Principal centre of the Sounds

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 24

Principal centre of the Sounds

By BEN HOPE Picton, the popular holiday resort and principal centre of the Marlborough Sounds, is a deepwater ! overseas port and the terminal for the rail car ferries which link the North I and South Islands. On the placid waters of the Queen Charlotte Sound ; there is rowing and speed- ! boat regattas, water skiing, or scenic drives from the town. Launch companies offer . scenic cruises of the Sounds and for fast travel, I water taxis are available. ■ An amphibian air service I operates too. Tucked away j down the Sounds are boaI tels and motel complexes ; on a modest scale, which give peace and relaxation I “right away from it au.” The Picton foreshore i (pictured right) right in ; the front of Picton’s shop- | ping area, is the main j centre of holiday seasons i with space for play, picnicking, swimming and i entertainment. Shops open . on a Saturday morning. There is plenty of aci comodation in Picton from j moderately priced motels to modern hotels. There I are two camping grounds, I one at Waikawa and one I at Picton itself. Licensed I hotels and licensed motor I lodges offer first class di- : ning and casual meals can be had at restaurants and milk bars in the shopping area.

There are many charming drives from Picton — arov-d the pretty bushfringed drive to the head of Queen Charlotte Sound at Anakiwa, where the Outward Bound School with its outdoor education classes is located. You can visit the Collins Memorial Deer Park,

four miles from Picton, where red deer, Whitetail and fallow deer browse peacefully in natural surroundings. There is a pleasant picnic area and children’s playground.

The Port Underwood Drive is a drive to be remembered. Soon after leaving Picton, you wind around the bays and ridges above the picturesque Waikawa Bay, before starting the ascent to the ridge top from where the panorama of Port Underwood can be seen. The area was once the scene of great whaling activity.

It is possible to drive down to Port Underwood and continue south along the coast to come out between Picton and Blenheim, where Highway One leads vou back to Picton.

The round trip is approximately 50 miles and takes three to four hours at a leisurely pace for viewing.