FAQs

All passengers need to check in 30 minutes before their departure time. This is to allow enough time for boarding.

Cougar Line’s office is located at Picton’s Town Wharf – look for the purple flags. Please see our location map for directions.

Yes. Let us know when you book that you are bringing your bike and we will safely transport it, and you, to your chosen starting point on the track. 
Bikes are transferred at an additional charge of $10 each way for standard mountain bikes, and $20 each way for e-bikes.

The inner Marlborough Sounds is very sheltered and does not experience the large rolling sea swells seen in Cook Strait. While often the Queen Charlotte Sound/Totaranui is extremely calm, the sea can become choppy, particularly in the afternoon. Normally these conditions last only a short time as we move between sheltered bays and inlets.

Yes we can to many accommodation points along the track. Ask about our luggage transfer service when booking your trip with us.
Our Round Trip Track Pass includes daily bag transfers.

Yes. The luggage limit is 23kg (2 items per person). There is a $30 charge per item applied for extra freight, thereafter.

We strongly recommend that all luggage should have a waterproof liner and contents in plastic bags, so that in the event of a heavy rainfall when bags are being transferred from boat to jetties your belongings are protected.

If you wish to travel outside our scheduled cruise times, or want to go directly to your destination without other stops along the way, contact us about our on-demand private water taxi service.

We are open daily, except Christmas Day.


 Monday - Sunday 8am to 5pm


Yes, when space is available. 
We always welcome visitors to come in for a chat about what they’d like to see and do in the Marlborough Sounds, and to find the best way to get you there and back again.

Please note : Around boarding times we can be very busy so it’s best to pop in prior and book or give us a call, particularly in the summer. Check in for boats is 30 minutes prior and when our boats are very full we can leave earlier if all booked clients are boarded. This helps ensure our schedule boat runs smoothly.

We have a fleet of five boats which are all comfortable and maintained to the highest safety standards. See more information about our fleet. We can't guarantee which vessel you’ll travel on as this depends on passenger numbers.

Definitely. Check out our Cruise & Walk options to spend a day on the track, or stay one or more nights along the track and tell us where you want to be dropped off and picked up when you book.
In the summer there are up to four daily departures to choose from.

Yes. Our fully licensed fleet of vessels can accommodate up to 99 passengers. Please see our groups page for more information, or contact us directly.

We can arrange accommodation and water transfers to and from Furneaux Lodge and Punga Cove in Endeavour Inlet, depending on availability. We can also provide advice on all other accommodation options along the track.

Picton has a number of paid parking areas which allow overnight stays. We suggest leaving plenty of time for car parking during busy summer months before your check-in time.

We suggest leaving plenty of time for car parking during busy summer months before your check-in time as a lot of the car parks fill up quickly.

Council info on parking in Picton

For Cougar Line’s scheduled departures, date changes to your booking are possible up to two hours prior to your scheduled departure time at no additional charge, and are subject to availability. Depending on intended travel season, differences in scheduled departure times or rates may apply as at the date of rebooking.

For ‘special hire’ private charters, date changes to your booking are possible up to 24 hours prior to your scheduled departure time, and are subject to availability. Depending on intended travel season, additional charges may apply.

If your booking is cancelled within 48 hours of your scheduled booking, or on the day of your booking, a 100% tariff charge applies.

For Cougar Line’s scheduled departures, date changes to your booking are possible up to two hours prior to your scheduled departure time at no additional charge, and are subject to availability.

Yes – there are campsites at Resolution Bay, Endeavour Inlet, Portage, Mistletoe Bay and Davies Bay.

For more information visit Accommodation along the track

Water is available at accommodation along the track - to buy and on tap where you're staying. DOC campsites along the track have untreated tank water that must be boiled before drinking. You should always carry enough drinking water for the day.

Sturdy footwear such as hiking boots or sneakers are recommended. The track is well-graded, wide and solid but there may be mud and slippery patches after rain.

No. The Queen Charlotte Track has a number of DOC and private campsites and a range of lodges, including budget-friendly backpacker options, but no tramping huts.

For more info on what's available see Accommodation along the track

For walkers it is. Thanks to Marlborough’s temperate climate and the track’s low altitude, it is safe to walk throughout the year. Just ensure you pack plenty of warm clothing in winter.

For mountain bikers, Ship Cove/Meretoto to Punga Cove is closed from 1 December to the end of February each year – the stretch from Punga Cove to Anakiwa is open year-round.

Some sections of the track are a higher grade than others ranging from Grade 3/intermediate through to Grade 5/expert. For more detail, along with distances and times go to: Bike grades and distances

Each section is different in length and grade - with walk times ranging from 4 - 8hrs. 

For full details on length, time to walk, gradient and difficulty go to Suggested Walk Itinerary  

It's key that you are prepared, even on a day outing along the Queen Charlotte Track. We suggest you bring the following.

• enough food and drinking water for the day (there are no shops or water sources between lodges)
• any medication you need and a small first aid kit (or a least a couple of plasters)
• clothing for all conditions – even if you start your day under blue skies, the weather can change quickly in the Marlborough Sounds. Pack warm layers and a raincoat
• sun hat, sunscreen and insect repellent 
• and don’t forget your camera for all those amazing views.

Most people walk the full length of the 73km Queen Charlotte Track over 4 days, for example:

Day 1: Ship Cove/Meretoto - Furneaux Lodge
Day 2: Furneaux Lodge – Punga Cove
Day 3: Punga Cove – Torea Saddle
Day 4: Torea Saddle – Anakiwa

For details on this itinerary see our Suggested walk itinerary

The Queen Charlotte Track is a 73km walking and mountain bike track in the Marlborough Sounds, at the top of the South Island of New Zealand.

New Zealand’s longest dual-purpose track, the route passes through stunning coastal and ridgetop landscapes from Ship Cove/Meretoto in the north and Anakiwa in the south. Along the way, it takes in tranquil Endeavour Inlet and follows the ridgetops straddling Queen Charlotte Sound/Totaranui and Kenepuru Sounds, with stunning views across both.

Although the track can be started and finished at either end, or at several points along the way, most people choose to walk, bike or run from north to south.