15 Best Things To Do In Picton & The Marlborough Sounds
What are the best things to do in Picton?
- Cruise to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and see dolphins
- Swim with wild dolphins in Picton
- See dolphins in the wild on a Picton wildlife cruise
- Take a Marlborough Sounds cruise from Picton
- Visit Ship Cove / Meretoto
- Day walks on the Queen Charlotte Track
- Explore Picton Waterfront
- Visit the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum
- Walk the Snout Track
- Relax at Bob's Bay
- Go sea kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds
- Spot native birds, seals, dolphins and whales
- Take a Marlborough wine tour
- Visit Victoria Domain
- Enjoy local seafood and waterfront dining
Why Picton is worth visiting
- Gateway to the Marlborough Sounds
- Calm, sheltered waters ideal for wildlife cruises
- Easy access to dolphins, seals, native birds and island sanctuaries
- Departure point for Queen Charlotte Track and Ship Cove experiences
- One of New Zealand’s best small-town nature and marine wildlife destinations
Best wildlife experience in Picton
- Cruise to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary and see dolphins
- View dolphin watching and dolphin swim options
- Small-group marine wildlife tours from Picton
- Ethical dolphin and wildlife encounters with qualified marine guides
- No Seasickness Guarantee on all E-Ko tours
Cruise to Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary & See Dolphins
If you are looking for one of the best things to do in Picton, this is the one I would put near the top of the list. A trip to Motuara Island gives you a bit of everything that makes the Marlborough Sounds special — calm water, native birds, island views, and the chance to see dolphins in the wild along the way.
Motuara Island is predator-free, peaceful and packed with native birdlife. If you want a Picton experience that feels properly New Zealand, this is it — birdsong, bush, sea views and that quiet feeling you only get somewhere special.
The island walk is short but rewarding, with huge views across Queen Charlotte Sound from the lookout. Pairing Motuara Island with a dolphin and wildlife cruise gives you the best of both worlds: marine life on the water and native birds on land.
- Predator-free island sanctuary near Picton
- Chance to see dolphins during the wildlife cruise
- Native birds, bush and coastal views
- Short island walk to a lookout
- Great for families, bird lovers and photographers
- View the Motuara Island & Dolphin Watching Tour
- See all dolphin tours
Swim with Wild Dolphins in Picton, New Zealand
Swimming with wild dolphins is one of those proper once-in-a-lifetime Picton experiences. No tanks, no tricks, no staged show — just wild dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds, moving on their own terms.
E-Ko’s dolphin swim experience is run with dolphin welfare front and centre. The team checks conditions, dolphin behaviour and suitability before anyone gets in the water. If it is not right for the dolphins, it does not happen. Simple as that.
Winter can be an especially good time for this experience, with fewer boats around, smaller groups and often a more personal feel out on the water. Bring warm layers, a sense of adventure and a bit of Kiwi “give it a go”.
- Swim with wild dolphins in the Marlborough Sounds
- Ethical, welfare-first dolphin encounters
- Small-group dolphin experience from Picton
- Ideal for adventurous nature lovers
- View dolphin swim and dolphin watching options
See Dolphins in the Wild on a Picton Wildlife Cruise
You don't need to swim with dophins to experiene them - simply seeing dolphins in the wild is hard to beat. The Marlborough Sounds are calm, sheltered and full of life, which makes this a brilliant place to slow down and watch dolphins doing their thing naturally.
On an E-Ko dolphin watching tour, you are not just heading out for a quick look around. You are with local marine guides who know these waters, understand dolphin behaviour and care about giving wildlife the space and respect it deserves.
Some days the dolphins are playful and right beside the boat. Other days they are travelling, feeding or keeping to themselves. That is the honest beauty of wild dolphin watching — every trip is different.
- Wild dolphin watching from Picton
- Calm-water cruising in the Marlborough Sounds
- Small-group wildlife experience
- Guided by experienced marine guides
Take a Marlborough Sounds Wildlife Cruise from Picton
You cannot really say you have done Picton properly until you have been out on the Marlborough Sounds. From town, the water opens into sheltered bays, forested hills, quiet coves and wildlife habitat that feels a world away from the ferry terminal.
A Marlborough Sounds wildlife cruise from Picton is a great option if you want scenery, wildlife and local stories without needing a big hike or a packed itinerary. It is relaxed, easy-going and suitable for most ages.
Keep your eyes open for dolphins, seals, seabirds, penguins and, on lucky days, whales or orca moving through the Sounds. That is the magic of this place — you never quite know what will turn up.
- Scenic wildlife cruise from Picton
- Calm, sheltered waters of the Marlborough Sounds
- Dolphins, seals, seabirds and other marine wildlife
- A top choice for visitors wondering what to do in Picton
- View the Picton wildlife cruise
Look for Seals, Whales, Orca and Native Birds in the Marlborough Sounds
The best thing about wildlife in the Marlborough Sounds is that every day is different. You might head out hoping for dolphins and end up watching seals, seabirds, penguins, rays or even orca passing through.
Whale sightings are wild and never guaranteed, but the Sounds are used by a range of marine life, which makes every trip feel like a proper nature adventure rather than a set-piece attraction.
E-Ko’s guides help you understand what you are seeing, not just point and move on. You will learn how different species use the Sounds, why predator-free islands matter, and how responsible tourism can support conservation.
- Dolphins, seals, seabirds and native wildlife
- Chance sightings of whales and orca
- Guided interpretation from local marine guides
- Great for nature lovers, families and photographers
- Explore E-Ko dolphin and wildlife tours
Visit Ship Cove / Meretoto by Boat from Picton
Tucked into Queen Charlotte Sound, Ship Cove is one of the most important historic places in the Marlborough Sounds. It is linked to Captain Cook, but it also has a deeper Māori history that gives the place real weight. It is not just a nice bay — it is a place with stories.
Getting there by boat is half the experience. You travel through calm, sheltered waters, past forested coastline and quiet bays, with the chance to spot dolphins, seals, seabirds and other wildlife along the way.
- Historic Ship Cove / Meretoto cruise from Picton
- Travel through Queen Charlotte Sound
- Learn about Captain Cook and local history
- Native bush, sheltered coastline and Marlborough Sounds scenery
- Option to combine Queen Charlotte Track and Motuara Island experiences
- View the Captain Cook Cruise to Historic Ship Cove
- View the Queen Charlotte Track and Motuara Island Tour
Day Walks on the Queen Charlotte Track
The Queen Charlotte Track is one of New Zealand’s great coastal walks, and one of the best things to do near Picton if you enjoy getting out into nature. The full track takes several days, but you do not need to tackle the whole thing to experience what makes it special.
E-Ko offers easy access to some of the most scenic sections of the track, allowing visitors to enjoy a rewarding day walk without the logistics of a multi-day hike. It is a fantastic way to experience native bush, birdsong, ridgeline views and the stunning coastline of the Marlborough Sounds.
One of the real advantages of walking the Queen Charlotte Track from Picton is that you can combine a boat cruise with your walk. Instead of spending hours getting to the trailhead, you travel through the Sounds, enjoy the scenery from the water, then set off on foot to explore at your own pace.
For visitors looking for more than just a standard walk, E-Ko's Queen Charlotte Track and Motuara Island experience combines two of the region's highlights in a single day — a scenic cruise through the Marlborough Sounds, a visit to the predator-free Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary, and time on one of New Zealand's most iconic tracks.
- Experience part of New Zealand's famous Queen Charlotte Track
- Enjoy spectacular Marlborough Sounds scenery
- Combine a boat cruise with a day walk
- Suitable for walkers looking for a flexible day adventure
- Native bush, birdlife and coastal viewpoints
- Option to combine the track with Motuara Island Bird Sanctuary
- View the Queen Charlotte Track and Motuara Island Tour
Other Things to Do in Picton
While wildlife cruises, Motuara Island, Ship Cove and the Queen Charlotte Track are among the most popular activities in Picton, there is plenty more to enjoy around town and throughout the Marlborough Sounds. Whether you are looking for an easy walk, a quiet beach, local history or a relaxed afternoon with great food and wine, Picton has something for every type of traveller.
- Explore Picton Waterfront – Stroll along the foreshore, enjoy harbour views, browse local shops and cafés, and watch ferries and boats come and go.
- Visit the Edwin Fox Maritime Museum – Step aboard one of the world's oldest surviving merchant sailing ships and discover Picton's maritime history.
- Walk the Snout Track – Enjoy panoramic views over Queen Charlotte Sound on one of Picton's most popular local walks.
- Relax at Bob's Bay – A sheltered beach just a short walk from town, ideal for swimming, picnics and enjoying the coastal scenery.
- Go Sea Kayaking in the Marlborough Sounds – Explore quiet bays and sheltered coves from a different perspective.
- Take a Marlborough Wine Tour – Visit world-famous wineries and sample some of New Zealand's best Sauvignon Blanc.
- Visit Victoria Domain – Enjoy native bush walks, viewpoints and peaceful green spaces close to Picton.
- Enjoy Local Seafood and Waterfront Dining – Finish the day with fresh local seafood and views across Picton Harbour.
Many visitors combine several of these activities with a wildlife cruise or dolphin tour, making Picton an ideal base for exploring both the Marlborough Sounds and the wider Marlborough region.
Swim With Dolphins!
This is NZ’s best dolphin swimming experience in the shimmering, flat waters of the scenic Marlborough Sounds.
Swimming with wild dolphins is a genuine bucket list activity – we never get tired of seeing the joy and wonder on the faces of our swimmers!
The Best Experience
✓ Exclusive No SeaSickness Guarantee
✓ Experience Wild Dolphins
✓ Free Wi-Fi
✓ 5 minute walk from the ferry terminal
✓ Perfect for families - the kids will love it!
✓ Fully Guided - we don't leave you on your own
Free Wi-Fi
We are located just minutes from the Interislander ferry terminal, and when you are at our shop, you can use our free Wi-Fi (it's fast!) and you can grab a coffee or tea from our shop to chill out while you're relaxing on our deck, overlooking the water.
E-Ko Tours lets you experience Picton/Marlborough better than the rest!
As for Picton activities, in this town, it’s not so much what you can do within its nine square kilometres – although you can hire an e-moped and have a leisurely pootle around the place to see what there is- but more what you can start from here. Picton is a hub. Set on the glistening, peaceful Queen Charlotte Track, Picton has the glory of the water (and its practical role in providing access) on one side and the verdant splendour of the hills and mountains on the other. Picton shore activities are based on observing and appreciating the plants and wildlife that inhabit this fabulous area. Thus, things to do in Picton, New Zealand, would be better phrased as things to do from Picton.
What do Picton Activities Offer as Regards Excitement?
That all depends on what you class as exciting. To a nature-lover, there is a thrill in seeing species you’ve never even heard of before, or perhaps you’ve heard the name and seen pictures but never seen them in the flesh, up close and personal. Birdwatchers are a prime example of those who derive excitement from the mere presence of a creature, perhaps marvelling at how it came there. But you don’t have to be any kind of a specialist to enjoy such pleasures. Our knowledgeable, accredited guides will give you all the info, so you’ll know what you’re looking at and why it is notable. Picton shore excursions contain an element of education, and we are all enriched by learning something new, especially when going on an endangered species tour. Read More
Do Things to Do in Picton, New Zealand Provide Lasting Memories?
That is exactly what Picton activities and Picton shore excursions do. A great vacation involves more than just the pleasure of the moment. It is the ability to recall it, to think about it, tell other people about it and try to share some of the pleasure with them by virtue of your memory and powers of description. You should have seen this, or You’d have loved that. And of course, we’re all photographers these days. There may be fewer people with professional-looking, long-lensed cameras around their necks actively searching for "wildlife photography tours", but that’s because we all have a camera in our pocket or bag, our phone possessing image-capturing technology that was unimaginable back in the days when such devices were bulky, or even during the era of the compact unit the size of a small packet of crackers.
How Can I Choose Things to Do in Picton?
Just fill in the online form, email us or call us and we can explain what’s available and discuss what would suit you and your party. So contact E-Ko Tours today and let’s plan your wildlife eco tours itinerary together. Read less