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The top of the South Island of NZ is one of my favorite regions (which is probably why I chose to live here for a year!). The classic South Island road trip focuses mostly on the middle of the country, but the “top of the south” holds a unique beauty that is worth visiting! Picton and Nelson are the two most well known towns, but which is best to stay in?
After spending a year living in Nelson and taking multiple trips to Picton, I’ve drawn up a few comparisons for Picton VS. Nelson and where you should base yourself out of to suit your travel needs.
Without further ado, here is where to stay and what attractions to see at the top of the south, so you can finally decide: Picton or Nelson?
Quick Review
🏨 Best Picton Hotel: Bay Vista Motel / Best Nelson Hotel: The Tides
☀️ Weather: Nelson gets more days of sunshine on average
⛵️ Best Activity: Picton – Wine tour / Nelson – Abel Tasman hike & kayak
🚗 Best Way to Explore: Picton is doable by foot, Nelson by renting a car!
Traveling in New Zealand? Check out my other guides and steal my best itineraries!
A Customizable 1 Week North Island Road Trip
How to Spend 2 Days in Kaikoura
Classic 1 Week South Island “Highlights” Road Trip (with ideas to customize!)
Picton VS. Nelson
First, a little about each town.
Picton is a small town and is the gateway to the north island thanks to the ferry located there. It has maintained it’s “small town Kiwi vibes” over the years despite the traffic from the ferry! It’s nestled right in the Marlborough Sounds so the surrounding area is absolutely gorgeous.
Picton is also a great jumping off point to the popular Queen Charlotte Track as well as numerous wineries in the region. While it doesn’t have as many “attractions” right in the town center, you’ll find a hub of activity around the town.
Nelson is a much larger town that has a vibrant art, food and hiking scene. You’re more likely to find typical city attractions here, as well as amazing beaches and trails into the local mountain range. Nelson is also a huge mountain biking town!
Nelson is the gateway to multiple national parks in the regions: Abel Tasman, Nelson Lakes and Kahurangi.
In short, both are nestled in beautiful scenic locations right on the water. Nelson is larger and feels more like a city, with a more vibrant night life, ample hotel options and a plethora of restaurants. Picton has a small town “locals” atmosphere with more limited resources. Not to say Picton can’t get busy on a summers day!
Are you ready to chose? Compare the top stays in both towns to start your South Island adventure!
Picton VS. Nelson Accommodation
Both areas have equally fantastic hotels, but Nelson certainly has more options. I’ve highlighted my top 2 picks for each town –
Picton Hotels
Bay Vista Waterfront Motel – This is where my partner and his family stayed for 2 nights while I was stuck at work…. this is a nice motel complete with kitchenettes and an ocean view! You’ll be just steps from the water. The rooms have little patios for you to sit outside and enjoy the sea breeze. It is a little walk to the downtown but that shouldn’t deter you from this awesome stay!
Beachcomber Inn – This is a much bigger hotel with and it’s located right downtown! Enjoy a room service continental breakfast with views of the water. If you’re looking for a more classic “hotel” feel then the Beachcomber Inn is the spot for you!
Nelson Hotels
The Tides Hotel: The Tides in consistently rated one of the best hotels in town! It’s centrally located so you can walk to nearly everything in downtown Nelson. It has everything you could want from a heated pool to riverside rooms! This is the ultimate treat yourself hotel in town.
The Grand Arden Monaco Hotel: My friend and I spent a night in the Grand Arden and had such a fun girls trip! The hotel is made from beautiful brick and it right across from walking trails and the water. While it’s not right downtown (it’s located near the airport, about a 10 minute drive from downtown Nelson), it’s a cozy stay and one of my favorite pubs is located right across the street.
➡️ Click Here to Compare Hotels on Booking.Com ⬅️
Attractions in Picton and Nelson
So what does each town have to offer in terms of a unique New Zealand experience?
Best Tours
➡️ Compare All Nelson Tours Here ⬅️ ➡️ Compare All Picton Tours Here ⬅️
There are unique tour opportunities in each area. I would say Picton is better for wine and boat tours, while Nelson is better for kayaking, sailing and biking (although you can do a little of everything in each town).
Nelson Tours
Sailing and Hiking Combo Tour – experience the clear blue waters of Abel Tasman National Park by sailboat before getting dropped off to hike on the coastal track in the park
Rent a Bike and Experience the Great Taste Trail – Nelson has a famed 100+ mile biking and walking trail that snakes along the coastline. Rent a bike and enjoy an easy ride between Nelson and it’s neighboring small towns. Stop in for wine, beer and snacks along the way!
Kayak in Abel Tasman – Enjoy a “freedom kayak” rental in Abel Tasman National Park, or opt for. a guided tour. This is a great slow paced way to experience the park by sea.
Nelson Wine Tour – Enjoy a taste of local wines on this 4 winery tour of the region – lunch included.
Picton Tours
Day Hike in Queen Charlotte via Scenic Boat Ride – Hike the iconic Queen Charlotte Track for a day and take in the beauty of the Marlborough Sounds! The boat ride is about 1 hr and scenic from start to finish, we even saw dusky dolphins on our ride! The trail is well maintained and not overly strenuous.
Marlborough Region Wine Tour – My partner Nate loved the Picton wine tour. You don’t have to worry about any driving logistics, just about which wines to sample. The 1/2 day tour brings you to 3 wineries and lunch is not included. Nate did the full day tour which included light snacks, he lost track of how many wineries they visisted!
Mail Boat Cruise – This is the tour I missed out on, the iconic mail boat cruise! Enjoy a beautiful cruise and boat tour of the Marlborough Sounds while also on a mission: delivering locals mail! Seriously this little tour seems so fun!
Picton VS. Nelson Hiking
Both towns have access to excellent hiking, but Nelson boasts a greater network of trails. If you’re staying in town for more than a day and want to get out into nature, Nelson will probably be the better option for you based on both local trails and the proximity to 3 national parks.
In Nelson I recommend the Maitai Cave hike, the Cable Bay lookout track or popping over to Abel Tasman National Park. These are 3 of just dozens of hikes in the Nelson/Tasman area.
The best (and really only) hike in Picton is the Snout Track, which is a 4 hour hike along a ridge-line. You’ll get beautiful ocean views the whole time!
To experience the Marlborough Sounds in full, take the water taxi from Picton to hike on the Queen Charlotte Track.
How to Get to Picton & Nelson
This may be a big factor in your decision of which town to base out of… proximity and getting there.
Picton is the gateway to the North Island. If you’re coming from the Wellington ferry you’ll get right off in Picton. If you don’t fancy renting a car, doing any driving or you’re limited on time, Picton is a great spot to base yourself out of. You can still see the beauty of the top of the south without any additional transportation.
From Picton, Christchurch is just a 4.5 hr drive or a 9 hr bus ride.
If you rent a car , Nelson is a 2 hr drive from Picton or 5.5 hrs from Christchurch. Personally, I think renting a vehicle is worth it as it give you the autonomy to roam the area as you wish. While Nelson may be more out of the way than Picton, it’s an amazing base for exploring the top of the south, especially the far reaching northwestern corner “Golden Bay.”
🚗 Click HERE to Explore Car Rental Options 🚗
Picton VS. Nelson Resturants
With Nelson being the bigger town, I do think it wins for best spots to eat! While Picton does have it’s good spots to eat, Nelson has both a larger selection and better restaurants.
Where to Eat in Picton
Oxley’s Bar and Kitchen – My friends and I went here on a “treat yourself” dinner and it was so lovely! Oxley’s is right across the street from the water and they have amazing food and cocktails inside their beautiful restaurant!
Village Bakery – No trip to Picton is complete without a stop at the Village Bakery! This award winning bakery never disappoints with their array of delicious pies, pastries, breads and sandwiches! Just be sure to get there before 3:30 pm when they close.
Gusto – Gusto is a great relaxed place to stop for lunch or a coffee! They are also very accommodating for any dietary restriction!
Where to Eat in Nelson
Nahm Thai Fusion – Nahm is one of my favorite spots for lunch! It’s located right on the water so the view is unbeatable, and the lunch menu is a discounted version of the dinner menu (we always feel like we’re getting a deal). The restaurant is cute, clean and bright and the food is amazing!
Lombardis Risturante – My partner and I love Lombardis for a nice Italian dinner night. The food is incredibly authentic and the waitstaff are so kind! Plus it’s right downtown so it’s easy walking distance to additional night life.
Red 16 – Red 16 is a cozy little cocktail bar, if you’re looking for a late night drink or bite to eat, it’s the best spot open late. They have live music every other Saturday and open mic nights on Thursdays, so there’s often something fun going on there!
Eddyline Pizzaria – The best pizza and beer in town! I am completely biased because I worked here hahaha, but I can tell you so much care goes into the food (and the pizza is woodfired and so yummy) and the craft beers are delicious. Eddyline is just outside of Nelson in the town of Richmond, so it’s a great stop if you’re on the Great Taste Trail or coming from further afield.
DeVille– This one is for all you brunch lovers! Devilles is a hip breakfast/brunch spot with ample outdoor seating and natural light. I am still dreaming about the coconut mango muffin I had there a few weeks ago!
Kismit – I had to include this cocktail and whiskey bar in the round up. It heralded as the best cocktail bar in town and truly a nice spot for a drink.
Should You Go to Picton AND Nelson?
If you have the time in your schedule – yes absolutely! If you are renting a car, it’s only a 2 hour scenic drive between the little towns. You can easily see the highlights of Picton in 1 day and then spend the remainder of your “top of the south” time in Nelson. From Nelson you can pop out to the far reaches of Golden Bay and of course Abel Tasman National Park.
Final Thoughts on Where to Stay
While Nelson is a bit more out of the way than Picton, I do believe it is a better base for a mult-night stay.
From Nelson you can easily take a day trip to Picton to explore Marlborough. Nelson is in a prime location to explore Golden Bay, Abel Tasman, Kahurangi N.P, Nelson Lakes N.P, plus it has a more vibrant city life without loosing it’s beachside charm and greater access to the mountains.
I do truly adore both of these cities, and Picton likely fits into most schedules better. But for a longer stay at the top of the south I believe Nelson will give you more options!
Ahoy! I’m Bree and I’ve started this blog to help you plan your next great outdoor adventure. With a background in marine science, I’ve got an aptitude for all things ocean, but you’ll find land based adventures here too! Everything you see here is based on my own travel experience and paid for myself. I hope you stick around!