Name: Punga Cove Resort
Address: Endeavour Inlet,, Anakiwa, Anakiwa, Anakiwa, 7250, New Zealand
Rating: 8

Air conditioning

Smoke-free property

Heating

Ticket assistance

Garden

Terrace

No elevators

Reception desk

General

Bridal suite

Non-smoking rooms

Room service

Family room

Linens

Toiletries

Rooms

Accessibility features

Accessibility

Laundry

Services and amenities

Breakfast

Restaurant

Breakfast/lunch to go

Packed Lunches

Meals

Free Wi-Fi

Internet access

Internet

Transfer services

Transfer

Spanish

English

Languages Spoken

Tour assistance

Tourist services

Bike rental

Hiking

Picnic area

Fishing

Sun Deck

Ping-Pong

Recreation

Free parking

Parking

Swimming pool

Spa tub

Private beach

Beach/pool towels

Next to the beach

Pool and beach

Event facilities

Conference Hall

Business

Cycling

Sports

Sauna

Beauty and wellness

Family/Kid Friendly

Kids

Extra decontamination measures

Personal protection equipment for guests

Individually packaged food

Additional measures against COVID-19

Health and Safety Measures

Location

At the resort

Picton Aerodrome

Woodbourne Airport

Wellington International Airport

Punga Cove Resort

Anakiwa

child-bed

child-bed-fee

external-private-bathroom

private-bathroom

shared-bathroom

10-beds

11-beds

12-beds

13-beds

14-beds

15-beds

16-beds

17-beds

18-beds

19-beds

2-beds

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24-beds

25-beds

26-beds

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3-beds

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31-beds

32-beds

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37-beds

38-beds

39-beds

4-beds

40-beds

5-beds

6-beds

7-beds

8-beds

9-beds

king-bed

queen-bed

limited-time

lounge

treatment

no-window

bay-view

bosphorus-view

canal-view

city-view

courtyard-view

garden-view

golf-view

harbour-view

inland-view

lake-view

land-view

mountain-view

ocean-front

ocean-view

oceanside

panoramic-view

park-view

partial-ocean-view

partial-sea-view

partial-view

pool-view

river-view

sea-front

sea-view

street-view

sunrise-view

sunset-view

water-view

with-view

annex

basement

main-building

1-bedroom

2-bedrooms

3-bedrooms

4-bedrooms

5-bedrooms

6-bedrooms

not-guaranteed

wired-internet-access

smoking

sauna

duplex

safe

mini-bar

breakfast-for-1

breakfast-for-2

pets-allowed

wi-fi

kitchen

This was the hotel after the second day of walking and it was a nice place to rest. The hotel is a bit tired but very clean with amazing views. Staff were friendly. Much smaller menu than Furneaux Lodge but very good food. A nice beach to swim in and a hot tub and a pool as well. Again the walkers lunch was not great and a rip off at $29. Great views from the balcony of most rooms and the bar!

Lovely setting for a hotel

The accommodation is pretty basic but clean. Given the huge number of sandflies at this location I think fly screens would be warranted. 
I wanted to review the restaurant. I had the fish chowder which was heavenly. Full after only half the bowl I just had to finish it all lest I suddenly die tomorrow having left half a bowl of the most delicious food ever. High praise but we had been walking all day! 
This place should not be confused with its abominable cousin at Furneaux Lodge whose food was practically inedible (despite walking all that day too!). Strangely, the coffee was great xcellent at Furneaux while only okay at Punga. 
The swimming here is chilly at 13/14C but I felt so fabulous when I got out. Be very careful if the sand flies… I was covered in the local repellant and yet they happily landed in my unsuspecting legs and took to them with great zeal. 2 days later I am scratching like crazy. 
But that food. Congratulations on nabbing your new chef guys - fingers crossed she can shake up Furneaux also. 

Bloody brilliant food but cover up if the critters find you tasty

Our group of 15 syayed at Punga Cove on our second night walking the Queen Charlotte track. We ate at the restaurant and had an absolutely beautiful meal. The service was friendly and efficient. Several of us had the seafood chowder which we couldn't fault, delicious! The chef said it was a new menu and the kitchen staff had only been there 2 weeks. The meals were beautifully presented and enjoyed in this stunning part of the country.

Superb dining in the Sounds

Stayed here on the first night of the Queen Charlotte Track, after mountain biking from Ship Cove. The staff were terrific - friendly and helpful. The view over the cove is beautiful. The facilities were old but clean, dry and comfortable. The restaurant food was excellent! Seriously, I was blown away by the taste, quality and presentation. I would take the water taxi here just for the evening meal!

Great experience

There are several options for staying in the Sounds and Punga came highly recommended. 

It is a steep resort so do expect a workout to and from your accom and the various facilities. 

I wanted my own ensuite so ended up
With one of the two huge chalets that sleep 7 with its own kitchen, hidden loft room and wrap around balcony. 

I loved it. 

There was even a spa bath (which I made use of obvs!).

The only option for food was the restaurant (beach cafe was being rebuilt). The menu was short but the food was pretty poor really. Not really seasoned, some odd choices (deep fried mussel anyone?) and overall a bit of a letdown. 

Appreciating this is a resort based around the impressive activities in the Sounds I was still a little surprised to find alcohol stopped being served around 8:30pm. 

Access onto queen Charlotte trail is easy, the resort offers kayaks as well to explore the cove.

Weirdly I never saw anyone in the pool!

Immerse yourself in the Marlborough Sounds

The next stop on Queen Charlotte Track was the Punga Cove. Here you obviously find more understanding for hikers than at the Furneaux Lodge. Here, too, we were able to book a hiking cabin on the last trigger, but it was better by classes than in the Furneaux Lodge. The sanitary unit was perfect, we had a kitchen to share for 6 rooms and the rooms itself were perfectly furnished for hikers. The food there did not need to shy away from Furneaux Lodge. So we were totally satisfied with our stay.

The hikers cabins there are perfect.

We 4 friends walked the QC Track as many must do who stay here…I booked through a company over a year ago and we cancelled last Jan due to omicron. 
First off, to be fair the staff tried hard and did their best with the resources they had. 
We were not advised the Boat shed cafe had been destroyed and demolished due to the weather event last year..therefore there was only one eating option. And we had decided to stay there 2 days because of the cafe and to enjoy some downtime. Well, the pool was drained..and workmen were repairing it…v dated old pool in an unattractive setting. The spa pool was closed for maintenance! As was the one on the upper level. We did kayak on our rest day and mmmmmm-life jackets looked about 10 years old..were sodden and ripped and mouldy. 
Our room was way at the top of the resort with lovely views but yes..butts in an astray outside…crap outdoor furniture and grubby sofas that needed biffing or severe cleaning. We did not sit on them. Yuck! The restaurant had the same menu for lunch and dinner…no fish burgers or salads or other small meals on offer. It is a captive audience and you have to pay the price for that which was high! Our lovely serving lass really worked hard and advised me over 2 days what they had..I ordered in advance as we were told only one of this left or 2 of that. Food was average and my fish ceviche was horrible. Clearly the chef did not know what he/she was doing. Gnocchi was gloop and stodgy. The outside areas were not maintained..nothing had been water blasted or spruced up. There was a food truck plonked down the front which “might open soon”. There was no beer fridge etc on reception to order a drink so you could sit outside down on the waterfront…furniture was shabby and dated. Don’t get me started on the so called games room…I feel for anyone who may have had kids with them. All in all v disappointing  and while I don’t want to knock anyone because off staff shortages and the covid aftermath, Punga Lodge is an embarrassment and really not worth the $$$$$. We did not see one senior manager the whole time. It was run by kids.

Feel very mixed

As part of walking the Queen Charlotte Sound Track our company could not find us accomodation at Punga Cove where most walkers stay. We were booked in at Endeavour Heights Homestay. We were told we would have to eat dinner at Punga Cove though, so I emailed a week prior with no response so, on arrival, we thought we should check with them whether they had received our booking. The response was “ I didn’t reply to your email as I didn’t have time and there is no room for you at dinner”. There are no options on these walks so it appeared we would go hungry before our 24 km walk the next day. When I asked if I could speak to the person in charge I was told “There is no one in charge. Welcome to Punga Cove!” When we reached our hosts they were fabulous and cooked us dinner thankfully but Punga Cove were rude and unhelpful. Thank you Dave and Neroli from Endeavour Heights Homestay for their excellent accomodation, service and food!

Punga Cove rude and unhelpful staff

I have given this one star for the view. The resort itself is shabby, tatty and outdated. The furniture is chipped, dirty and mismatched and the whole resort has the impression of neglect. The customer service was a joke apart from one young man named Oliver who was polite and helpful.
The bedroom curtains had mould on them, the carpet was stained and the pool tiles were chipped and stained.
I could go on with more detail but i think my comments say it all.
Do not go,

Avoid

We had a Mamaku apartment which is very spacious and had amazing views. This was our favourite place on the track to stay. 

The unit included a spa bath, two separate bedrooms and a large deck. Overall more than comfortable. 

Dinner was good and the restaurant views outstanding. 

Reception was a bit slow checking in and it closes at 5 pm. 

The track leaves from behind the restaurant so that was good as it’s a long way down to sea level! 

I’d stay again.

Punga Cove Resort

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