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Picton is the South Islands terminal for the Interisland Ferries that cross Cook Straight to link the North and South Islands Picton is located in the Marlborough Region, in the north-eastern corner of the South Island of New Zealand., near the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, 28 km north of Blenheim.

The first Europeans to find Marlborough was Captain James Cook and the crew aboard the Endeavour in 1769. Cook was to return again in 1773 as captain of the Resolution, both times they spent time in the Queen Charlotte Sounds at Ships Bay to make repairs to their vessels. On Cooks second visit, nine members of the crew were killed and eaten by Maori at Grass Cove, in Queen Charlotte Sound. 1826 Captain John Guard established the first land based whaling station in the South Island at Cloudy Bay, on the east side of Marlborough on the Pacific Ocean.

Today Picton is a thriving tourist destination, it is the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, an area renowned for its fishing, aquaculture and ecotourism. Picton is a pleasant port village, with a population of about 3000 people, it is a nice place to base yourself and to explore the surrounding area from. Close to the township are several short walks through native bush that take you to quiet beaches and lookouts, offering stunning views of the Marlborough Sounds.

Picton is also the gateway to the Queen Charlotte Track. Starting from the historic Ship Cove, this spectacular 67km walking track combines unforgettable coastal and bush scenery with awesome views of the Marlborough Sounds, ending at Anakiwa near Picton, Visitors can walk the entire track taking three or four days, or simply enjoy a short section of the track. Most people use local boat services to drop them off at set points on the track, arriving or departing the walkway by boat adds to the experience. There is plenty of accommodation and restaurants along the track and the use of boat transportation also offers the additional advantage of pack transfer to your next nights accommodation.

Picton’s activities include sailing, fishing, biking, hiking and hunting. Several companies operate out of Picton offering a choice of activities including kayaking, boat trips, dolphin and seal watching, Eco tours and diving to the wreck of the Soviet passenger cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov. The small township of Waikawa is almost part of Picton. Waikawa’s marina is one of the largest in New Zealand.

If you are travelling to Picton You can visit the Marlborough Aquarium, view the resident octopus and many other fish species. The Picton Maritime Museum has remnants from the region’s whaling era and the restored sailing ship, The Edwin Fox, which was built in Calcutta in 1853.

Picton has a handful of lively cafes, all serve very good food and award winning local wines. The town gets very busy just after one of the Interisland ferries docks, but most tourists head south to the larger centre of Blenheim, leaving this charming town to a lucky few visitors and the friendly locals. Most people don’t realise that Picton has the full range of accommodation, from campsites to luxury lodges. You can check and pre-book your Picton accommodation with Costasur and be assured that a quality stay is waiting for you in the top of the south. Enjoy your stay in Picton.