Picton is one of our favourite place in New Zealand. Not only is it the home to our lovely hotel, the Picton Yacht Club, it’s also the gateway to the stunning Marlborough Sounds which makes it the ideal destination for a weekend away whether you live in the North or South Island or you are visiting New Zealand from overseas.
The Marlborough Sounds are simply a stunning place to spend a few days exploring and you can do this on foot, by bike or by getting out onto the water and discovering some of the amazing marine life the Sounds offer a home to.
The perfect place to base yourself for exploring the Marlborough region is Picton – whether you arrive by car, ferry or plane, it’s a beautiful seaside town with lots to offer.
Here are our top 3 things to do on a weekend away to Picton.
1. Cruising the Marlborough Sounds
If you arrive to Picton by ferry on the InterIslander from Wellington, you will get a glimpse of the stunning beauty of the Marlborough Sounds but nothing beats take a cruise out onto the extensive waterways that makes up the Sounds. There are plenty of ways to explore the water – kayak or charter your own boat but our favourite is to take a guided cruise. Not only do the cruise companies operating on the Marlborough Sounds know every inch of the waterways like the back of their hands, they also know where the best spots are for dolphin and seal spotting as well as providing you with a detailed history of the Sounds.
2. Tramp the Queen Charlotte Track
The Marlborough Sounds seen from the Queen Charlotte Track
One of the biggest attractions in these parts is the Queen Charlotte Track, one of New Zealand’s most beautiful and most accessible tracks. In its entirety, the 71km track traverses the headland between Kenepuru Sound and the Queen Charlotte Sound and whilst it is possible to tramp the whole track, we recommend a series of one day walks to get you into the swing of things. It is possible to get dropped off down the track and then walk back to Picton and there are a number of providers who operate this service. There are day walks for people of all abilities and fitness and wherever you walk on the track, you are guaranteed a breath taking day.
3. Marlborough Wine Tasting
The Marlborough region is perhaps the most famous of all of New Zealand’s wine producing region and is certainly the biggest. If you are looking for a great day out whilst you are staying in Picton, a short drive to Blenheim will take you into the wine growing capital of the region and from here you have a number of options when it comes to wine tasting. Our personal favourite is to do the wine tour by bike – a great opportunity to see the stunning countryside at bike pace with the welcome break of a beautiful vineyard every few miles. Explore Marlborough Wine Tours offer some great packages and a great way to explore the region.
These are just our personal favourites and a great way to spend a weekend. If you are staying down in the Picton region for longer, make sure you keep following our Facebook page for more tips and advice on things going on in the area.