We strongly recommend booking in advance to avoid disappointment.
Changes to your booking
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, rates may apply as at the date of rebooking.
Cougar Line Cancellation Policy
100% tariff charge applies if your booking is cancelled within 48 hours of your scheduled booking.
Cancellations due to Government-imposed travel bans
If your travel plans are interrupted due to Government-imposed travel bans or border closures, you are welcome to transfer your booking to a later date within the next 12 months with no transfer fee. Depending on intended travel season, differences in departure times or rates may apply as at the date of rebooking. Otherwise our standard cancellation policy applies.
Cancellations by Marlborough Tour Company
Marlborough Tour Company Group reserves the right to reschedule or cancel any tours, cruises and accommodation booked if it feels that they cannot be undertaken safely, i.e: bad weather conditions, or if total bookings on a tour or cruise are below minimum numbers. In the event of Marlborough Tour Company Group making a cancellation you will be offered an alternate date or option, or receive a full refund.
All transactions are in New Zealand dollars at the time of making a booking and at the time of making a cancellation, and Marlborough Tour Company Group cannot accept any liability for fluctuation in exchange rates between these transactions taking place.
Luggage
While we take all reasonable care of your luggage, please understand that any luggage is transferred at the owner’s risk.
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.
We recommend a weight per item of not more than 20kg. There is no charge for additional bags.
A charge may be applied for extra freight other than general luggage and groceries, e.g. lawnmowers, boat motors etc, at the discretion of the skipper and due to loadings on the boat on the day.
Dangerous goods
If you are intending to transport dangerous goods with us, they need to be booked in so that we can transport them appropriately. Dangerous good or hazardous substances include LPG cylinders, petrol and diesel.
We need these goods to be correctly identified, packaged, handled and documented for safe carriage. All fuels must travel in an approved fuel container.
If you are carrying dangerous goods as part of your luggage please advise in your booking, complete the Dangerous Goods Declaration Form or contact us for further assistance.
See Cougar Line's Dangerous Goods page for more information
Bikes and e-bikes
Bikes are transferred at an additional charge of $5 each way for standard mountain bikes, and $10 each way for e-bikes.
Cruise and Lunch
Unless stated, food and beverages are charged separately by the lodge you are lunching at.
QCTLC Land Access Fee - Punga Cove to Davies Bay
If you’re walking or biking between Punga Cove and Davies Bay (near Anakiwa) along the Queen Charlotte Track, you’ll require a Queen Charlotte Track Land Cooperative (QCTLC) pass to access sections of the track that cross private land. Passes are available for purchase from the Cougar Line office and aren’t included in Cougar Line’s standard fares.