FAQs

Cancellation Policy

Cancellation for Multi-Day Packages;
Within 12 days inclusive of trip departure: No refunds for multi-day independent and guided track packages available.
Between 30-13 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 30 days before your trip departure: All non-refundable booking or administration fees held, with remaining balance available for refund. 

Day Trip activities, Guided or Rental;
No refund will be issued if you choose to cancel your booking within 24 hours of the trip's departure time.
Full refunds are available for day bookings cancelled outside of the 24 hours prior to the departure time.
In the event your tour is cancelled by Wilderness Guides due to poor weather conditions, then a full refund will be given and we will make all efforts to contact you as soon as possible.

Cruise Ship passenger cancellation policy:
No refund will be issued if you choose to cancel your booking within 24 hours of your 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 24 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 poor weather conditions, then a full refund will be given and we will make all efforts to contact you as soon as possible.

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

Booking Policy & Payment Policy

Day Trip activity bookings:
Guided Day trip activities or rental activities are paid in full at the time of booking.

Queen Charlotte Track Multiday Packages:
Upon confirmation of your requested 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.

An additional $50 per person administration fee is charged for moving a booking once confirmed, increasing to $100 per person if moved within 30 days from the date of departure.
This will depend on availability and differences in the package price may apply.

Child and infant Fares: 
Child rates may be available for those aged 4-15 years old 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 further details please contact us at the time of your booking.

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.

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. It is only accessible by boat and works best by taking an early water taxi from Picton (8am) which delivers you to the island. You then have around 1-1 ½ hours to explore via the track to a lookout (affording spectacular views) before being collected by the next scheduled water taxi at 10.30/10.45am. You will then be delivered to Ship Cove, just across the bay, to begin your walk.

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.

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.

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.