With a stunning harbour and waterfront, and surrounded by lush forests, Picton is a quiet and peaceful town worth exploring with a hire car, often overlooked by travellers passing through. Whether arriving by car hire from the south, or coming in on a ferry from the North Island, Picton is a great destination without the large crowds found in many other areas. If you are arriving by ferry from the North Island, pick up your hire car at the port and head off to see the area. Picton lies on the northern shore of the South Island in New Zealand, in an area known as Marlborough Sounds. Covering over 4000kms of shorelines along bays, flooded valleys and islands, and virtually undeveloped, the area is renowned for its grandeur and natural beauty.
By exploring the roads in this region with your hire car, you will find lookouts and clearings giving you panoramic views few people get to see. In the calm waters of the sounds, wildlife is plentiful and pods of dolphins are a common site. To find out a little about the local history, park your car at the Picton Community Museum, where you can learn of the area's whaling history and emphasis on conservation for the future. Here you can also see the Edwin Fox, one of the oldest ships in the world, quite possibly the oldest still afloat. While in a dire state and needing rebuilding, the site is of great historical importance and will hopefully one day be restored to its original glory.
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In Picton, if you are between the ages of 21-25 you'll be able to hire a car with no fuss. However, drivers in this age range should expect that they may likely be subject to an additional daily charge commonly called "young driver surcharge." Depending on your car hire supplier, additional fees will vary and in some cases, may not even apply.
Most countries allow drivers to drive simply utilising their domestic license. Although some car hire providers may not require an international driver's permit (IDP), Auto Europe recommends an IDP for all travellers. When driving without an IDP, there's a risk that local police officers may issue you a ticket - if you happen to be stopped.
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