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Picton
Things to do in Picton
Wilderness Guides - Day Tours
See all things to do

Wilderness Guides - Day Tours

See all things to do
See all things to do
Wilderness Guides - Day Tours
5
#1 of 35 Tours & Activities in Picton
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About
Wilderness Guides is an outdoor adventure company based in Picton, owned and operated for the past 20 years by Steve and Juliet Gibbons, New Zealanders and Marlborough people with a passion for the outdoors. The owners are hands-on and have a background as outdoor guides in the area and with their close-knit team and dedicated team, offer a truly personalized service for all guests. Tours offered are quality and authentic New Zealand wilderness experiences with an emphasis on education, conservation, local history and culture as well as New Zealand native flora and fauna. This is combined with the finest of local food and wine. These include guided and independent walks on the Queen Charlotte Track from one day to many days in length, mountain bike hire and packages for the Queen Charlotte Track (one of NZ’s Great Rides) and a wide variety of sea kayaking options in the Marlborough Sounds. This is where your adventure begins!
Picton, New Zealand
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2023
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Tours and Tickets by Wilderness Guides - Day Tours
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(32 reviews)
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5.0
403 reviews
Excellent
376
Very good
21
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5
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Michael B
2 contributions
Bespoke Queen Charlotte brilliance
Nov 2023 • Couples
We wanted to do the full QCT walk but left booking too late to get accommodation in some spots. The folks at Wilderness Guides expertly customised a trip to get us around the no vacancy points and then rejigged it again when one of us was injured. Could not have asked for more.
Written 27 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tim H
London, UK51 contributions
Superb kayak and walking tour of QCS
Nov 2023 • Couples
Full day kayak and trail walk. Just us as a couple with Alex as our guide for this tour. Full briefing before we got in our kayak and off we went into Queen Charlotte Sound. Flat water and little wind made it easy paddling and we saw dolphins (going right under our kayak), blue penguins, eagle and sting rays and plenty of birds.
Alex kept us informed and safe throughout, detailing the history, wildlife and activity in the Sound.

After the kayak (just under 3 hours) we beached, changed, grabbed our (provided) lunch and set off on the Link Trail back to Picton. It’s STEEP at the start and trail shoes/walking boots are highly recommended, but after that it’s a steady stroll back to Picton. including the extra to the lookout (worth it), it’s 13km of hike. We lunched at the lookout and barely saw another person throughout the trail.

Great organisation and guide (Alex doesn’t walk with you, but took the kayaks back). You can have them take/bring your gear if you don’t want to carry.

Totally recommended.
Written 9 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Relax07262395978
2 contributions
Guide for Day 1 who walked with us only 2 hours instead of the full day to the Lodge.
Apr 2023 • Friends
We signed up for the 3 day Independent Walk with add on Guide for Day 1 only. The staff at Wilderness Guides were responsive and prompt in their replies and queries. Also communicated well with the briefing on the morning of Day 1. Everything was as expected on the QCT EXCEPT for the Day 1 guide service.

We expected the guide to take us to completion of Day 1. While he was knowledgable and friendly, he basically accompanied us only till lunchtime at Schoolhouse Bay. He left us about 1.30pm so that he could hurry to catch the 4pm ferry at Furneaux Lodge. Felt let down as we had paid for a guide for our party of 6 pax so that he can help to pace us to complete Day 1 confidently. Instead he really only walked with us 2 hours to Schoolhouse Bay for lunch.

We struggled on our own for the next 4 hours in the afternoon. We had no idea how much distance was ahead and how fast we needed to be. And we were left to fend for ourselves. That was the biggest letdown!

Wilderness Guides should change their policy and ensure that the walking group is accompanied all the way to Furneaux Lodge. That is why we have paid the extra NZD1380 for the Guide on Day 1. Feel short changed that we did not get the service we expected.
Written 18 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Douglas H
Morris, IL52 contributions
Great Way to Experience Picton
Jake was a great guide and explained a lot about the history of the area and its wildlife. We saw dolphins, seals, sting rays, and jellyfish along with many different birds.
Review of: Half day Sea Kayak Guided Tour from Picton
Written 4 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BegonaFad
19 contributions
Great day guide walk
Mar 2023 • Solo
I took the one day guided walk at Queen Charlotte track. The guide was fantastic, the views amazing and the size of the group was good, just 5 of us (great trip mates as well).
I think it’s overpriced but I will repeat again.
Written 28 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
McClann
New Plymouth, New Zealand39 contributions
Brilliant experience, expertly organised.
Feb 2023 • Couples
We did the 5 day deluxe Queen Charlotte hike with stays at Furneaux, Mahana, and Lochmara. The whole exercise was well planned with great info and advice, and meticulous attention to detail. Marty was great at advising about whether and how to curtail walks if needed. The lodges were wonderful with great food and excellent facilities as well as beautiful grounds.
Written 27 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jess O
33 contributions
Amazing must do!
We recently visited Picton as part of our NZ cruise. We wanted to explore the sounds and make the most of our day and booked with the Wilderness team and couldn't be happier with the choice. After delays with docking/getting off the ship, we made it just in time, and the entire team were so understanding and helpful from the moment we arrived. All gear/equipment was provided and we were fortunate to have amazing weather. Our guides were great super friendly and informative and really allowed for time to enjoy the environment whilst pointing out the local wildlife. We kayaked 10km we were told and were bussed back to where we started. The scenery was breathtaking and this tour was such a unique way to see the sound. Price was very reasonable especially compared to onboard.

Would highly recommend this tour and company to anyone wanting a great half a day in picton 😊
Review of: Half day Sea Kayak Guided Tour from Picton
Written 27 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bruce L
1 contribution
Queen Charlotte Walk
Mar 2023 • Couples
After two postponed bookings due to Covid international travel bans we finally got to experience Steve from Wilderness Guides fantastic service. He went out of his way to collect us , give advice, and shuttle us to the ferry outside his role.
Our walk went very smoothly, upgrade walk accomodation was quality and the ferry service is great.
Bruce from Melbourne, Australia
Written 26 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
travel50_11
Newcastle, NSW71 contributions
Awesome experience
Mar 2023 • Couples
Walking the Queen Charlottee track is an amazing experience. Walking with this company made it unforgettable. Wilderness guides are efficient and friendly. Our guide Alex even provided plunger coffee every day. He was supported by a great team in the office.
Review of: Full Day Kayak & Walk Tour-Queen Charlotte Sound & Link Pathway
Written 25 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ray Webb
3 contributions
On a clear day you cans ee forever
Mar 2023
What a wonderful way to see the Marlborough Sounds...a four day tramp with all the trimmings. The size of the group (10) made it a very friendly group and gave Jake (Tour Guide) the time to move between each of us. Jake was an excellent guide recounting the areas fauna and history. We were spoilt by lovely tramping weather - 19-20 degrees with a little cloud cover -and what I think was a great walking track. Three of the days were 20km plus but easily manageable. The tramp from Furnough to Punga was only 14, sop repite before the longest day and the two relatively steep inclines on each of Day 3 and Day 4. Some excellent variations which enabled members to go kayaking if they chose. Accommodation at Furnough, Punga and Portage was very comfortable and nice to have access to a bar(1) after a hard days tramp.
Written 22 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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WILDERNESS GUIDES - DAY TOURS (Picton) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go