Top 10 things to do in Picton on a Day Return
Interislander brings back day returns across Cook Strait. Book now for travel anytime in April - $99 fan Adult and $49 for a Child. Use promo code DT2025 when you book.
April is a great month for getting out and about. School holidays, Easter and Anzac Day means plenty of day trip opportunities. Avoid the traffic on the Remutakas to go wine tasting in Martinborough or the queues at Te Papa - jump on the Interislander Cook Strait ferry and head to Marlborough!
With three ferries crossing Cook Strait twice a day you can spend an hour to eight hours in Marlborough. Here are some of our favourite things to do. We should know. We have been carrying Kiwis across Cook Strait for over 60 years!
Cruising across to Picton
Hop on the 6:30am Aratere or, if you aren't an early bird, the 8:45am Kaitaki and you are on your way. You can catch the shuttle bus from Platform 10 at Wellington Railway station 70 minutes prior to your sailing.
You will get the best views of our stunning little capital as you pull out from the terminal and head across the harbour.
First priority, breakfast. Both ships have a choice of cafes with a view and premium lounges - Big Breakfast, Eggs Benedict, or pastries - with a freshly brewed flat white, latte or espresso. Sail passed Seatoun and into Cook Strait. Keep an eye out for dolphins, whales, albatross or gannets.
Cruise along Wellington's rugged south coastline and spot the West Wind windmills. Head across the Strait to Tory Channel - this is the ideal time to keep an eye out for dolphins or whales.
Enter the peace, and calm, of the Sounds as we glide past Arapaoa Island and into Queen Charlotte Sound. You will see mussel and salmon farms and the remnants of the whaling industry. More information on the highlights of a Cook Strait crossing.
1. Have lunch
If you are heading back on the 2:15 pm Kaitaki sailing you still have time to wander along the Picton foreshore with its Art Deco feel and palm trees. Grab one of the best toasted sandwiches you will ever taste from Toastie Lords on the waterfront or treat yourself to Blue Cod and chips watching the comings and goings on the harbour.
For more upmarket offerings there is Oxley's Bar & Kitchen where you can sample a local speciality, mussels, or for something different Sisu Eatery & Bar, Picton's Finnish-inspired restaurant.
Courtesy Marlborough NZ
2. Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
A lot of history is contained in a small building near the terminal - the Edwin Fox - from starting life in India in 1853 to carrying troops during the Crimean War; convicts to Australia; settlers to New Zealand; and, being converted to a floating freezer for New Zealand lamb. Rescued in 1965 and eventually being dry docked and preserved. The Edwin Fox Maritime Museum tells the stories of the vessel and the people who sailed on it.
3. Picton Heritage and Whaling Museum
Right on the foreshore is the Picton Hertiage and Whaling Museum where a dedicated team of local historians curate a window into the town's past. There is a focus on the whaling industry in the Marlborough Sounds; fearsome sharks; and, the doctor's bicycle which made house calls - a far cry from today's tele-medicine!
4. Go wine tasting
If you catch the 6:30 pm Kaiārahi back to Wellington you have enough time to venture out of Picton to experience what Marlborough is most famous for - the wine!
Do an organised tour or taxi to those close by - Johanneshof Cellars is the closest. Saint Clair Family Estate, Cloudy Bay Vineyards, and Allan Scott Family Winemakers all have excellent restaurants to accompany wine tastings at their cellar doors. Forrest Wines offers platters amongst the vines, often food trucks, beer tasting and music on a Sunday afternoon.
It does pay to book ahead. They can be busy, particularly if cruise ships are in the harbour and some have restricted opening hours over winter.
5. The Marlborough Sounds
Did you know that the Marlborough Sounds account for 20% of New Zealand's coastline? If your cruise along Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound on the ferry was not enough of a nautical adventure for you, there are a number of options to explore the Sounds by boat. Just along from the Interislander Terminal you can find a number of tour companies offering everything from seafood cruises, dolphin watching, albatross encounters to mail boats and water taxis. Kayak tours are also available.
6. Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre
A plane-spotters paradise, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, is Marlborough's leading visitors attraction for good reason. See aircraft from both World Wars and a vast collection of aeronautical memorabilia. You will often see vintage aircraft taking off and landing on the runway next door. There is a cafe and an aircraft themed gift shop.
The Centre is a half hour taxi ride from Picton.
7. Mountain bike Picton
Mountain bikers! Feel like a change of scenery? Take your bike on the Interislander . Get on your bike from our terminal and head for the hills.
Trails start at the Picton Marina or the car park in Sussex St. A short climb up to the reservoir and ridgeline gives you stunning views of Picton and the Marlborough Sounds. The Marlborough Mountain Bike Club describe the Picton trails as a "hidden gem in the top of the South" and a "must do while you are in Picton", and they have a guide to help you on your way.
8. Entertain the kids
Entertainment for our younger passengers starts onboard. If you are treating the kids to a ferry trip to Picton during the school holidays catch the 8:45 am Kaitaki sailing and Nigel the Magician will keep them busy for an hour or so while you relax with a coffee. There is also the Play Area on Deck 2.
If you only have a short time in Picton we suggest you wander around the beautiful Picton foreshore. The nautical themed playground features a pirate ship, water play area, mini golf and the very popular Picton model railway which operates most weekends for 20 cents a ride. Scoop ice cream comes highly recommended.
If you catch the Kaitaki or Aratere back to Wellington, then catch the latest kid's movie in our onboard cinema.
9. Head for the hills
The Tirohanga track offers panoramic views of Picton and its harbour. It's a 6.5 km (2.6 miles) trail that can be completed in less than two hours. Starting at Newgate Street, walkers ascend to a hilltop clearing, providing an excellent vantage point over Picton,
10. Visit the Picton i-Site and they will point you in the right direction
If you get off the Interislander without a plan to fill in the next couple of hours, we highly recommend the friendly and knowledgeable team in the Picton i-Site. This is, like most things in Picton, just a short walk across the road from our Terminal.
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am - 5:00pm; Saturday - Sunday 9:00am - 4:00 pm. Public holidays: 10:00am - 4:00pm.
Email: picton@marlboroughnz.com Phone: 03 520 3113
Plan Your Interislander Day Trip to Picton
With so much to see and do, Picton is the ideal destination for a day trip from Wellington. Book your Interislander ferry tickets in advance and get ready to explore this beautiful coastal town, and the Marlborough region.
Ready for your Picton adventure? Book your Interislander Day Return ticket today and experience the best of Marlborough on a day return trip across the Cook Strait!
Remember to use the promo code DT2025 to receive your special price.
