Picton

Picton is a small but important town at the top of the South Island, serving as the gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. For many travellers, it's the gateway to the Marlborough and Nelson Bays regions. The town is a major hub in New Zealand's transport network, linking the South Island road and rail network with ferries that cross Cook Strait to and from Wellington in the North Island.

Picton is primarily accessed by ferry from Wellington across Cook Strait. Two ferry operators serve the route: Interislander offers 5 sailings per day with three ships (Aratere, Kaiarahi, and Kaitaki) with walk-on fares from $56 one-way and drive-on from $177 one-way. Bluebridge offers 3-4 sailings per day with two ships (Straitsman and Strait Feronia) with walk-on from $53 one-way and drive-on from $173 one-way. The Coastal Pacific train service operates daily between October and April from Christchurch via Kaikoura, connecting with ferry sailings—departing Christchurch 07:00, arriving Picton 13:15.

Picton has no local bus service. The town centre is easily explored on foot. Taxis are available for those who need to get around without driving.

The Marlborough Sounds surround Picton, offering stunning natural scenery. Memorial Park and the waterfront provide pleasant public spaces. The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum displays the Edwin Fox, built in 1853 and the 9th oldest ship in the world, with adult admission $8 and child $2.50, open daily 09:00-17:00. The Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum at 9 London Quay charges Adults $5, children $1, open daily 10:00-16:00.

Picton offers diverse activities in the Marlborough Sounds region. Beachcomber Cruises operates from Town Wharf as "the mail boat." Cougar Line offers cruises from the waterfront. E-Ko Tours runs dolphin, whale and bird watching tours from 1 Wellington St. The Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company on London Quay, a 2007 New Zealand Tourism Award Winner, offers mountain biking, kayaking, and Queen Charlotte Walkway hiking with tours or freedom hire. For land-based activities, the Snout Walkway between Picton and Waikawa Bay offers tracks ranging from a few minutes to 3½ hours, free entry. Picton Model Engineers on the foreshore offers train rides for 20 cents and model yacht hire for 20 cents on Sundays and holidays.

The area is known for greenstone (pounamu) from the wild, boulder-strewn rivers of the region. The Marlborough region also has a concentration of craftspeople, especially glass blowers, potters, weavers and wood carvers attracted by high quality raw materials. The Gallery at 20 High St is a boutique art gallery dealing in New Zealand art, art jewellery, NZ art gifts and photography, open daily 09:30-17:30.

Cafe Cortado at the corner of High St and London Quay offers breakfast, lunch or dinner with mains mostly $20-32, open 08:00-late. Le Café at 12-14 London Quay serves breakfast, lunch or dinner with a large selection of local wines and beers, often organic food, with occasional live music in evenings. Picton Village Bakkerij at 46 Auckland St is a Dutch bakery open M-F 06:00-16:00, Sa 06:00-15:30, selling European-style sandwiches, breads and cakes. Gusto at 33 High St is a small funky cafe with good coffee.

Seumus's Irish Bar at 25 Wellington St claims to have one of the best pints of Guinness in the southern hemisphere, open W-Th 15:00-23:00, F Sa 12:00-01:00, Su 12:00-22:00.

Budget accommodation includes Sequoia Lodge & Backpackers at 3 Nelson Square with bunks from $30 and rooms from $80, offering 4-6 bed dorms, twin rooms and double rooms. The Villa Backpackers Lodge at 34 Auckland St, a converted early 20th-century boutique character home with garden and spa pool, has beds from $28 and rooms from $87. Mid-range options include Jasmine Court - Traveller's Inn at 78 Wellington St, a quiet 5-star motel with king beds, spa baths, SKY TV, and wireless internet at $130-195. Picton Beachcomber Inn at 27 Waikawa Rd offers hotel accommodation with Whalers Bar and Restaurant (mains around $40).

Picton, like all small towns in New Zealand, has a volunteer fire brigade with firefighters called out by a siren atop the station in High Street. The siren is tested every Monday night (excluding public holidays) at 19:00.

Blenheim is the largest town in Marlborough and centre of the Marlborough wine region, famous for its Sauvignon Blanc. Havelock, also in the Marlborough Sounds, is the green-shell mussel capital of the world. Nelson Bays offers the sunshine city of Nelson with art galleries, theatres, fine restaurants, neo-gothic Christ Church cathedral, beaches and popular national parks. State Highway 1 connects Picton south to Christchurch via Blenheim, and north to Wellington via ferry.