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All Picton Tours & Excursions in 2026

Cruises & Sailing

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Marlborough Classic Wine Tasting Tour.

Travel in a comfortable van, watch the beautiful countryside go by as we drive from location to location. Sample 4 different local wines at either 3 or 4 different cellar doors. Everything is all arranged and booked for you. Do you have a sweet tooth? We can also call into the Chocolate Factory as a free extra if you like. ARRIVING ON A CRUISE SHIP, PLEASE NOTE: -Shuttle buses will bring you from the cruise ship to the Picton Information Centre, and this is where I will be waiting for you. Start times/meeting time may change, so please do keep in contact. This is due to evey cruise ships arrival time is different.

Marlborough Classic Wine Tasting Tour.

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Coastal Pacific Train

The Coastal Pacific is one of the ‘Great Journeys of New Zealand’—a scenic train route that runs between Picton and Christchurch on the South Island. On this tour, enjoy a hassle-free experience with prepaid tickets and soak up the scenery on the one-way railway journey. Along the way, listen to the audio commentary, order refreshments from the on-board café (own expense), and admire views of the Pacific Coast, Kaikoura, and Canterbury Plains.

Coastal Pacific Train Journey from Picton to Christchurch

5 hours 40 minutes

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Spy Hoping Bottle nose

Search for rare seabirds and several species of marine mammals, such as Hector's, bottlenose and dusky dolphins along with New Zealand fur seals, during a half-day sightseeing cruise in the Marlborough Sounds. Cruise to Queen Charlotte Sound and take a nature walk on Motuara Island, where a predator-free landscape allows for plentiful birdlife. Listen to commentary from enthusiastic marine biologists, and treat yourself to tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cookies.

Motuara Wildlife Sanctuary Tour and Dolphin Cruise from Picton

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Ship Cove

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.

Half-Day Cruise in Marlborough Sounds from Picton

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Ship Cove from the AIr

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.

Captain Cook and Dolphin Cruise

4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Marlborough vine yard view

Take in the sights of Marlborough's wine-country scenery and taste some of the region's best offerings on this full-day tour from Blenheim or Picton. Make several stops at different wineries and taste Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, and Pinot Noir as well as some lesser-known varieties from the area. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included for central locations, making your experience seamless and relaxing.

Beyond the Vines - Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tasting Tour

6 hoursFree Cancellation

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Picton & Blenheim Scenic Tour

Picton & Blenheim Scenic Tour

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Flight Experience our Water and Wilderness Scenic Tour

An air tour is an ideal way to see the vast area of the Marlborough Sounds, much of which has no road access. Many visitors only see the relatively developed Queen Charlotte Sound, but on this tour by light aircraft you’ll fly above all four sounds. Be amazed by the views of mountains rising out of sunken river valleys, and even land at a remote, pristine beach in the outer sounds for 20 minutes.

Flight Experience our Water and Wilderness Scenic Tour

1 hour 15 minutesFree Cancellation

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King Shags only found locally

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.

Marlborough Sounds Ultimate Cruise

4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Cougar Line 3 Hour Delivery Cruise

3.5 Hour Marlborough Sounds Delivery Cruise

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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New Zealand South Island robin

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.

Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton

4 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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Enjoy Lunch and Wine

Learn the secrets to great wine on this full-day wineries tour of Marlborough, guided by a winemaker. Visit 4–6 wineries in New Zealand’s largest wine region, including a behind-the-scenes winery tour and tastings at every stage. Wine-tasting fees are included and you can purchase lunch at a top winery restaurant. Transfers and hotel pickup from the Blenheim and Renwick areas are included.

Full Day Winemakers Tour in Marlborough

6 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

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CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

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.

CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

4 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

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Walking the Queen Charlotte Track

Experience the beauty on Marlborough Sounds on foot and by boat through a guided walk with round-trip boat service. You can choose from three walks of varying length and challenge. These include Ship Cove, Endeavor Inlet or Torea Bay. Round-trip boat service drops you at the beginning and collects you at the end of your tour. A day hike is the perfect opportunity to experience the natural tranquility of the track, particularly if you have a shorter time-frame.

Self-Guided Queen Charlotte Track Walk from Picton

7 hoursFree Cancellation

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Enjoy a romantic outing.

Private Marlborough Winery Tour

6 hoursFree Cancellation

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Picton Foreshore view on arrvial

Marlborough Wine Region Tour from the Port of Picton

4 to 6 hoursFree Cancellation

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Greenshell mussel tasting in scenic Marlborough Sounds

Pair superb views of the Marlborough Sounds with a bowl of freshly steamed greenshell mussels on this culinary and sightseeing afternoon cruise. Sail aboard a boat with both indoor and outdoor viewing areas. Try a glass or two of local Marlborough wine (own expense), great for pairing with your mussels. Soak up the scenery, learn about marine farming in the Marlborough Sounds, and pass a local mussel farm.

Marlborough Sounds Greenshell Mussel Tasting Cruise

3 hoursFree Cancellation

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visit a range of Marlborough cellar doors

Discover Marlborough Wine - Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour

4 to 5 hoursFree Cancellation

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Seafood Odyssea Cruise in Marlborough Sounds

Discover the natural beauty and fresh seafood of the Marlborough Sounds on an afternoon cruise from Picton. Travel by luxury catamaran through the sheltered waters of Queen Charlotte Sound. Taste fresh, locally farmed salmon and Greenshell mussels on board, pairing them with a glass of local wine if you like (own expense). Learn about marine farming in the sounds, and admire the views of otherwise hard-to-reach places.

Seafood Odyssea Marlborough Sounds Cruise from Picton

3 hoursFree Cancellation

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Queen Charlotte Sound

Bays and Bush Flight Scenic Tour

40 minutesFree Cancellation

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Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough

Explore Marlborough’s renowned wine country with this fun and flexible hop on hop off tour. Choose your own itinerary using the timetable and detailed venue descriptions. Visit some of Marlborough’s best wineries, museums, bike tours, chocolate shops, and enjoy amazing food. Tickets are available for half-day or full-day options, letting you explore at your own pace without needing a car or designated driver.

Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Marlborough

4 to 7 hoursFree Cancellation

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Winery visit with tasting

Half-Day Wine Tour from Picton

3 to 4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Mail Boat Deliver

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.

Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

4 hoursFree Cancellation

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Kaitaki travelling through the Marlborough Sounds.

Take advantage of Interislander's daily ferry service from Picton to Wellington. Swap New Zealand’s South Island for the North Island, crossing the Cook Strait to the capital city. The Picton-to-Wellington ferry starts with a scenic cruise through the serene waters of Queen Charlotte Sound before entering the Cook Strait. The 3.5-hour crossing offers good views of both islands, providing a relaxed entrance into Wellington when the weather is good.

InterIslander Ferry - Picton to Wellington

3 hours 30 minutesFree Cancellation

Price varies by group size

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