Things to Do in Picton

When it comes to wine, the hills of Marlborough are alive with the sweet aroma of Sauvignon Blanc. This area on the northern tip of the South Island is renowned for its award-winning wine, and with over 160 different wineries, the area is New Zealand’s leading region for growing and exporting wine. Even with all of its accolades, however, there’s more to Marlborough than clinking glasses in sunny, grape-filled fields. Grab some boots and hike the length of the 42-mile Queen Charlotte Track—a serpentine route through the myriad curves of coastal Marlborough Sound. Explore the back roads of Marlborough’s coast and camp in its hidden bays, where Maori, whalers, and shipwrecked sailors have all left historical marks. Picton is the port of call for the ferry that crosses the strait to Wellington, but is also a town with salty charm and authentic maritime heritage. Hire a bike and explore the trails that weave through Marlborough Sound, or enjoy a glass of Sauvignon in one of Blenheim’s café. Or, to mix adventure with Marlborough’s vineyards, pedal your way between tasting rooms by hiring a bike in Blenheim, and drink in the rolling, Marlborough scenery in one of New Zealand’s sunniest spots.

Set at the top of New Zealand’s South Island, the Marlborough Sounds amazingly comprise one fifth of New Zealand’s coastline. Not because the region is large, however, but simply because the serpentine coast weaves in and out of so many bays it massively adds to the mileage. Here the coastline is so stunningly rugged that mail is still delivered by boat to towns that are cut off from roads, and visitors can actually ride along with the boat that’s delivering mail. It’s a rural time capsule that hearkens back to life in the 1800s, where sheep still roam the forested hills and fishermen ply the waters for mussels and live off the bounty of the sea.

For an authentic experience in Marlborough Sounds, hop aboard a seafood cruise to sample the clams, mussels, and salmon the Marlborough area is known for. Or, to scour the shore on your own two feet, hike the famous Queen Charlotte Track that weaves through Queen Charlotte Sound, or pedal your way up rolling green peaks by renting a mountain bike in town.