The bay is part of Grove Arm in Queen Charlotte Sound / Tōtaranui.

Picton is about 11 km to the southeast via Queen Charlotte Drive.

[4] Ngākuta is a combination of the Te Reo Māori words ngā,[5] meaning plural "the", and kuta,[6] a name for the tall spike sedge Eleocharis sphacelata.

Ngākuta Bay is described by Statistics New Zealand as a rural settlement.

It is part of the larger Marlborough Sounds East statistical area.