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Picton Waitohi is a central transport hub connecting the North and South Island of New Zealand (NZ), located on the northern point of the South Island. As a wine lover, I was happy to discover that Picton Waitohi is located in the Marlborough Region, one of the most famous wine regions in NZ.
Here are four kid-friendly activities in Picton Waitohi you just can’t miss:
Picton Waitohi is on the traditional lands of the Māori.
Get wet at Picton Memorial Park
Picton Memorial Park, also known as the Picton Foreshore, is a beautiful open-space park with a large playground and splash pad.
Our toddler immediately ran to the splash pad when we arrived, and soaked all of her clothes. I’d recommend bringing extra clothes and diapers for a quick post-splash change.
Walk around the Picton Harbor
Picton’s harbor is the beating heart of this city. It is surrounded by green inlets and the Marlborough Sound, and it’s full of boats both big and small.
Take a stroll along the harbor to see the boats and relax by the seashore.
Cruise the Marlborough Sound
We hopped aboard the Beachcomber Cruise to see the Marlborough and Queen Charlotte Sound on a beautiful summer day, looking out for little blue penguins and dolphins along the way. After a short ride across the sound, the boat docked to allow all passengers to disembark and take a short walk near a hotel and small beach.
There are many tour options through Beachcomber Cruise, so be sure to research the tours before you buy your tickets online.
We took the half-day Sunday Afternoon Cruise, which was free for kids ages 0-4 years, NZ$64 for a child ages 5-14, and NZ$106 for people ages 15 years and older.
Go wine tasting in Blenheim
Picton Waitohi is a twenty-minute drive away from Blenheim in the heart of the Marlborough wine region, which is one of the most famous wine producing areas in NZ. We stopped to visit three wineries with our toddler:
Read our blog about wine tasting in Blenheim for more information.
Where to Eat
DA Barn Restaurant
Located right on High Street, the main strip of Picton Waiothi, DA Barn restaurant served up large portions in a dark, wood-planked room.
Seating is limited, so call in advance for a table. We enjoyed the mussels and chowder.
With stunning views of Picton Harbor, Café Cortado brings delicious South American cuisine to this part of the world. We ordered a handful of tapas and a dish off of the kids menu.
My favorites were the patatas bravas (NZ$12), crispy cauliflower (NZ$16), and ribs (NZ$18).
Picton Waitohi was a beautiful place to stop for a few days on our two week NZ trip with a toddler. The blue waters of the Atlantic Ocean were a stark contrast to the green mountains along the Queen Charlotte Sound.
My toddler appeared to have the time of her life splashing at the Picton Foreshore splash pad, and running through the vineyards in Blenheim. We were surprised to meet another American family at the splash pad too, who gave us recommendations on which wineries to visit during our stay. Although friendly, they were one of a handful of families we met in this region that were all white.
As we traveled, tasted wine, and visited the more family-centered areas of Picton Waitohi, I wondered where all of the local BIPOC families were? Are there other playgrounds or local family spaces I missed?
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting the South Island of NZ with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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