With one-fifth of the New Zealand coastline on its doorstep, Picton is a magical part of the country that you can explore with a Hertz rental car.
Located at the top of the South Island, in and amongst the Malborough Sounds, Picton might just be one of the prettiest spots you’ll see in New Zealand. With one of the world’s best waterfront views, you’ll be mesmerised by the surroundings when you step into the Picton Ferry Terminal. It might be that you’ve just finished an incredible North Island adventure, and you’ve taken the Inter-Island ferry across the Cook Straight, with the South Island now ahead of you. Whatever reason you’re here, it’s worth staying a while in Picton itself because this region has beauty on every corner.
Discover Picton with Hertz
Picton is a world-class destination for both domestic and international travellers. With two beautiful marinas, the waterfront here is one of the best in the world, made famous for its ever-changing scenic colours.
Taste your way through the town and enjoy some of the finest seafood. With the Malborough Sounds on its doorstep, you’ll never find fresher seafood than right here. There’s the Cortado Restaurant and Bar, Oxley’s Bar and Kitchen, and for pizza lovers, the Scoozi Woodfire Pizza has phenomenal reviews.
Explore Malborough in Your Rental Car
While most think they have seen the Malborough Sounds while on the Inter-Island Ferry, there’s still much to discover while staying in Picton.
The Malborough Sounds are one of the world’s most beautiful landscapes and home to diverse marine life. Often referred to as ‘paradise’, it’s one of the most spectacular waterways on earth. Head on a boat tour and discover it for yourself: spot orca, humpbacks, fur seals, dolphins, blue penguins, and more.
The Malborough Sounds region makes up a huge 15,000 kilometres of the entire New Zealand coastline, an impressive stretch. Four different sounds make up the entire Malborough Sounds region: Queen Charlotte, Kenepuru, Pelorus, and Mahau. You can explore Queen Charlotte by boat from Picton. Or, for the adventure lovers out there - perhaps attempt the incredibly scenic Queen Charlotte Track. It’s a 70-kilometre hike that takes three to five days to complete, but while you’re here, you’ll get undisturbed native forest and panoramic views of the Queen Charlotte Sounds, not seen by many who venture to the South Island, and the perfect escape into nature.
Of course, we couldn’t write about the Marlborough region without the most apparent association: wine. Marlborough is home to the largest wine region in New Zealand. The area produces 77 per cent of all wines here in New Zealand and, astonishingly, over 90 per cent of the Sauvignon Blanc in the country. It’s a remarkable area, and you’ll have to go on a wine tour while you’re here. The heart of the wine region is just a 15-minute drive from Picton. Try out some of the best wineries in the world, like Spy Valley Wines, Villa Maria Estate, Hans Herzog Estate, and Sugar Loaf Wines, to just name a few. There are 30 wineries in the region, and you could discover them all while on the Classic New Zealand Wine Trail, which is a gourmet taste of the finest produce here. Of course, please enjoy the wines safely, and always have a designated driver in your party.
Picton is truly a remarkable town, and it is situated in one of the most unique landscapes in New Zealand. Enjoy your time here before journeying into the rest of the South Island. It’s a magical place and one that you can experience fully with a Hertz rental car.
