Picton NZ - best day trip options?

Hi,

Spending the day in Picton on one of our upcoming cruises.

I want to walk some of the Queen Charlotte track & was wondering what the best options are?

Do you have to book a tour or can you DIY from the cruise ship terminal?

How far from the cruise ship to the nearest part of the track?

What is the most scenic part of the track?

Thanks.:)

There is some info here.....

http://www.qctrack.co.nz/day-walks/

You would have to manage your time very well. Probably hire a car at Picton It would be a great drive just from Picton to the start of the track at Anakiwa.

There is some info here.....

 

http://www.qctrack.co.nz/day-walks/

 

You would have to manage your time very well. Probably hire a car at Picton It would be a great drive just from Picton to the start of the track at Anakiwa.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I had seen that site but couldn't find how far the track start is from the ship in drive time, do you happen to know?

Also is that end of the track as nice as any other or would it be better to take a ferry to another part & walk some of it?

Maybe the ships tour is the way to go after all but it is $130pp which seemed a lot for just walking a track, but I guess it may involve more in actually getting to the track & thus transport costs are high?

You need to be aware that Picton is a closed secure working port. Meaning you are forced to take a shuttle bus into town if you are doing your own thing. Only some private operators have a pass to enter onto the dock.

Shuttle buses and tour buses are placed right next to the gangway.

We were there in February and thought it was going to be a totally boring port. The weather started out not so great, but decided to go hiking in the Victoria Domain which is just across a small bridge from the town. Some good hiking trails. The sun came out soon after we started hiking and we realized just how stunningly beautiful the area is. We hiked almost all day in the Domain and it turned out to be one of the best days of our cruise. Not sure what your itinerary is, but Akoroa was another beautiful port for hiking.

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You need to be aware that Picton is a closed secure working port. Meaning you are forced to take a shuttle bus into town if you are doing your own thing. Only some private operators have a pass to enter onto the dock.

Shuttle buses and tour buses are placed right next to the gangway.

Need to clarify here. There are two wharfs that your cruise ship can dock at. The larger ships dock at shakespeares bay which is the closed port and you need to be bused to town. Ships like Sea Dawn Princess and larger use shakespeares bay. Smaller ships actually get to dock at the port right at the bottom of the small seaside town beside the interislander ferry terminal and its a 5 minute walk to town. This year when we have been busy ie 3 cruise ships here in a day the larger ships ( Dawn princess and Sea Princess ) tendered people in

We were there in February and thought it was going to be a totally boring port. The weather started out not so great, but decided to go hiking in the Victoria Domain which is just across a small bridge from the town. Some good hiking trails. The sun came out soon after we started hiking and we realized just how stunningly beautiful the area is. We hiked almost all day in the Domain and it turned out to be one of the best days of our cruise. Not sure what your itinerary is, but Akoroa was another beautiful port for hiking.

 

 

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thanks for this, I was going to walk the other way towards Queen Charlotte Track. Found Picton Walks, much better since I only have a few hours here:

http://www.marlborough.govt.nz/Your-Council/News-Notices/~/~/media/Files/MDC/Home/Recreation/PictonWalks.ashx