Queen Charlotte Track
73.5 km of ridgeline and bay from Meretoto / Ship Cove to Anakiwa — walked in 3–5 days, ridden in 2–3, or sampled in a day by water taxi.
Further afield
Day trips from Picton
By water into the Sounds, by road along Queen Charlotte Drive, or south to the wine region and the Kaikōura coast. Transport is spelled out for each — several of these do not need a car.
Photo: Jonathan Harker / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0
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Motuara Island
A predator-free bird sanctuary in the outer sound — saddleback, robin and kākāriki — with a lookout tower on its 128 m summit.
Meretoto / Ship Cove
Cook's anchorage on all three voyages, New Zealand's first historic reserve, and the start of the Queen Charlotte Track.
Queen Charlotte Drive
The slow, scenic road from Picton toward Havelock and Nelson, with lookouts over the Grove Arm.
Havelock
The small town at the head of Pelorus Sound / Te Hoiere, at the far end of the Link Pathway.
Blenheim and the Marlborough wine region
New Zealand's largest wine region — nearly 31,000 hectares of vines — starts half an hour south of Picton.
Kaikōura
The whale-watching coast, about two hours south — on the Coastal Pacific line and the InterCity route.
Wine tours from Picton
Guided minivan tours to the Wairau Valley cellar doors, with pick-up in Picton.
The Coastal Pacific train
The seasonal scenic train between Picton, Blenheim, Kaikōura and Christchurch.
Common questions
Can I visit the Marlborough wineries from Picton without a car?
Yes — Marlborough Wine Tours, Sounds Connection, Marlborough Tour Company and Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours all pick up in Picton. InterCity coaches also reach Blenheim in about 30 minutes.
Plan by the time you have
Every place on this site carries a realistic time band. Pick the gap you need to fill.