There’s more to Picton than the ferry terminals. I promise.

If you find yourself looking for things to do in Picton, you’ll be pleasantly surprised I think. Here are some of the things I do when I’m there.

THINGS TO DO IN PICTON

1. RIDE ON THE MAIL CRUISE BOAT

If you find yourself in Picton, I’m guess you’ll have either caught or will be catch the Bluebridge/Interislander ferry. The views are great, but if you want another experience on the waters of the Sounds, the cruises run by Beachcomber Cruises are awesome.

They have a few offerings, but for a unique experience, the Mail Boat Cruise is for you. Throughout the ride, you’drop off mail to residents. In addition to that, you might get to see some dolphins and other sea life along with a helpful skipper full of knowledge about the area.

And you’ll be able to get off at Ship Cove (now known as Meretoto / Ship Cove) for 15-30 minutes, a place steeped in history we’re all familiar with.

I caught the earlier Ship Cove Cruise and found the skipper super entertaining and seeing dolphins swim alongside the boat was fun.

2. VISIT THE PICTON MUSEUM

I really enjoy these museums you find in smaller local museums. The curation process must be a lot different compared to the ones like Te Papa, but it’s this less formal style I like.

They’ve Picton Museum focuses on the Maori, whaling, maritime and heritage in and around Picton.

I spent about 45 minutes in there quite easily and found the displays interesting, particularly the ones talking about the whaling and history of Picton.

Entry fees: $5 adults, $1 children

For opening hours it’s usually between 11 am and 3 pm, but you can always call +64 3 573 8283 to confirm.

3. TAKE ONE OF THE NICE WALKS IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA

There are some amazing walks in Picton and they can be accessed via a short walk from town (this does not include the Queen Charlotte Track.

Here they are:

• Tirohanga Track: An end to end walk over the hill right behind the town. It takes up less than half your day, and the summit viewpoint looks directly out over the habour into the sound.
• Snout Track: One of the many walks in Victoria Domain, I usually tie this in with one of the Bob’s Bay Tracks. Gives you a stop at a beach if you like.
• Esson Valleys: A popular track for dog walkers through the native forest. And yes, it’s through a valley so it’s a very flat track. The two destinations on this walk are Humphries Dam and Barnes Dam. I personally prefer Barnes Dam.
• The Link Pathway: This is a walk that stretches 35km from Picton to Havelock. Of course, that’s a long way. As it’s an out and back walk and unless you hitchhike back to Picton from one of the spots where the track crosses the road, you’ll need to keep your turn around point in mind. A comfortable distance for many will make that Whenuanui Bay Lookout (10-12km return).

4. WALK A SECTION OF THE QUEEN CHARLOTTE TRACK

To walk the full length of the Queen Charlotte Track takes an estimated 3 to 5 days for most. But there are a few days hikes you can do.

A popular option is to take one of the Beachcomber Cruises out to Ship Cove, where you then get picked up from Furneaux Lodge (more details here). The walk is about 15km (maybe a little less) and you’ll have at least five hours to complete it.

The other option is to drive (or catch a boat) to Anakiwa, the traditional endpoint of the Queen Charlotte Track and walk from there. A 30km round trip would take you all the way to the Onahau Lookout where this viewpoint is. That’s a pretty long day though.

If you weren’t aware, there’s a road, Keneperu that you can drive along and that gives you access to some of the towns the Queen Charlotte Track passes by. So you can walk from them to, Te Mahia and Portage for example.

5. RIDE THE LINK PATHWAY

The Link Pathway is open to those who prefer a bike ride to a walk as well. As per the walk, you can ride as little or as much as you like.

You’ll be able to cover more distance than hiking, so if you’re pretty confident with your riding skills to a return trip from Picton to the Groves Arm Jetty which will be in the 35km-ish range return.

6. CHILL OUT ON THE BEACH

I mentioned Bob’s Bay Beach earlier, and while that is a nice spot, there’s also Shelley Beach which is closer to town. You probably should just visit both of them though, and stay at the one you prefer the most.

Both beaches face west, so they get full afternoon sun 🙂

Picton isn’t just the town you need to go via to head to the North Island, or the town you need to arrive in before exploring the Marlborough Sounds and South Island.

It’s a great little town with locals who love the place for the lifestyle and for us visitors, there are enough things to do in Picton to spend a couple of relaxed days there.

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Jub

Hey, it’s Jub here. I’m the guy behind Chur New Zealand, helping you have the best time hiking, trekking, walking…whatever you want to call it…in NZ. I’m based in Queenstown and am always out and about exploring trails, old & new. If you have any questions, reach out.