Picton Drive Through

Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 02:07 AM
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Picton Drive Through

I've gotten great advice so far on planning my mini trip before my OAT tour starts next week. I'm getting so excited to be finally visiting NZ!

On first day of driving (after taking advice to not drive upon arrival) we're going from Renwick Te Mahia via Picton. Given that we'll have gorgous scenery on that route, should we just pick up Queen Charlotte Drive from Kent St on the outskirts of Picton or is it really worthwhile to drive into the center of town?

Are there lots of pullouts along QCD? Know about one of the larger stops; believe it's Cullom Point.

Any suggestions, besides staying to the left, about driving on the other side of the road? I like to be prepared.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 02:11 PM
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Picton waterfront is quite pretty and if you park near the ferry terminal, you can take a stroll along the waterfront (usually awash with flowers) and soak up the views.

There's a lovely little bakery in town as well as several cafes near the waterfront where you might want to sample your first flat white.

The detour to the Picton waterfront won't take long, and since you're there...why not stop and check it out? The fresh air might help clear those long flight induced cobwebs.

There aren't a huge number of pull outs on QC Drive, but the ones available are well placed for photos. You might consider stopping near Anakiwa, and walk a tiny small section of the Queen Charlotte Track, just for more fresh air.

Keep your eyes peeled for the cheerful letter boxes along the drive too - I have a whole collection of QC Drive letter box photos.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 02:12 PM
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QC Drive, as is much of NZ, is quite winding. Take your time and keep your eyes open.
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Old Feb 22nd, 2017, 06:59 PM
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Oh, yes, the Picton's Village Bakkerij! It has been voted "best bakery on the South Island" many times.
https://www.facebook.com/PictonVillageBakery
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Old Feb 23rd, 2017, 02:27 PM
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I second Melnq8's recommendation of Anakiwa for QC drive stop. There's a lovely, well maintained track along the inlet through a beech forest flanked by large tree ferns.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 05:31 AM
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"The detour to the Picton waterfront won't take long, and since you're there...why not stop and check it out?"

Yup, sounds like another good suggestion which I was also thinking of---"while we're there...."

Is there lots of parking near waterfront?

Will definitely will check out bakery. Can't pass by one of those.

At the moment, the weather looks fantastic for week. Will keep everything crossed. Most important, is that we won't be having a blizzard in NJ! Think I need to throw in some shorts.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 05:57 AM
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Funny thing about shorts - we've taken them on a couple of our NZ trips, but have only worn them once or twice...just to take them off when the weather changes, which it can do several times a day.

Some Kiwis, men in particular, seem to live in their shorts, regardless of time of year.

Parking at the waterfront is limited due to ferry traffic, but I've personally never had a problem finding a spot (I travel off season though).

I found this online:

Picton CBD Parking locations

Coathanger carpark
Access from Wellington Street
Pay and display - $1 per hour/$5 per day
Has some campervan-size parks

High Street carpark
Access from High Street or Wellington Street
Pay and display - $1 per hour/$5 per day
Has some campervan-size parks

Dublin Street carpark
Access from Dublin Street
pay and display - $1 per hour/$5 per day

If push comes to shove, you can try to find a spot on the main street that runs down to the waterfront (sorry, the street name fails me). This is where you'll find most of the shops and cafes, I seem to recall free street parking there, but it's been a few years since I was in Picton, things might have changed.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 02:26 PM
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Clousie, I recommend quick-dry, wrinkle-free zip-off pants. Never had a pair until I moved to New Zealand (I previously lived in Northern CA, where I wore shorts almost 9 months a year). Zip-off pants are handy when I'm walking on the beach, but suddenly have the urge to wade into the water. Also the weather can change amazingly quickly (though that's probably more the case down south where I live, than up in Abel Tasman), so your outfit might have to change quickly, too. Long pants are also handy when you have to walk on a track that's overgrown. So zip-off pants give you both options. I buy mine from the sales rack at NZ outfitter Kathmandu. There's one in Blenheim and another in Nelson.

When you're out and about, even if it starts off sunny, windless and dry, bring a jacket, preferably something light but warm, that you can tie around your waist or roll up into your daypack.

On my second visit to NZ about 19 years ago, my husband and I joined a kayaking tour of Abel Tasman. I'd been dreaming of it for years, had collected articles from newspapers and magazines about kayaking through its clear blue waters and under its sunny skies (because that's what the photographs and articles led me to think). I can't recall having access to anything like Fodor's Forum or Trip Advisor. We arrived in the area the day before our kayaking trip, I think we were staying in nearby Mapua or Upper Moutere, where the weather was glorious. The day of our kayaking trip started off sunny, so I stupidly assumed it would stay that way. As we were kayaking, the sky turned grey and soon we were caught in a rainstorm. The water got really choppy, and eventually, our group was instructed to stop using our paddles and to put up our sails. I thought I might tip out of my kayak, or have to do one those eskimo rolls. We sailed up to a beach, where we were supposed to have gone for a walk, but, with the exception of a couple of savvy travellers, most of group was soaking wet and shivering. I can't remember how we got back to where we started. Please note, we didn't go in March, when the weather is often fine. In fact, when we were last in Picton-Blenheim-Upper Moutere-Golden Bay in March 2015, the weather was mostly great.

That was my first lesson about the changeable NZ weather. I still occasionally get caught out unprepared.

If you look at the NZ weather site, Metservice, you'll notice in the left-hand column recommendations for how many clothing layers and windproof layers to wear. I don't trust its recommendations, but I find it interesting they're included.
http://www.metservice.com/national/home
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 05:24 PM
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Funny when DH and I and our son and family visited the US last month from NZ, my son took 3 pairs of zip off pants. He were them long in New York and Washington DC, and zipped off for Waikiki and Florida. Apart from a suit he wore to his sister's wedding these were the only pants he took for the month long trip.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 05:41 PM
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I've had zip off pants for years as we've always done a lot of hiking. Rarely get more than a quarter mile before the bottoms come off. They are so practical.

Something that always brings a smile to mind is our first trip to Switzerland. We were on the train to Zermatt when I decided to take the legs off. We were seated with many older, European hikers who just all stared at what the crazy American was doing. Apparently it was something new for them. Actually at that time, i think the only place I could find zip offs was at Banana Republic. Now they're everywhere.

I'm getting so excited about this trip--well, maybe not the long plane trip, but it has to be endured to get there.
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 05:50 PM
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According to the map, Anakiwa is only about 3 minutes off of QCD. Is that right? Looks like a beautiful place to stop. Is this a sealed or well maintained road? Perhaps a take away lunch would be good to have here. Thinking of the Picton Bakery......
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Old Feb 24th, 2017, 11:20 PM
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Great, then you're all set and you won't have to bring separate shorts as well. This means you'll have more room in your luggage for any purchases you make in NZ, such as a soft pair of possum-merino gloves.

Yes, it's a little side road off the QC road, though it probably takes a little more than 3 minutes to get into Anakiwa. The track here is the start/end of the QC track.

If you look at the directions for getting to Anakiwa accommodation (links below), it says it takes 35 minutes total to get from Picton to Anakiwa.
http://anakiwa401.co.nz/find-us/
http://www.anakiwa.co.nz/location.htm

Google says it takes 35 minutes to get from Anakiwa to Te Mahia Bay Resort. Kunepuru Road looks really curvy! Looks like a beautiful spot.
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Old Feb 25th, 2017, 06:04 AM
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Kenepuru Road is indeed curvy - many moons ago we drove it from Picton to Punga Cove Resort - I had to get out of the car often to qwell my car sickness and we both felt like we were still moving for days afterwards.

Fortunately for Clousie, she won't be going as far as Punga Cove (which is a very good thing for many reasons).
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Old Feb 25th, 2017, 05:41 PM
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I've definitely packed my meclazine for motion sickness. While driving, it probably might not bother me too much, but when we start our tour on a bus, am sure I'll need it on some of the roads.

What is Punga Cove? Thinking of driving to Portage the second day we're there, but as always, there's so much to do and so little time. Hope to do some hiking and also get out in kayaks. Maybe at Mistletoe Bay

All set to go tomorrow.
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Old Feb 26th, 2017, 05:40 AM
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Punga Cove is a 'resort' in the Marlborough Sounds, one of the few accessible by road and boat. Kenepuru Road ends at Punga Cove, it's the furthest you can get via road, about another 50 minutes beyond Te Mahia.

We stayed at Punga Cove several years ago and it was by far our worst ever NZ accommodation experience. It's in a beautiful location, but the new owners (at the time) didn't have a clue about running a resort and it was a disaster. No idea how it is these days, but I don't plan to find out.

Portage is another resort - we drove there from Punga one night for dinner as Punga was such a disappointment.

Instead of drive, why not just walk the Queen Charlotte track from
Te Mahia to Portage?

Just do this in reverse:

>

Have a safe trip and do report back!
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