Picton by Rail Through the Marlborough Hills

Sailing into Picton by cruise ship immediately sets expectations a little differently than most ports. Picton (Waitohi – Pronounced why toe hee) is small, quiet, and industrial at first glance, with the dock sitting directly beside a working lumber yard rather than a postcard promenade. It is not the kind of port where you wander off the ship and start exploring on foot.

That does not mean Picton lacks character or appeal. This town sits at the gateway to the Marlborough region, an area shaped by farming, forestry, and rail transport rather than tourism alone. Its role as a transport hub has long connected the South Island’s rural interior with coastal shipping routes and ferry crossings to Wellington.

With limited walkable options from the port, Picton rewards travelers who plan ahead. For me, that planning led to one of the most scenic rail excursions I have taken in New Zealand, where the journey itself mattered far more than the destination.

I booked a round trip excursion on the Marlborough Flyer, a restored vintage locomotive that runs from Picton to the small town of Seddon and back. The train immediately left the industrial port behind and began winding through open countryside, crossing rivers and skirting low hills that felt increasingly remote with every mile. Watching the landscape unfold from a classic rail carriage made the experience feel slower and more intentional.

Along the route, livestock grazed freely across wide open fields, often close enough to the tracks to make the countryside feel active and lived in. Rolling farmland gave way to river valleys and scrub covered hills, all under wide skies that shifted constantly with the light. This stretch of New Zealand felt agricultural and unpolished in the best possible way.

Seddon itself was quiet and unassuming, with just a handful of shops and cafes where passengers had time to stretch their legs. There was no pressure to rush or fill the stop with activities. The return journey was just as enjoyable, reinforcing that the scenery and rhythm of the rail line were the true highlights of the day.