Campervan Pickup in Picton and Blenheim: Starting Inside Marlborough Wine Country

Quick summary: Picking up a campervan in Picton puts you closer to the vines than anywhere else in New Zealand. Picton is where the Cook Strait ferry arrives, and the vineyards of Marlborough, the country’s largest wine region, begin around half an hour away around Blenheim and Renwick. Many travellers cross from Wellington as foot passengers and collect a campervan or motorhome in Picton, avoiding the cost and planning of taking a vehicle on the ferry.

At a glance
Pickup	Picton, near the ferry terminal; options around Blenheim
Arriving	By Cook Strait ferry from Wellington, or by air to Blenheim
Nearest vineyards	Around 30 km to Blenheim and the Wairau Valley
Next wine regions	Nelson (around 110 km), the Waipara Valley (around 300 km)
One-way options	To Christchurch or Queenstown
Tours	Marlborough wine tours

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Picton

Why pick up a campervan in Picton?

Because it saves taking a vehicle across Cook Strait and starts your trip in wine country. If you’ve been travelling the North Island, you can return one vehicle in Wellington, cross the strait as a foot passenger, and collect another in Picton. If you’re flying in, Blenheim’s airport is close to the vineyards. Either way, your first night can be among the vines.

How does a ferry-and-pickup day work?

1. Cross from Wellington on the ferry as a foot passenger, a scenic sailing through the Marlborough Sounds.
2. Collect the vehicle in Picton, allowing time for the walkthrough.
3. Stock up in Picton or Blenheim, which has supermarkets.
4. Drive to Renwick or Blenheim, around 30–40 km, and settle in for the night.
5. Taste the next day by bike or on a tour, with the vehicle parked.

Check branch hours when planning your ferry, and leave a buffer in case of delays.

Is it worth tasting in Marlborough on the day you collect the RV?

It’s better to wait until the next morning. Collecting a vehicle and driving a new campervan, even for a short distance, is best done fresh and without any tastings. Once you’ve parked at a holiday park in Renwick or Blenheim, you won’t need to move for a day or two, and that’s when to book a tour or hire bikes. See Marlborough by campervan.

Where can you stay?

• Renwick, a village surrounded by vineyards and close to bike hire.
• Blenheim, with more holiday parks and services.
• Picton, if your pickup is late in the day.

Where can you go from Marlborough?

• West to Nelson and its vineyards, around 110 km via Havelock. See Nelson by campervan and our Marlborough and Nelson in 5 days.
• South along the coast to Kaikōura and the Waipara Valley, on our South Island wine trail.
• One-way to Christchurch or Queenstown. One-way hires may carry extra fees or longer minimum hire periods, so compare options when you search.

Compare campervan and motorhome hire in Picton

Frequently Asked Questions