North Island to South Island

When you enter the town, you will pass through several kilometers of jams. Attempt not to be around during bustling periods when visitors go into town or come home from work, if possible. SH 1 and SH 2 meet at the foot of the Ngauranga gorge and are marked with signposts showing the Picton Ferry departure time.

If you are not going directly to the Interislander boat station without going to Wellington, or if you are travelling in a motorhome, you do not need to get off here - you can go on to the next junction leading to Aotea Quay. Take the first turnoff (marked Hutt Valley/Picton Ferrari on SH 1 and Ngauranga/Picton Ferry/Porirua on SH 2) and you arrive at a crossroads with light.

Right after the traffic light, at the roadside, there is a landfill for motor homes and storage vehicles. When you drive a motorhome, stop here and empty your grey and black water tank, as you are not permitted on the boat with full fuel topping. Stay on Hutt Rd for 3 km and stay in the right hand side of the street.

When you take the Interislander Fähre, turn right immediately after the overpass and remain in the right hand lane when the street under the overpass turns back into the terminals. When you take Bluebridge Iron Bridge, drive along Aotea Quay. The Bluebridge is on the lefthand side, opposite the train/cabin.

When you plan to go to Wellington, drive along the promenade. You will have walked the streets of Aotea Quay, Waterloo Quay, Jervois Quay (all the same road you will be on) and then CableSt. Keep in the lefthand Lane and turn past the museum at the next traffic lights and leave your car on the right.

for $8.00 and you can be in the heart of the Wellington operation. Continue along the shore past Te Dad and across the pedestrian footbridge to the center of town.

Here is the Wellington Information Centre. Don't miss the freaky part of the downtown Cuba Street. Top of the range is Willis Street and Lambton Quay, just a few minutes walking distance from the citycenter. The best thing to do is to get a street plan from the information centre.

In front of the Lambton Quay, you can take a trip on the ropeway with a breathtaking panoramic views of the town on the 186-metre-high peak and a very beautiful garden. Beehive is the Parliament's official grand piano, which accommodates the Prime Minister's and his cabinet's office, while the Parliament building next to it is the principal discussion room.

It is a 3-hour 15-minute ferry ride from Wellington to Picton on the South Island. About a third of the trip goes via Wellington Harbour, the next third via Cook Strait and the last third through the marvellous Marlborough Sounds, namely Tory Channel and Queen Charlotte Sound.

There are two ferries between Wellington and Picton as indicated above. Please bring a hand luggage sack, as you will not be able to reach your car as soon as the shuttle is out. You will be guided to Lagoon Road at the Picton pier when you take your car off the ship.

If you want to keep going at the round-about and go around Picton, go directly onto Kent Street, which leads you directly to State Highway 1. Take a right turn and you are on your way south towards Blenheim. It is strongly advised to stop or take a quick look at Picton to prevent jams on the street south of Picton with all passenger transport.

At the above mentioned traffic circle (Dublin St.) turn to your right and enter the major part of Picton. It' called High street. A road ahead is Wellington St, where you can park on the road and in a car park right by the water. We have a car park in the center of the city, where the municipality suggests caravans.

Near the city are the Blue Anchor Top Ten and Picton Campervan Parks. You can get to Blue Anchor via Dublin Street after the roundabout. You will see Waikawa Rd. and not too far along the street is the parking lot on the right. From the roundabout, drive along Kent Street to Picton Campervan Parc and after Oxford Street you will see the entry on the lefthand side.

This is a good place to leave your car. Follow Waikawa Road and leave the Picton area, but still in the city, turn lefthand onto Surrey Street (just past Blue Anchor Holiday Park). It will take you down to the marina in the area opposite the city.

Keep going along the marina, past the old sailing boat café on the lefthand side, where you can leave your car during the daytime. When you ascend the street with a look at the city (the Queen Charlotte's panorama ride), there are enough junctions to look at the city, the port and the shipping area.

It is a place with apparently endless inlets, creeks, and islets. It is a place not to be forgotten as it is one of the most interesting and beautifull places in New Zealand.