EXPLORING Marlborough Sounds, NZ // VAN LIFE
A long weekend adventure living the van life. Exploring the Marlborough Sounds district on the South Island of New Zealand. Camping on beaches, walks through forests, and chilling in hammocks.
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Californian traveling the world and living in New Zealand. Here to share adventures and give you tips about travel, culture, language, and life.
Picton - New Zealand HD
Picton, New Zealand - Picton, NZ Tourism - Picton, NZ Travel
Travel Videos HD, World Travel Guide
Picton is a town in the Marlborough region of New Zealand. It is close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound near the north-east corner of the South Island. The population was 2,928 in the 2006 Census, a decrease of 72 from 2001. The town is named after Sir Thomas Picton, the Welsh military associate of the Duke of Wellington, who was killed at the Battle of Waterloo.
Inter-island ferries to and from Wellington arrive and depart here 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, practically part of the same town. Waikawa has one of the largest marinas in New Zealand. Combined with Waikawa's population of 1,158 people, Picton's urban population is around 4,086. Making it the 2nd largest town in Marlborough after Blenheim which is 28 km to the south of Picton.
As of 2001, the unemployment rate in Picton was 4.3%, compared with 7.5% for all of New Zealand.
Transport
=========
The Main North railway line and State Highway 1 link Picton southwards to Blenheim, Kaikoura, Christchurch and beyond, while the scenic Queen Charlotte Drive (shorter in distance but usually slower than State Highway 1/State Highway 6 via Rapaura, near Blenheim) winds westward to Havelock. The completion of the highway link ended the relative isolation of this scenic area in the 1950s and encouraged modern motels, beginning with the American Luxury Motels, and many more after the ferry service to Wellington began.
Picton is the main link between the South and North Islands, with scheduled ferry service over Cook Strait. The two main shipping companies operating this route are the Interislander and Strait Shipping, with both offering Roll-on/roll-off capabilities for cars and trucks, and for the Interislander sometimes trains.
The Coastal Pacific long-distance passenger/tourist train from Christchurch makes a daily return trip to Picton, during the Summer months.
Picton Aerodrome at Koromiko 7.4 km to the south of the town has regular services to Wellington with Sounds Air and charter flights around the Marlborough sounds.
Nearby settlements are at Anakiwa, Waikawa, and Ngakuta Bay.
The Edwin Fox Maritime Centre features the Edwin Fox, the only surviving ship that transported convicts to Australia, which is undergoing preservation.
Education
========
The first school opened in Picton in 1861 at the corner of Devon Street and Broadway. A new school opened in 1882, and part of the old school was moved to the new site, but was destroyed by fire in 1928. A Catholic Convent school opened in 1915, and was replaced by St Joseph's in 1924.[4]
Queen Charlotte College is a secondary (years 7-13) school with a decile rating of 4 and a roll of 400.
Picton School is a contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 3 and a roll of 120.
St Joseph's School is a state integrated contributing primary (years 1-6) school with a decile rating of 5 and a roll of 25.
All these schools are coeducational. Other primary schools in the area are at Linkwater, Koromiko and Waikawa.
Miscellaneous
The famous author Katherine Mansfield spent time in Picton where her grandparents, Arthur and Mary Beauchamp, and her father Harold, lived for some time when they came from Australia. She included a reference to the port in her short story The Voyage (in the collection The Garden Party), which is an account of a trip to Picton from Wellington on the Cook Strait ferry.
The town is also the usual starting point for holidays to the Marlborough Sounds. Highlights include fishing, walking, the Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand Track, and Diving. A popular dive trip is to the 177m long wreck of the former cruise liner MS Mikhail Lermontov, which now lies at Port Gore, 37 metres underwater.[10] Dive charter boats leave from Picton for the last resting place of the Mikhail Lermontov, one of the world's largest, most accessible and most recent shipwrecks. Guiding is essential as the 1986 wreck is in 30m of water and divers can become disoriented inside the hull, which lies on its starboard side.
Other excellent dive sites in the Picton region include Fish Reserve, the Koi wreck, and Long Island Marine Reserve. Introductory dives (discover scuba dive) and PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification courses from open water diver to dive master are available from Picton. Technical diving and TDI (Technical Diving International) courses can be completed in Picton, diving in the Marlborough Sounds.
Visit Picton, Visit New Zealand, Picton Tour, New Zealand Tour, Picton Tourism, New Zealand Tourism, Picton Vacation, New Zealand Vacation, Picton Travel, New Zealand Travel
Picton & Queen Charlotte Sound, New Zealand
Picton is a small town at the top of the South Island of New Zealand that has more visitor facilities than might be expected because it's the South Island start of State Highway 1 (SH1) when the Cook Strait inter-island ferries dock. For many, it's the gateway to Marlborough and Nelson Bays.
It also serves as a convenient hub for exploring the beautiful Marlborough Sounds. Nearby activities include sailing, SCUBA diving to the wreck of the Soviet passenger cruise ship Mikhail Lermontov, fishing, biking and hiking.
Te Araroa documentary - Part 16 - St Arnaud to Arthur's Pass
Another beautiful stretch of Te Araroa will you see in this episode. One highlight is the Blue Lake which has apparently the highest visibility (70 to 80 meters) in the world. But there is many more to discover. Just get out there
Blog:
Music by Peter Biedermann
Picton New Zealand
Picton Accommodation! Situated at the top of the South Island of New Zealand and gateway to the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, the Picton Accommodation Motel is nestled in the heart of Picton.
Your hosts Chris and Kerri extend a friendly welcome and invite you to experience the genuine southern hospitality that makes the Picton Accommodation Motel a popular location for travellers to relax and enjoy Picton activities.
Situated in the centre of Picton, the Picton Accommodation Motel is surrounded by excellent shops, cafes and award winning restaurants yet is only a quick walk from the ferry terminals and railway station which makes the acccommodation complex a popular resting place for all types of travellers seeking affordable accommodation.
Picton Accommodation Gateway Motel Marlborough Sounds New ZealandPicton Accommodation meets the needs of most travellers with a choice of 26 self-contained units, including studio, executive suites and spacious family size units that sleep up to 7 people. All units have telephone/modem access, radio, colour television and off street parking.
Te Araroa documentary - Part 19 - Queenstown to Colac Bay
Queenstown to Colac Bay is a section where you realise that your adventure will be almost done. You are leaving more and more the mountains, there will be more roads to walk on and the beautiful landscape is also changing into something normal. It was also the first time that we saw the ocean in the distance. Exactly in this moment we knew the end is not far. For me it was the last time to hike with some good friends which I had to leave because my flight would be soon. So I said goodbye and left my group. I really enjoyed the last forest which was amazing. Yes, it was very wet and all this beautiful green made me dreaming. And then I reached the ocean. It was just great to say you are almost done ...Please enjoy the second last video of my trip. Happy hiking to all of you.
Blog:
Music by Doctor Turtle
Hiking along the Queen Charlotte Track - from Portage Bay to Anakiwa, New Zealand
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Check out what I received in the post from Kathmandu! If you would like me to review any specific item then let me know in the post!
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Thank you so much to Kathmandu for sending me all of these amazing items!
Disclaimer: I have not been paid by Kathmandu to film this video. Kathmandu sent me these items at NO OBLIGATION to mention them on any platform. I have filmed this video and any subsequent videos including the items I received because I wanted to.
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Te Araroa documentary - Part 11 - Whakahoro to Whanganui
The part between Whakahoro and Whanganui is the only stretch where we don't have to walk. Is time for kayaking :D Within 5 days we kayaked about 180 km through mother nature's beautiful landscape. So much fun. Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy.
Blog:
Musik by Derek Clegg
Love Marlborough -Out in The Back yard-Aussie bay
A tranquil setting beside the sea offering a range of recreational activities nearby.
Near Momorangi Bay, Queen Charlotte Drive.
Grove Arm, near Momorangi Bay via Queen Charlotte Drive. Sealed road is narrow and winding.
Located at the top of the South Island, Marlborough enjoys high sunshine hours and a temperate climate so that visitors can experience all of Marlborough's diversity through the seasons. No matter what time of year, there is always something going on in Marlborough.
Adventurers young and old will find a great choice of activities on land and on water and even in the air. Hiking, sea kayaking, sailing, cruising, mountain biking, rafting, scenic flights, fishing, diving, horse trekking, or just relaxing and enjoying the views: from laid back to full adrenaline rush, there is an experience waiting for you in Marlborough.
Sounds Foreshore Reserve.