The 14 Tours in Picton That Earn Their Price

1.Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 541 reviews · 4 hours · from $75Our pick

Spend about four hours aboard Beachcomber Cruises’ working mail boat, delivering post, groceries, and freight around Queen Charlotte Sound. Skippers such as Dylan, Ian, Greg, and Jason add local stories and answer questions as the route changes each day. Bring warm layers, sunscreen, food, and your own cup for tea or coffee.

“So enjoyed our trip. The boat captain was so great with his interesting commentary. Such a wonderful trip”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Beyond the Vines – Full-Day Marlborough Wine Tasting Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 438 reviews · from $136Top rated

Travel from Picton or Blenheim through Marlborough’s wine country with a small group of up to 11 people. Visit about five wineries, taste Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Riesling, Pinot Noir, and other local varieties, and stop for lunch at Saint Clair Vineyard Kitchen or another selected estate. Guides may include Gavin, Hamish, James, Keith, or Lynley.

“Our guide was outstanding and made some real time adjustments to plan at the group’s request. Great set of wineries. Great communication.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Coastal Pacific Train Journey from Picton to Christchurch

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 345 reviews · from $164

Take the Coastal Pacific from Picton to Christchurch at 1:40 pm for a 5-hour-40-minute scenic rail journey. You will pass Marlborough vineyards, 98km of Pacific coastline, Kaikoura, native bush, and the Canterbury Plains. Panoramic windows, GPS-triggered commentary, a café, and an open-air viewing carriage are included, while food and drinks cost extra.

“A wonderful way to experience the best of East coast South Island. Relaxing, beautiful and comfortable.”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Full Day Iconic Mail Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 321 reviews · from $86

Join Ross, Mark, or the Pelorus Mail Boat crew for a full day through Kenepuru and Pelorus Sounds. Mail, groceries, and freight go to remote homes while you watch for dolphins, seals, and blue penguins. Bring lunch and warm layers. Some trips include a farm visit or time for a swim, conditions permitting.

“Excellent communication from crew.We loved the whole trip.Weather wasn’t the best but enough seats inside as it got very cold on the top deck.”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Queen Charlotte Sound Mail Boat Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 295 reviews · from $75

From Picton, you’ll spend about four hours cruising Queen Charlotte Sound as the skipper delivers mail and parcels to remote bays and settlements. Expect local stories, native wildlife, beautiful coves, and a changing route. Skippers such as Jason and Daryl are praised for their local knowledge. Ship Cove stops operate from October through April.

“Nice relaxing cruise in the beautiful Queen Charlotte Sound. Good informative Captain of the history of the area. Inside and outside seating. Clean tidy Catamaran.”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Marlborough Sounds and Ship Cove Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 252 reviews · 3 hours · from $66

Leave Picton at 9:00am for a three-hour cruise through Queen Charlotte Sound to Ship Cove. Your English-speaking skipper shares local history and ecology, while the route may bring dolphins, seals, penguins, and seabirds. Boats range from a 9-seat launch to a 90-seat two-level catamaran.

“Nice little trip. Informative guide. Plenty of time to explore.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.InterIslander Ferry – Picton to Wellington

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 247 reviews · from $58

Travel from Picton to Wellington in about 3.5 hours by InterIslander ferry. You can bring a vehicle or travel on foot, carry two 23-kilogram bags, use the viewing decks, and buy meals and drinks onboard. The route passes through Queen Charlotte Sound before crossing Cook Strait and entering Wellington Harbour.

“Great view, nice ferry with few seating arrangements, cafes & food, good services. Need improvement in toilet cleanliness.”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Discover Marlborough Wine – Afternoon Marlborough Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 200 reviews · from $117

Spend four to five hours visiting four Marlborough wineries in a climate-controlled minivan. Guides such as Gavin, Glenn, Keith, and Phil explain the region’s wine story, vineyard work, and famous Sauvignon Blanc. Tastings, hotel transfers, and a group of no more than 11 are included. Eat before you go, as lunch is not part of the tour.

“A good little tour a short drive from Picton to the Marlborough area, really well hosted in a comfortable Mercedes van and always wonderful to learn/experience/taste wine in the Region it’s grown. Highly recommended.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Motuara Wildlife Sanctuary Tour and Dolphin Cruise from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 180 reviews · from $104

Spend about four and a half hours with E-Ko Tours exploring Queen Charlotte Sound by boat and on foot. Guides such as Bella, Andy, Will, Cam, and Nicky lead wildlife viewing and the Motuara Island walk. Expect seabirds, fur seals, possible dolphins, tea, biscuits, binoculars, and a PM glass of local wine.

“Great way to explore the charlotte sound track. Captain's commentary was great too. Lots to see from the boat and shore”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.The Hobbit Barrel Run Rafting Tour on the Pelorus River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 167 reviews · from $133

Set out from Bluemoon Lodge in Havelock for a guided rafting trip on the Pelorus River. You’ll wear supplied safety gear, paddle past filming sites from *The Desolation of Smaug*, and hear about local milling and mining. Guides such as Jade add a friendly touch, with showers and a hair dryer available afterward.

“We had a great time kayaking! Jade was a wonderful guide. There is a shower and hair dryer available if you decide to swim. I would definitely recommend!”

Check availability →Read our full review

11.Picton Cruise Ship Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 165 reviews · from $155

From Picton’s i-Site, a guide such as Bruce, Lucinda, Lisa, or Marsley drives you through the Koromiko Pass to Marlborough’s vineyards. Expect tastings at up to five cellar doors, a vineyard stop, lunch at your own cost, and handmade chocolate. Groups are capped at 11, with careful timing for cruise departures.

“The tour itself was very good. Our guide, Mike, was very knowledgeable and organized. Unfortunately, we were delayed by passengers arriving on a different cruise which meant rushing a very nice lunch and skipping one winery. This was certainly not the fault of Jade Tours.”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.CRUISE SHIP DAY Marlborough Hop On Hop Off Wine Tours

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 88 reviews · from $80

From Picton, ride an air-conditioned bus through Marlborough’s wine country, choosing stops at cellar doors, breweries, museums, cafés, chocolate makers and heritage sites. Drivers share local advice, and buses generally run about every 30 minutes. Tastings, meals and museum entry cost extra, so reserve popular wineries before you arrive.

“We had a great experience. The bus drivers were vey informative. The buses were comfortable and generally on time.”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Shore Excursion Marlborough Wine Region Tour from Picton

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 71 reviews · from $148

Meet at Picton i-SITE for a five-and-a-half-hour minivan tour through Marlborough’s wine country. Visit four cellar doors, taste sauvignon blanc and pinot noir, stop at Makana Confections, and usually pause for lunch at your own cost. Guides such as Gavin, Phil, Keith, Paula, and Dean lead the tour.

“Pickton is lovely. We had a five hour wine tour, visited four local vineyards. Each vineyard had its own unique personality. And it’s own unique and entertaining stories as well as beautiful landscape. We were able to try some great wines that we will never again experience living in the middle of the U.S.”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Picton Shore Excursion: Queen Charlotte Sounds Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 65 reviews · 1h 30m · from $50Best value

From Picton’s waterfront, you’ll join Beachcomber Cruises for a 90-minute sightseeing trip through Queen Charlotte Sound. Your English-speaking skipper points out bays, forested hills, seabirds, and possible dolphins, with time to feed fish. The cruise costs $50 per person and suits cruise-ship visitors with limited time.

“Beautiful nature along the Sounds and very nice crew. Unfortunately we only saw some small fish but would definitely recommend the cruise!”

Check availability →Read our full review