Picton, New Zealand - Review and Recommendations

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Picton is the northernmost town on the South Island in New Zealand.  Known as the gateway to the Marlborough Sounds, Picton has much to offer in the way of adventure and sea life.  The Marlborough Sounds is a network of four distinct sounds and according to Maori legend, the sounds are .the sunken prows of the wakas (canoe style boats) of the Aoraki.  Here are some of what we enjoyed in Picton.

 

Wildlife:  Picton is working very hard to preserve and protect its native species.  Many of New Zealand’s birds are non-flying species.  When Europeans began settling in the islands they brought animals with them that began devastating the birds.  Picton has taken it upon themselves to create areas that predators to these non-flying birds cannot enter.  They are working to bring back the numbers of the species that live around them.  We had the wonderful opportunity to hike through one of these such areas to see as many of the birds as we could.  Really a worthwhile activity.

 

Water:  You can’t be in Picton and not spend some of your time on the water.  Between sailing and sea life, there are many opportunities to be out on the water.  We were originally scheduled to go and see Dolphins and other sea creatures but due to time, we had to change our plans.  I would encourage you to get out on the water!

 

Wine:  The Marlborough Sounds area is known for its wines.  If you enjoy wines, you should spend some time here and go exploring the different vineyards and wineries in the area.  You can’t go wrong with good wine and the beautiful area around Picton.

 

There are many areas around New Zealand and have a Scottish influence and Picton seems to be one of them.  We were greeted to bagpipes playing as we come into the center of town.  It was a fun and unexpected added touch to this beautiful town.

 

When you are ready to plan your trip to New Zealand, contact us, your New Zealand Specialists.  We can help you get the most out of your trip to New Zealand and Picton.