Picton

Understand

In 1962, the New Zealand Railways' chose Picton as the South Island terminal for its new Cook Strait road and rail ferry service, now known as the Interislander. Ferry GMV Aramoana provided the first roll-on-roll-off ferry service between two islands, dramatically cutting travel times and proving extremely popular. By 1976, Aramoana has been joined on the route by three other ferries and together they had effectively wiped out their maritime inter-island competitors, including the long-standing 'Steamer Express' overnight ferry between Wellington and Lyttelton. Today, five ferries operated by both Interislander and Bluebridge ply the Wellington to Picton route.

Picton i-SITE (The tourist information centre), The Foreshore (The western end of the foreshore on State Highway 1 opposite the train station, south of the Interlsland terminal), ☏ +64 3 520 3113, fax: +64 3 573 5021, [email protected].

Getting there

By boat

Passenger and vehicle ferries sail several times daily from Wellington to Picton, taking about 3½ hours.

Bluebridge (Strait Shipping), ☏ +64 4 471-6188, toll-free: 0800 844 844, [email protected]. Offers 3-4 sailings per day with two ships: Straitsman and Strait Feronia. Walk-on from $53 one-way; drive-on from $173 one way. (updated Nov 2017) Interislander, ☏ +64 4 498 3302, toll-free: 0800 802 802, [email protected]. Offers 5 sailings per day with three ships: Aratere, Kaiarahi and Kaitaki. Walk-on from $56 one-way; drive-on from $177 one-way. (updated Oct 2017) Cruise ships call at Picton during the summer season (October to April), ranging from small boutique ships to mega-ships such as regular visitor Ovation of the Seas (347 m long and 4,500 passengers). Cruise ships up to 245 m long berth at Waitohi Wharf alongside the Cook Strait ferries, while larger cruise ships berth at Waimahara Wharf on adjacent Shakespeare Bay and passengers are shuttled from the wharf to the i-Site Information centre in central Picton. One reason that cruise ships visit Picton is the very picturesque voyage in/out through the Queen Charlotte Sound. Make sure you get a good viewing position.

By plane Sounds Air operates frequent flights between Wellington and Picton from Picton Airport, 5 minutes south from Picton off SH1. A one-way fare is around $99, making the 25-minute flight a time-saving alternative to the ferry. Booking on-line is the cheapest choice. Sounds Air will pick you up from Picton by arrangement. Sounds Air also fly direct to Nelson for not much extra, if you aren't inspired to visit Picton.

By train

Coastal Pacific (formerly TranzCoastal), ☏ +64 4 495 0775, toll-free: 0800-872467 (in country only). The service operates daily between October and April from Christchurch via Kaikoura and connects with ferry sailings. This is a spectacular way to experience the Kaikoura coast. Departs Christchurch 07:00, arriving Picton 13:15.

Getting around

Picton has no local bus service. The "one-horse" town centre is easily explored on foot. If you need to get around and don't feel like driving, take a taxi.

Gateway Taxis, ☏ +64 3 573-7662.

By boat Queen Charlotte Sound is largely inaccessible by road, and many parts rely on boat transport. Water taxis depart from the 2 Picton Town Wharf, on London Quay at the top end of Wellington St.

Arrow Water Taxis, Town Wharf, London Quay, ☏ +64 3 573 8229, +64 27 444 4689, fax: +64 3 573-8266, [email protected]. Picton Water Taxis, London Quay, ☏ +64 3 573-7853, +64 27 551 1284, [email protected].

See

1 Edwin Fox Maritime Museum, Picton Foreshore (100 m from the rail ferry terminal), ☏ +64 3 573-6868, [email protected]. Daily 09:00–17:00. Built in 1853, the Edwin Fox is the 9th oldest ship in the world and is being restored. Adult $8, child $2.50. Marlborough Sounds. Memorial Park and the waterfront. 2 Picton Heritage & Whaling Museum, 9 London Quay (adjacent to Memorial Park), ☏ +64 3 573-8283. Daily 10:00-16:00. Adults $5, children $1.

Do

Drive to Karaka Point (7 km and 15 min from town; take first Waikawa Rd and then Beach Rd). 24 hr. Waikawa Bay is a suburb of Picton where the majority of the region's private yachts and power boats are moored. A 10-min walk begins at the car park and passes the site of a Maori pa (fortified village) before a lookout and stony beach. Kiwi Mini Golf, Foreshore, ☏ +64 3 573-7136. Picton Golf Club, SH1 Koromiko, ☏ +64 3 573-7750, [email protected]. Picton Model Engineers, Foreshore, ☏ +64 3 573 8122, fax: +64 3 573-7660. Every Sunday, every day of school holidays & every public holiday, 10:00-15:00 (weather permitting). Model railroad with elevated track: 21.5, 31.5 and 5 in gauges, boat pond. Train rides 20 cents, model yacht hire 20 cents. 1 Snout Walkway. Between Picton and Waikawa Bay is a peninsula covered in a mixture of native and exotic bush. Tracks range from a few minutes to 3½ hr. Cross the bridge at the eastern end of the Picton foreshore. The tracks begin at the foot of the hill. The Marlborough District Council produces a map available from the tourist information centre. Free.

Marine cruises There are a variety of cruises, including wildlife tours, scenic cruises, fishing and transport to and from tramping tracks. Most excursions depart from the Picton Town Wharf, on London Quay at the top end of Wellington St.

Beachcomber Cruises (The mail boat), Town Wharf, London Quay, ☏ +64 3 573 6175, toll-free: 0800 624 526, [email protected]. Cougar Line, The Waterfront, ☏ +64 3 573 7925, toll-free: 0800 50 40 90, fax: +64 3 573-7926, [email protected]. E-Ko Tours, 1 Wellington St, ☏ +64 3 573-8040, [email protected]. Runs a variety of tours, including dolphin, whale and bird watching tours. Marlborough Sounds Adventure Company, London Quay, ☏ +64 3 573-6078, toll-free: 0800 283 283, 1800 007 083 (from Australia), fax: +64 3 573 8827, [email protected]. 2007 New Zealand Tourism Award Winner. Mountain biking, kayaki

Buy

Precious minerals may be worth looking into, such as the lustrous greenstone from the wild, boulder-strewn rivers of the area. The area also favors a concentration of craftspeople, especially glass blowers, potters, weavers and wood carvers, who have been attracted by the high quality of raw materials.

The Gallery (At Evolve), 20 High St, ☏ +64 3 573-7908. Daily 09:30–17:30. Boutique art gallery dealing in New Zealand art, art jewellery, NZ art gifts and photography from Marlborough and New Zealand. 1 Picton Commercial Laundry & Laundromat, 81 High Street (opposite to Fresh Choice Supermarket), ☏ +6421734167. 24 hrs. Coin based laundry shop. Only $2 coins are supported but there is a machine to change coins. Hot and warm washing available. There is also a big washer for heavy duty washing. Wash $4, dry $2 for 8 minutes. (updated Jan 2025)

Eat

1 Cafe Cortado, cnr of High St & London Quay (opposite the War Memorial, park and waterfront), ☏ +64 3 573-5630. 08:00-late. Great place to eat breakfast, lunch