LUXURY CRUISE COLLECTION

Picton, Australia & New Zealand

Only a narrow stretch of water separates North and South Island, but the differences between the two entities could not be more obvious - South Island with its wild beauty contrasting sharply with the more sedate landscapes of North Island.

Located at the head of Queen Charlotte Sound, Picton is the starting point into South Island. The surrounding area is renowned for its spectacular seascapes. Captain James Cook was the first European explorer to appreciate what the region had to offer, such as fresh water, friendly Maori tribes and unlimited quantities of fish. He spent six weeks here in 1770, with Ship Cove becoming his favorite New Zealand destination.

Picton makes an ideal base for an exploration of the Marlborough Sounds. A ferry service across the Cook Strait provides the connection to North Island. The Sounds are a complex system of drowned river valleys and islands that remain as a legacy of the Ice Age.Today, large areas are protected in the Marlborough Sounds Maritime Park. Cruising through these waterways is the best way to get a close look at the many secluded bays and bush-clad headlands that make up the park.

Excursions inland will take you into the heart of a major wine growing region. Marlborough’s wines have an international reputation for excellence and the vineyards around Blenheim offer some exclusive vintages that may be difficult to obtain elsewhere.

Ports for this region:

Auckland Brisbane Broome Cairns Cooktown Cruising the Great Barrier Reef Darwin Dunedin Exmouth Geraldton Hobart, Tasmania

Kimberley Melbourne Milford Sound Perth Port Douglas Rabaul Sydney Tauranga Townsville Wellington