Top Picton Car Tours

Discover the award-winning wines and delicious cuisine of the Marlborough region on a private shore excursion from Picton for your group of up to six people. The exact itinerary is tailored to you, with plenty of time to sip locally made wines (own expense), browse art galleries, then pause for lunch (own expense) with views of Marlborough's rolling vineyards. Start in Picton and visit both Blenheim and Havelock.

Enjoy a morning cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound in the Marlborough Sounds, visiting historic Ship Cove, where Captain Cook landed in the 1770s. Disembark to see the memorial on the sheltered beach, as well as Māori wood carvings. On the return journey, cruise through Endeavour Inlet with passenger and freight drop-offs while listening to informative commentary about the marine life, cultural history, and natural features of the Marlborough Sounds.

Be amazed by the views of the bays, beaches, and mountains of the Marlborough Sounds on this half-hour scenic flight. Many parts of the sounds are difficult to access any other way, so taking a scenic flight is the easiest way of seeing a lot in a short time. Starting in Picton, you’ll fly over Queen Charlotte and Kenepuru Sounds, and catch views of the outer sounds along the way.

On your cruise ship stopover in Picton, make sure not to miss any of the top spots in the Marlborough wine region by booking this hop-on hop-off bus tour. Eliminate the hassle of navigating between top attractions around Blenheim, including numerous wineries, beer gardens, the Omaka Aviation Heritage Centre, and more. See what you want and skip the rest, and spend as much time at each location as you’d like.

When you have limited time, a delivery cruise is an ideal way to get around the Marlborough Sounds. Get an up-close look at remote homes and resorts while your boat delivers supplies to hidden coves and tucked-away bays. Learn about the ever-popular Queen Charlotte Track and relax while exploring miles of wild coastline.

During this half-day nature cruise in the Marlborough Sounds, enthusiastic marine biologists point out wildlife including New Zealand fur seals and several species of dolphins: Hector's, bottlenose, and dusky. Spot rare seabirds and learn about the history between Cook and the Māori people of Aotearoa while you’re treated to refreshments on board. Board in Picton and travel up Queen Charlotte Sound to difficult-to-reach Motuara Island and Ship Cove.

If you're looking for an unforgettable nature experience, look no further than the Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton. This tour takes you to one of New Zealand's rodent-free offshore sanctuaries, Motuara Island, where you'll see a variety of native birds in regenerating native bush. You'll also cruise to Meretoto / Ship Cove, a beautiful sheltered cove that was once a favorite spot of Captain James Cook. Compared with a traditional mail boat cruise, this tour offers more time seeing wildlife and less time parked on shore.

Take in a slice of rustic Marlborough living on this mail boat cruise of Tōtaranui / Queen Charlotte Sound. Life in the sounds is remote, and this tour offers the chance to share in the excitement of mail day. Enjoy a free morning in Picton before spending your afternoon cruising past isolated bays, with a unique route on offer each day. Ask your skipper about the history of the Queen Charlotte Sound, and benefit from their help spotting the wildlife that frequent these waterways.

Spend half a day among the thriving wildlife of the outer Marlborough Sounds on a small-boat wildlife tour from Picton. Spot rare sea birds like penguins and shags, plus a couple of species of dolphin, in Queen Charlotte Sound. Set foot on Motuara Island, a bird sanctuary Island that holds significance to colonial New Zealand history. Your guides are deeply knowledgeable about this area, so make the most of them and ask plenty of questions.