Stunning view from Karaka Point, Picton, New Zealand

Karaka Point, Picton

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Last Updated on May 13, 2020 by Jon Algie

If you’re looking for a cool place to visit in Picton that doesn’t involve too much walking, Karaka Point would be a great option. You get great views of Queen Charlotte Sound from the car park and the short walk through the bush takes you to a lovely little beach. It’s a little way out of town so you probably need a car to see it (or I guess you could try and hitchhike).

The view from the car park

You can get a nice view of Queen Charlotte Sound from the Karaka Point Car Park. It’s obviously not as impressive as the views you’ll see on the Snout Track and the Tirohanga Track, but then you barely need to move your legs so it has its advantages. It’s also a good place to watch the Wellington ferries coming and going.

Karaka Point viewpoint, Picton, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

Karaka Point Beach

The track to the small beach at Karaka Point takes you through the forest, past some large holes in the ground that were long ago home to Maori dwellings. This place was a pa (fortified village) — there are heaps of these in New Zealand but almost all traces of the original architecture have been lost.

READ MORE: 12 of the Best Things to Do in Picton

The walk to Karaka Point, Picton, New Zealand

The beach itself is really nice. We went there close to sunset and there were a few people chilling out with a picnic and a bottle of wine. We walked around the rocks for a while to see what we could find — we saw the view around the corner then headed back to avoid getting splashed by the rising tide. There isn’t much else involved in a visit to Karaka Point — it’s a cool little scenic area that can be quickly visited assuming you have a car. There are lots of places like this throughout the Marlborough Sounds — having your own transport (or chartering a yacht) and a few days up your sleeve are keys to exploring the region.

Karaka Point beach, Picton, New ZealandKaraka Point hike, Picton, New Zealand

Getting to Karaka Point

Karaka Point is a 10-15 minute downtown Picton. The winding road occasionally offers up some nice views but there aren’t many places to pull over. If you keep driving past Karaka Point you’ll eventually wind up back in Blenheim — we haven’t driven that road yet but it looks nice.

Are planning to travel around New Zealand? Check out our South Island Travel Guide!

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Jon Algie

I'm a South Island local -- born in Timaru and raised in Dunedin. I left the island in 2006 and returned 10 years later. Having seen a good chunk of the world I realised how special this place is -- the most beautiful island in the world! Seven years (and almost 400 posts) later I'm still helping locals and tourists alike plan their trips around the South Island.