Located in the Marlborough region of New Zealand is the quaint seaside town of Picton. The ferry service that links the main islands of New Zealand uses Picton as its base. In addition to that, those wanting to explore Marlborough Sounds; an extensive...more
Located in the Marlborough region of New Zealand is the quaint seaside town of Picton. The ferry service that links the main islands of New Zealand uses Picton as its base. In addition to that, those wanting to explore Marlborough Sounds; an extensive web of sea-drowned valleys, use Picton as the starting point of their excursions. Visitors to Picton get to enjoy a wide array of outdoor activities including fishing, trekking, sea kayaking, canoeing, snorkelling, diving and dolphin watching. For Muslims visiting the town, there are no mosques or Halal restaurants in Picton. The nearby town of Blenheim does have a small Muslim community and therefore some Muslim-friendly facilities are available.
This waterfront town is the ideal place for those looking for some relaxation and down-time as well as for those looking to go out and get active. Tourists should definitely get out their walking shoes and explore the area on foot. Another ideal way to bond with the surroundings is to go camping. Tourists can hire a camper van a drive to and set up camp in some of the most beautiful areas they’ll ever set eyes on. A couple of minutes away from Picton is the township of Waikawa, which is home to one of the largest marinas in New Zealand; Waikawa Marina. The marina is located only a 5 minute drive away from Picton and has over 600 berths and 118 individual lock-up boatsheds.
Picton is home to one of the largest and most recent shipwrecks; Mikhail Lermontov, as well as other popular diving sites, including; Long Island Marine Reserve, Fish Reserve and the Koi wreck. Tourists interested in diving to explore Mikhail Lermontov must hire a guide to ensure their safety. In addition to that, those interested in the activity of diving but are less experienced, can enrol for a variety of certification courses. Picton is also located close to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, which is a ria or a drowned river valley that is well-known by sailing enthusiasts.
Being the ideal holiday destination, Picton has a varied entertainment scene, providing the perfect environment for a fun family experience. Families can pay a visit to Ecoworld Aquarium and Terrarium where they can get up close and personal with unique animals and varieties of fish. Ecoworld Aquarium and Terrarium is home to see turtles, little blue penguins, ancient tuatara, blue tongue skinks, lizards, sea horses and so much more. Families visiting Picton can also go on a cruise and get to know the area even better, or even have exciting skiing and snowboarding adventures during the winter.
The nearest domestic airport to Picton is 7 kilometres from the centre of Blenheim, and is called the Marlborough Airport. This is a busy regional airport that has regular flights going in and out of the Marlborough region. The closest international airports to Picton include Wellington International Airport; which is approximately 75 kilometres away, and Christchurch International Airport.
There are no known Halal restaurants in Picton. However, there are a few Halal restaurants in the town of Blenheim, which is located approximately 27 kilometres from Picton, such as; Café Home. Since the Marlborough region is world-renowned for seafood like mussels and king salmon, Muslim visitors can stick to seafood options as well as vegetarian ones when dining at the local restaurants in Picton. However, since most restaurants do serve alcohol and other non-Halal items, Muslims visiting Picton must be careful and aware and double check before eating anything.
There are no known mosques or prayer facilities in Picton. However, the town of Blenheim does have a rented prayer facility called the Muslim Association of Marlborough that Muslim tourists could use if needed.