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Picton Ferry Terminal

Picton, New Zealand

Car Rental in Picton Ferry Terminal, New Zealand

If you’re doing the ultimate road trip in New Zealand, exploring both the North and South Island’s, you’ll need to cross the Cook Strait at some point.

Enter, the Picton Ferry Terminal.

Whether you’re booking a hire car on the North Island and driving south, or coming from the South Island and heading north, pickup a deal on a rental car by searching our site to compare discount offers from top brands like Hertz, Avis, Thrifty, Budget and Europcar.

Lock in a low rate on a reliable rental such as a Hyundai, VW, Mazda, Kia, Toyota and others in all sizes from hatches to sedans to mini vans and 4WDs.

New Zealand’s North and South Islands are separated by Cook Strait. Wellington is the port to the north, while Picton is its counterpart to the south.

For a town of small population, Picton figures largely in the transport business, being the main hub for Interislander ferry service between the North and South Island’s of NZ.

Besides being a port town, Picton is a destination unto itself. Rent a car in Picton and get to know the region better.

When you see the jaw-dropping sea-to-summit landscape of Marlborough Sounds, you will understand why some people choose to linger.

You can book a rental car in Picton, take the Interislander ferry across from Wellington, and pick up the keys here

Or if you already have a hire car, you take it across on the ferry and simply drive it off when you reach the other side.

Driving trips in and around Picton, NZ

There is no bus service around Picton; its town centre is small enough to cover on foot.

But with plenty of options for car rentals in Picton, the best way to get around and beyond is by driving your own.

Explore parks at the coast or seaside cafes to take in the view and get your bearings.

A sedentary but no less entertaining way to enjoy the Sounds is to fish its well-stocked waters.

Another is to cruise the Queen Charlotte Drive. The route snakes along the Marlborough Sounds, so allow plenty of time for amazing shots.

A short drive inland takes you to Blenheim and the Marlborough wine growing region home to some of the best Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Riesling in New Zealand.

If you follow the route to the west, you will wind up in Nelson, a retirement haven for locals because of its physical beauty, and home to all creative pursuits in New Zealand, as well as magnificent Abel Tasman National Park.

A piece of New Zealand’s colonial history is dry-docked at the Edwin Fox Maritime Centre which currently houses “Edwin Fox”, the only ship which transported convicts to Australia and settlers to New Zealand that has survived the ravages of time, albeit in a less than ideal condition.

If you are feeling more adventurous, strap on a snorkel or an oxygen mask and meet up close the underwater characters of the Marlborough Sounds.

There’s a major Russian wreck 30 meters below, so you may want to sign up for a guide to get your way around safely.

One-Way Picton Car Rental to Christchurch

Picton is just an icing on South Island’s cake. To get to the meat of South Island, drive from Picton south to visit Christchurch, the oldest city in New Zealand founded by Anglican settlers in mid-19th century.

The road to Christchurch is a drive along the wild rocky terrain of “Edoras”, home to Peter Jackson’s “Rohirrin”.

Drop off your rental at Christchurch’s airport, but not before getting a good tour of the Garden City.

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