Travel to Picton and Marlborough Sounds
The Town of Picton
Picton is a small town with around 4,400 residents located in the north of New Zealand's South Island, serving as the gateway to the South Island since ferries from Wellington, at the south of the North Island, arrive at Picton Harbour.
Picton Harbour is also used by many cruise ships that visit New Zealand as part of a nationwide cruise usually departing from Australia.
Picton is located in the Marlborough Sounds maritime park, which is an intricate maze of waterways, islands with sandy beaches, and coves shaped by the sea and glaciers during the Ice Age. It consists of two main areas, with the closest to Picton and most impressive being Queen Charlotte Sound.
Adjacent to the port is a marina with yachts and a wide variety of walking tracks suitable for all fitness levels, offering breathtaking views of the stunning turquoise-blue waters of the sound dotted with boats, surrounded by lush native forests.
The town features a main street named London Quay running parallel to the waterfront, where most of the town's restaurants are concentrated. Highly recommended is a lovely tapas restaurant called Café Cortado, which is actually a bar/restaurant/café offering a variety of delicious small plates.
Perpendicular to it is the town's main shopping street: HIGH STREET.
A footbridge connects the town center to a peninsula rich in delightful walking and mountain biking trails. Near the bridge is a sandy beach named Shelley Beach. From the middle of the bridge, you can enjoy a lovely view of the harbor and the town.
Recommended Accommodation in Picton:
Beachcomber Inn Picton
A 4-star hotel located in the town center overlooking the harbor. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and rooms suitable for 2-4 guests.
It offers an on-site bar and restaurant, room-service breakfast, as well as free Wi-Fi and parking.
Escape To Picton Boutique Hotel
A high-quality boutique hotel in the town center. The rate includes a continental breakfast. The hotel features spacious, elegant suites accommodating up to two adults each. It offers a restaurant, wine bar, gardens, and a sun terrace. Adults only. Free Wi-Fi and parking are included.
The Moorings - Luxury Waterfront Apartment
A 120-square-meter holiday apartment with two bedrooms and a living room designed for four adults, featuring a fully equipped kitchen and a private swimming pool. The apartment has a terrace overlooking
the marina and BBQ facilities. Free Wi-Fi and parking. Located in the town center.
♦ Recommended tours in Picton to book on Viator:
Recommended Easy Walking Tracks:
Lower Bob’s Bay Track – About a 30-minute walk along the lower part of the cliff through lush vegetation with magnificent views of the sound and harbour.
Harbour View Track – About a 20-minute walk along another scenic, higher trail. Great for returning back to the town center.
Snout Track has two sections: from the car park to Queen Charlotte View lookout – a 50-minute walk along a peninsula along the sound, and from this lookout to the tip of the peninsula: Snout Head – an additional 40-minute walk.
About a 10-minute drive east of Picton (along the coastline), it is highly recommended to stop for a scenic viewpoint and a short 10-minute walk on the Karaka Point Track.
Museums
Picton also features several museums (especially suitable for rainy days), the most popular being:
A maritime museum named Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
Heritage & Whaling Museum Picton
EcoWorld Aquarium and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
EcoWorld Aquarium and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
It is recommended to visit Picton's excellent visitor center
Picton i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, located in the town center.
Address: The Foreshore, Auckland Street, Picton 7220
Short Video About Traveling in Picton:
Queen Charlotte Walkway
The most popular track in the region, attracting many travelers from all over the world, is the Queen Charlotte Walkway, which offers spectacular views of the sound along its entire length. You can hike the full 67 kilometers of the track or explore only parts of it using water taxis and staying in small, secluded lodges or hotels along the way.
The full track starts at Ship Cove, reached via an approximately two-hour boat cruise from Picton, ends at Anakiwa, and takes between 3 to 4 days.
Mail Boat Cruise
A wonderful way to experience Queen Charlotte Sound is a cruise on The Mail Boat Cruise, which delivers mail to isolated settlements, lodges, and guesthouses along the bay that can only be reached by boat.
♦ Book a Mail Boat Cruise from Picton on Viator:
Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise
Map of the Mail Boat Cruise Route:
During the scenic cruise, you reach tiny settlements home to just a few families, as well as secluded lodges ideal for those seeking peace and tranquility in breathtaking scenery, fresh air, and magical beaches.
Isolated destinations reached by the Mail Boat:
It is worth noting that the sea water is quite cold (12°C in winter and only 18°C in summer) and not particularly suited for swimming for travelers accustomed to the warm waters of the Mediterranean Sea. The cruise departs daily at 1:30 PM and lasts about 4 to 4.5 hours. There are four different routes depending on the day of the week, as the boat delivers mail to these settlements only once or twice a week. Mail has been delivered this way to the settlements for over 150 years! The boat skipper hands over the bundles of letters and treats the local residents' dogs with goodies. Dolphins jumping alongside the boat are also frequently spotted during the cruise.
The company operating the cruise is Beachcomber Cruises, which also runs other cruises such as the Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary Cruise, the Paua Pearl Tour, and more.
Short Video About the Mail Boat Cruise:
Marlborough Wine Region
Less than half an hour south of Picton lies the Marlborough Wine region, home to an abundance of wineries where you can visit and taste wines, liqueurs, and even beers.
Most wineries are situated in the Blenheim area. You can visit them independently for wine tastings and even a gourmet meal (booking meals in advance is recommended); however, if you wish to avoid drinking and driving, it is best to join a guided winery tour that includes tastings and plenty of fascinating commentary.
♦ Recommended Guided Winery Tours to Book on Viator:
Near the wineries is a boutique chocolate factory (specializing in handmade pralines) named Makana Confections, which you can visit.
Scenic Drive - Queen Charlotte Drive
Between Picton and the closest major city, Nelson, runs a scenic route named Queen Charlotte Drive, offering some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in New Zealand. It is a winding road running along the coastline between picturesque towns and nature parks. It is recommended to drive slowly and stop at as many organized scenic viewpoints along the route as possible.
Picton and Nelson are also connected by a faster highway, State Highway 6, but it is recommended not to miss the leisurely drive on the scenic route (during daylight hours, of course).
For those arriving in Picton or Nelson from the south (from the glaciers and Hokitika region), it is highly recommended to visit Nelson Lakes National Park along the way. Spanning 1,020 square kilometers, the park includes Lake Rotoiti (meaning "Little Lake" in Māori) and Lake Rotoroa (meaning "Long Lake")—two picturesque lakes surrounded by mountains, valleys, and surrounding mountain ranges. The park is located near the town of Saint Arnaud, where the New Zealand Department of Conservation office managing the park is situated.
Lake Rotoiti:
The park offers numerous hiking trails of various difficulty levels, with popular activities including swimming in the lake, boating, and fishing. It is a preferred camping destination for travelers in the northern South Island.