Picton – Seddon – Picton · 2025/2026 Cruise Ship Shore Excursion
The Marlborough Flyer is a heritage train journey through the scenic vineyards and rolling hills of Marlborough, powered by our retro red and white 1950s classic DA locomotive.
Adult Price — please book with the Shore Excursion team on your Cruise Line.
Departure is from Picton Railway Station, conveniently located across the road from the cruise ship shuttle drop-off point.
Departing Picton Station powered by the vintage red and white classic locomotive, you travel up the Picton Elevation — one of the steepest gradients in the country at 1-in-37. Upon reaching the plateau, the journey takes on a more sedate nature as the train meanders alongside the Para Wetlands, home to an abundance of birds, game fish and unique wetland vegetation.
Crossing the Wairau River — a key water source for Marlborough’s vineyards — you enter the magnificent Wairau Valley with distant southern mountains in the backdrop. A sea of vineyards shoulders the train through Blenheim, clear evidence that Marlborough is home to 80% of New Zealand’s wine production, most famously sauvignon blanc.
South of Blenheim, The Marlborough Flyer traverses the rolling southern hills, snaking through Dashwood Pass into the beautiful Awatere Valley, with the often snow-capped peak of Mount Tapuae-o-Uenuku in the background. The final stretch crosses the Awatere River on the historic Awatere Road Rail Bridge.
Enjoy time to stretch your legs in Seddon and photograph the locomotive as it decouples, runs around, and couples again for the return to Picton.
Tour duration: approximately 4 hours return.
On return to Picton Railway Station, shuttles transfer passengers back to the ship for your port departure.