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The town of Picton is just across the strait from the capital city of Wellington
Even though it’s part of the North Island of New Zealand, the city of Wellington can almost be seen as a northern extension of the South Island—seeing as it’s where ferries from the North Island to South Island conveniently, and regularly depart. Crossing the Cook Strait takes three hours by sea, which makes a South Island day trip from Wellington more than just a possibility, but one of the capital city’s best day trips on the beautifully long days of summer.
On it regular schedule, the Interislander ferry departs Wellington for the South Island daily at 9am, and departs Picton for the return trip to Wellington at 6:45pm (everyday except Mondays). Over winter holidays, in the “Super Peak” season, ferries depart Wellington as early as 6:45am, and amazingly don’t depart from Picton until after 11pm that night. Even without the “Super Peak” schedule, day trippers still have between 5-6 hours to explore the top of the South Island, which can include everything from hiking on the Queen Charlotte Track to kayaking around Marlborough Sound, or quickly heading out to Blenheim for a day in the Marlborough vineyards.
If all of that seems a little too rushed, Picton itself is a picturesque town tucked neatly inside of the sounds, and there are more than enough things to do in Picton to consume your afternoon stay. One of the most popular sights is the Picton Museum, where you can learn about the city’s maritime heritage, or simply grab a meal and a coffee from a restaurant along the waterfront.
After all, whatever activity you choose on shore is only a part of the entire experience, as the best part of a South Island day trip from Wellington is the cruise through Marlborough Sound. While leisurely hanging on the decks of one of the world’s most scenic ferry rides, you may spot dolphins, whales, or seabirds in addition to the serpentine coast. So, for some, this day trip is an exciting activity where you’re literally “just along for the ride.”
South Island Day Trip From Wellington from Auckland & North Island Things to Do
