The South Island Port Town You Can't Miss!

For my New Zealand trip, I planned a northbound route through the South Island – taking the InterCity bus from Dunedin to Christchurch, then boarding the breathtaking Coastal Pacific scenic train 🚂 to reach Picton, the gateway port town to the North Island. While planning, I thought a quick harbor visit would be nice, but realized catching an immediate ferry to Wellington would be too rushed. So I decided to stay overnight – and it turned out to be the best decision ever! ✨ The train arrived in Picton at 12:40 PM, and just a 2-3 minute walk with luggage brought me to my booked apartment – Picton Waterfront Apartments (Oxley Rock Apartments). The check-in was smooth, and my balcony offered unbeatable harbor views (all these photos were taken right there!). With plenty of daylight left, I headed out to explore the waterfront. Absolute bliss! 🌊 Every step revealed postcard-perfect scenery. Most tourists here are on tight schedules catching afternoon ferries to Wellington – but those who stay overnight (mostly independent travelers/Westerners) get to experience Picton's slow, magical rhythm. No rush, just pure relaxation – stealing a moment of serenity from life's hustle. By 6 PM, the harbor walks quieted down. After a cozy apartment dinner, I watched daylight fade into darkness from the living room... Wrapped in a blanket, I stepped onto the balcony and – wow! ✨ The night sky was dusted with stars! After some trial and error with my Sony RX100 M6 on a tripod, I finally captured the Milky Way (though town lights slightly dimmed the spectacle). My heartfelt advice? If you're passing through Picton, stay a night. It's worth every second and every penny. 🌌 #SlowTravel #NZhiddenGems #PictonByNight #StarGazingNZ #TravelTips #WorthTheStop