Picton is famed as the gateway to New Zealand’s islands and inlets of the Marlborough Sounds. It is an incredible city of ecotourism and conservation. Visitors are encouraged to tour the city by taking a road trip around Picton, NZ, in their rental cars from Hertz.
Picton is a close-knit community with an eclectic mix of cafes and restaurants. Due to its bay side location, a lot of the food fare consists of freshly caught or farmed local seafood. Its streets are lined with adorable mom-and-pop shops, boutique cafes, bistros and restaurants. Tourists’ gastronomical desires are guaranteed to be satisfied. Most eateries are located within the city centre, so hire a car and your travels from any area of Picton, New Zealand, will be very convenient.
Another of Picton’s iconic destination is the Queen Charlotte Track. This 70 kilometres long trail boasts a rich history, with incredible scenery lining the way and a range of affordable accommodation options, ranging from luxury water’s edge resorts to lodges to campsites. Located only a short distance from its city centre, it’ll be a quick drive there by rental car from Picton. The track offers panoramic ocean views and animal encounters such as the weka, wood pigeon and even seals. Mountain biking is also an option here due to its rugged terrain.
The Queen Charlotte Sound is also not to be missed. Tourists can hire a car from Picton CBD, NZ, to drive down to this untouched stretch of coastal paradise. It is rich with wildlife sanctuaries and home to native birdlife such as dolphin gulls, penguins and many other seabirds. Tourists can enjoy the beautiful beaches surrounded by native flora and fauna, and then retire to the nearby resorts. Visitors should not miss the historic Ship’s Cove, where explorer James Cook frequented when he anchored during his explorations around New Zealand in the 1770s.
For those eager to learn about NZ heritage, head to the Edwin Fox Ship and Visitor Centre. A perfect stopover from a road trip about Picton, it is the last surviving convict ship that took convicts to Australia and the oldest surviving merchant ship in the world. Open year-round, except for Christmas; this attraction is child friendly and a great all-weather activity. Located a short drive away from its CBD, this attraction is easily accessible by rental car from Picton, NZ.
Cycling is also big in Picton, with trails like Victoria Domain and the Marina to Marina trail being a hit with locals and tourists. The Domain trail takes riders from Picton Marina to the top of the ridge near a reservoir, where they can enjoy amazing views of the sound and watch Cook Strait ferries chug by. These trails are extremely scenic and their starting points can be easily accessed by hire car from Picton city centre.
Picton, New Zealand, is a scenic city with an incredible relationship with nature. A road trip about Picton, NZ, is surely a travel experience not to be missed.
