The picturesque waterfront town of Picton in the Marlborough region serves as a convenient base for your car rental road trips to explore the exquisite Queen Charlotte Sound and Marlborough Sounds. Picton is the home of award-winning restaurants, tourism activities and simple pleasures that your family would love, including sailing, scuba diving, fishing, biking and hiking. Hit the road to experience some of these great attractions or head further a field on a road trip.
Picton Activities
Special events including the Marlborough Walk, Foreshore and Maritime Festivals, fishing competitions, the Marlborough Wine Festival, cruise ship visits, Pelorus Jack harbour jetboat racing, yacht races and rowing regattas will keep you entertained throughout the year.
The Picton Foreshore is a great place for families, offering a mini golf course, children’s merry-go-round, paddle boats and a safe swimming beach. There are also shops, restaurants, gift shops and galleries to sample while you are here.
Picton Road Trips
Marlborough Sounds offers long sheltered inlets, clear waters and sandy bays. You may hike through the forest or kayak around the headlands to discover a fresh location each day. Discover Lake Grassmere, a shallow lagoon protected from the open sea by a sand bar, where salt is deposited and extracted. Take a boat trip to the Long Island-Kokomohua Marine Reserve and view dolphins, seals, penguins and other sea life.
Queen Charlotte Track is also a good place to walk or bike for days through native forests. In Queen Charlotte Drive you can navigate the spectacular winding road that links Havelock to Picton. This is like cruising the Marlborough Sounds but without a boat!
The short drive to Blenheim takes you across the Wairau Plains past vineyards and wineries. Diversions along the way include a golf course and farm parks. Blenheim is the heart of wine-growing Marlborough. You’ll find a pleasing selection of cafes, restaurants, pubs, shops and golf courses and a range of accommodation from homestays to boutique hotels. There are also more than 20 wineries within driving distance of the town offering outstanding local wines. We advise you leave your rental car at your accommodation that day!
Before leaving Picton, don’t forget to catch a water taxi and escape to d’Urville Island, a peaceful sanctuary where you can swim, fish, kayak, explore native forests trails and enjoy breathtaking panoramic views.
Picton Travel
Getting around Picton is easy with a rental car and there are plenty of options for you to choose from.
New Zealand Rent A Car has car rental locations throughout New Zealand and the South Island, including a handy Picton car rental depot, offering a wide range of reliable affordable rental cars to suit all budgets.
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