Ferry view	Ferry view	Waterfront	Waterfront
High St	Ferry view	Marlborough Snds

Picton is the gateway to the South Island. The town's main purpose is to cater for the travellers who arrive or depart the ferry service that runs between both the North and South islands.

This scenic journey from Wellington to Picton shows off the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds, an intricate maze of water, land and bush.

The trip takes you through the Tory channel and then through half of Queen Charlotte Sound, the biggest of all the sounds. Other nearby sounds include Pelorus Sound and Keneperu Sound.

Picton is a small town, but is busy as travellers prepare to explore the area or strike out further afield to the nearby Nelson or Canterbury regions.

Inter-island ferries arrive and depart here on their way to and from Wellington by way of the Marlborough Sounds. Most of the sheltered part of the route is through Tory Channel south of Arapawa Island. The township of Waikawa is a couple of minutes drive from Picton and both Waikawa and Picton are practically part of the same town. Waikawa hosts a marina which is one of the largest in New Zealand.