle.
At peak times this carpark does get very full but there is also non-metered street parking nearby.
Your accommodation provider may also be able to provide parking while you are on the track if you are returning there.

We recommend travelling with Marlborough Tour Company Shuttles.
Please visit https://www.wildernessguidesnz.com/shuttles/ to book a shuttle if required. 

Our waterfront office (the meeting point for our tours and rentals) is located on London Quay, at the corner of Wellington Street. 
We are near the famous Toastie Lords Cafe, beneath E-Ko Tours, opposite  Cougar Line water taxis.
If you are a Cruise Ship passengers coming from Picton I-Site, which is the drop-off for all busses, please follow the blue line on the ground with the water to your left to find us.

If you are unsure, throw Wilderness Guides, Picton" into Google Maps to find us.

The Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary is a very special reserve in the outer Queen Charlotte Sound. Here you can see the endangered South Island Saddleback (Tieke), friendly South Island Robins, Kereru (New Zealand native wood pigeon) and if you are lucky, little blue penguins who nest on the island.

Add on Guided Motuara and Ship Cove Experience - $295 per person

This is the perfect way to start your Queen Charlotte Track experience.
Your first day is regarded as the premier section of the Queen Charlotte Track with the additional experience on Motuara Island.
Your informative guide will explain the European and Māori connections of this significant historical area as well as provide detailed information on flora and fauna along the trail and general track advice.

Approx. 9km | 6+ hours with a Guide

Sea kayaking is a great way to get a taste of the Marlborough Sounds for another perspective, exploring the many bays and coves and spotting the local wildlife including dolphins, seals and little blue penguins.

Guided trips and independent rentals work best towards the inner Sounds due to weather conditions so a guided or freedom kayak works well if you are staying two nights at Portage Hotel or Lochmara Lodge.

We can tailor trips in other parts of the Sounds as well though so just contact us for further information about how best to include kayaking with your adventure.

Yes, solo travelers are encouraged to book and enjoy the track for either Independent or Guided packages. 

We do not "pair up" individual guests, so there is a required Single Supplement as part of your booking.

If you are traveling with friends, there may be availability for a "triple-share" room for your group, but these are subject to availability at each lodge. 

If biking, you should have a high degree of general fitness as the Queen Charlotte Track is more challenging to bike than to walk, as well as a confidence and experience with single-track off road mountain bike riding.

Please be aware the Queen Charlotte Track is a scenic but physically demanding and technical track for mountain bikes, recommended for experienced single-track riders. 
62% intermediate/grade 3,
28% advanced/grade 4, 
10% expert/grade 5.  
There are no sections rated for novice or beginner riders (grade 1-2).

You will encounter loose rock, tree roots and branch litter, along with rutty climbs and descents along the track. All but the most experienced riders will end up pushing at points. After heavy rain the clay-based trail is very slippy with reduced traction and mud build up.

We can advise you on the best section for you to attempt based on your abilities including road options and other local trails.

Luggage policy

Please note we request a limit of 1 overnight bag/suitcase per-person weighing no more than 20kg.
This is to ensure safe handling of luggage around wharfs and boats, and for the safety of all staff who may handle 100+ bags a day.

We recommend and request all guests use some form of waterproof pack-liner inside overnight luggage.
Additionally we recommend "hard shell" cases for greater weatherproofing compared to soft duffle-bags.

Secure storage for excess luggage is available at our office for no extra cost during your trip with Wilderness Guides.

All staff, water transport providers, and accommodations take care whilst transporting your luggage as part of your track package with us; however, during the process of the day this can be handled by many different persons, i.e. at the hotel while being taken to your room or by other operators or walkers placing bags on top of yours whilst at designated drop off points. 
Unfortunately, Wilderness Guides (and by extension all other staff, accommodations, or transport companies used as part of your package) cannot accept responsibility for any damage (or loss of items) incurred during part of your trip. 
We require that no loose items (including walking poles, shoes, etc) are hanging off your bag as they can cause damage to both your own or other’s bags – or become separated from your bag and get lost. All items must be secured within your luggage.

We suggest that costly or breakable items such as laptops, cash, jewellery, be kept in storage in Picton or are carried on your person.

Each accommodation features an excellent restaurant on site, and all guests with bookings will have a seat for breakfast and dinner regardless of your package. 

For Guided Walk packages, these are all included as part of your package along the Queen Charlotte Track with us.

For Independent Walk packages, you can choose per-person to pre-pay for 3-Course Dinner (inc. 1 drink) and breakfast (inc. 1 drink) at each lodge along your package as part of your booking.
Our "Add On Per Person - Pre-Paid Breakfast & Dinner" is the most convenient option for those travelling internationally or for any other reason you wish to pay ahead of time. This allows you to sit back and relax while selecting off of the menu.

Many of our guests have never kayaked before, especially in a sit-in sea kayak. Our expert team and enthusiastic guides will give you some basic instructions to get you going.

Normally here in Picton the sky is blue and the sun shines! 
Our expert guides will try to plan your guided kayaking trip around any wind forecasts to try to keep this at our backs as much as possible.
While rain is not a concern for our tours, we provide splash jackets to keep you cosy on the water.

The local tracks are all clay based with some sections of loose natural rock. After rain these can be slippery for walking or biking. 

Yes! While we do not expect you to end up in the water, all guests are required to wear Buoyancy Aids at all times while kayaking.

We recommend being of moderate fitness to get the most out of your kayaking experience.
If you have mobility challenges which may impact entering and exiting the kayak, including in the event of capsize, we will assess this on a case by case basis.
After kayaking you might feel tiredness in the hands and shoulders if you not used to this kayaking, but a quick refreshment at one of our local cafes will set this right!

Sea kayaking is a great way to get a taste of the Marlborough Sounds for another perspective, exploring the many bays and coves and spotting the local wildlife including dolphins, seals and little blue penguins.

Guided trips and independent rentals work best towards the inner Sounds due to weather conditions so a guided or freedom kayak works well if you are staying two nights at Portage Hotel or Lochmara Lodge.

We can tailor trips in other parts of the Sounds as well though so just contact us for further information about how best to include kayaking with your adventure.