Picton
All information about Picton Cruise Port. Timetable for the arrival of ships, the time of their stay and the number of passengers. Picton Port news. Weather forecast and historical weather, as well as water temperatures around Picton.
Picton: tourist information
The bustling port of Picton is the terminal for inter-island ferries, and gateway to the ‘Mainland’, the South Island’s self-proclaimed nickname.
Picton is 30 km north of Blenheim at the head of the picturesque Queen Charlotte Sound. The town dates from 1827 when John Guard established a whaling station in the sounds, and soon after the port began to ship produce from the Waiau Plains.
Today it serves mainly as a transit centre for Cook Strait travellers, and boasts a wide choice of accommodation and fine restaurants with delicious seafood fresh from the sounds. There are indoor/outdoor cafés on the waterfront and a good selection of arts, crafts and souvenirs.
The placid waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound are a playground for all manner of water sports. Launches, yachts, powerboats and sea kayaks can be chartered or hired. Fishing, diving and scenic trips are available and water-taxi services run on demand. A regular shuttle takes trampers to various points on the beautiful Queen Charlotte Walkway, which is one of New Zealand’s Great Walks. The 67 km walk starts at Ship’s Cove, which was Captain Cook’s base in New Zealand on his three voyages of discovery, and ends at Anakiwa near Picton.
Local sights begin on Picton’s attractive foreshore, where visitors can enjoy splendid views up the harbour from picnic benches set among the palm trees. Picton Museum has relics from the whaling era and a fascinating old sailing ship, the Edwin Fox, which is being restored. The ship was built in 1853 for the British East India Company and is the sole survivor of the original immigrant ships on the New Zealand run. Another fascinating old ship is the coastal scow Echo, which plied the Wellington to Picton run many years ago. To see this craft and the maritime museum tourists can follow an interesting walking track from the Picton Marina to Bob’s Bay.
Picton is an open door to a whole new experience of unspoilt nature, in these tranquil waters, where magical hideaways and private bays can be reached by water-taxi.
Location
Picton Cruise Port Schedule
Picton in the News
- Mar 8, 2023
Luxury Cruise Line Rents Entire Island for Passengers and Locals Silversea Cruises rented out the entire of Kalanggaman Island in the Philippines on February 10, ... - Mar 2, 2023
Fred Olsen's MS Borealis to set sail on a 2nd world cruise from Southampton UK in early 2024 Fred Olsen Cruise Line's ship Borealis recently set sail on the Around the World in 80 Days voyag... - Feb 21, 2023
Interislander ferry turns back to Wellington NZ due to medical emergency on board An Interislander ferry had to turn back to Wellington (New Zealand) shortly after setting sail on... - Feb 14, 2023
Interislander ferry Aratere breaks down in Cook Strait NZ An Interislander ferry broke down in the Cook Strait Sunday evening, February 12th, and drifted w... - Jan 28, 2023
Mooring Line Snaps Off Holland America Cruise Ship A powerful rain and wind storm in New Zealand caused problems at the Ports of Auckland on January... - Jan 10, 2023
Cyclone Hale Forces Changes for Holland America Cruise Ship The approach of Cyclone Hale is causing issues for a Holland America Line cruise ship sailing aro... - Nov 2, 2022
Quantum of the Seas Arrives in Brisbane for First Australian Season Following the Ovation of the Seas, the Quantum of the Seas became the second Royal Caribbean Inte... - Oct 30, 2022
Royal Caribbean Returns to Australia After Three-Year Absence After waiting since 2019 to sail onboard a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Australians welcomed the ... - Oct 27, 2022
AIDAmar Sets Sail on World Cruise, Bookings Open for AIDAsol’s 117-Day Sailing AIDA Cruises’ AIDAmar has set sail on its 117-day world cruise from Hamburg this week, and book... - Sep 27, 2022
Australia and New Zealand Cruise Market Coming Back Strong in 2022-2023 The Australia and New Zealand cruise market is set for a strong program in 2022-2023.After... - Jul 13, 2022
MarineShaft repairs New Zealand ropax When the New Zealand operated ropax ‘Straitsman’ hit an unknown object while sailing between ...
Port rating and occupancy
Port of Picton ranks 725th in the world in terms of the number of tourists visiting it.
Number of cruise ship calls in the coming year: 0.
The total number of tourists (passengers) of cruise ships in the port of Picton in the next 12 months is 0.
According to the popularity rating among more than 1,000 cruise ports in the world, Picton ranks 649.
Weather in Picton
Current water temperature in Picton now is 58°F (14.6°C)
Water temperature data provided by seatemperature.net.
Annual Weather