While the Marlborough Sounds are spoilt for scenic spots and great views, one of the best and most accessible viewpoints is at the top of the Tirohanga Track in Picton.
A short but steep climb through the hills above the town leads to a hilltop lookout offering panoramic views of Waikawa and the Queen Charlotte Sound.
Begin your walk at either Garden Terrace or Newgate Street in Picton and take the 1.2-kilometre Tirohanga Track through regenerating native bush.
It’s an estimated 45-minute climb to the summit, but with a good level of fitness, this can easily be halved.
It’d also pay to pack a picnic, because at the not-so-creatively-named summit – Hilltop View – you can sit and enjoy the vistas overlooking the whole of Picton, including the marina and the beginning of Queen Charlotte Sound. If you time it right you can also watch the huge inter-island ferries coming and going.
