12 Best Family Accommodations in Picton 👪 [2024]

Where to Find Family-Friendly Accommodation in Picton

All great New Zealand road trips bring you to Picton, the gateway to the South Island. However, it’s well worth sticking around with some amazing water and wildlife activities to experience in the Marlborough Sounds. With that in mind, families are going to need to find some family-friendly lodging for their stay in the bay. In this list of the best family accommodations in Picton, we go through budget family rooms, hotel rooms, self-catering motel rooms, hostels, holiday parks and more!

While you’re here, you might also be interested in the 10 Things to Do in Picton with Kids and The Guide to Picton for Families.

1. Picton Yacht Club Hotel

For the familiarity and fun of a hotel, set your sights on the four-star Picton Yacht Club. The hotel overlooking the Picton Marina offers contemporary and relaxed family rooms. The “Budget Family Room” with a double bed and two single beds is your value option, while the “Superior Twin Room” has a private balcony and a little more space. Do one step further by indulging in either the “Penthouse Apartment” with three separate bedrooms and a full kitchen. Wherever you decide to unwind after a day of exploring Picton and the Marlborough Sounds, you’ll still have access to the hotel’s large outdoor pool and relaxed dining at The Chartroom Restaurant. Check out deals on the Picton Yacht Club Hotel at cpghotels.com.

12 Best Family Accommodations in Picton 👪 [2023]

2. Harbour View Motel

Forget drab motel rooms. Harbour View Motel is your modern family accommodation in Picton, boasting superbly-appointed rooms, many of which come with a balcony. Situated on the harbourfront, the motel has an ultra-convenient location close to eateries, the ferry terminal and where many of the Marlborough Sounds activities depart. As for your accommodation, families will find the cheapest stay in the “Seaview Twin Studio” with two queen beds, while more space can be found in the two-bedroom apartment sleeping up to six people. Both options have kitchen facilities, free WiFi and Sky TV. See more like this in the 10 Best Budget Accommodations in Picton.

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3. Smiths Farm Holiday Park

Ah yes, you can always rely on a holiday park for an entertaining family holiday. In Picton, you have plenty of great options, including Smiths Farm Holiday Park. Set away from the town, yet still only a 30-minute drive to the ferry terminals, Smiths Farm Holiday Park provides a real country experience with pet animals, family-friendly walking trails, glowworms, a waterfall and unbelievable views of the stars. As well as tent and campervan sites, the holiday park offers basic cabins and motel units with a kitchenette and a bathroom, where bedding needs to be hired or bring your own. Additionally, the motel rooms and the cottage have all of the bedding provided and larger areas to relax, make food and shower.

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4. Tasman Holiday Parks Picton

There’s so much for kids to do here that staying at Tasman Holiday Parks Picton is an adventure in itself. Make a splash in the outdoor pool, hire some bikes and go-karts for an epic race, let the kids loose at the playgrounds complete with a trampoline and giant chess set. There’s plenty for mum and dad too with a spa pool hire and takeaway espresso coffee, as well as shared facilities like a fully equipped communal kitchen and laundry facilities to make sure routines run smoothly. If you’d rather have your own facilities, however, there’s a range of modern self-contained units also available.

Check Tasman Holiday Parks Picton out:

5. Beachcomber Inn

One of Picton’s town centre hotels is the Beachcomber Inn. The hotel offers 35 rooms, including apartments and ensuites. For families, the two-bedroom apartment ensures everyone gets their own space, as well as places to gather including a lounge and balcony. Amenities at the resort include on-site parking, an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant & bar, ensuring a balanced stay of convenience and fun. A continental breakfast is also available for delivery to your room, should you want to treat yourselves further. For alternative hotel stays, check out the 20 Best Hotels & Places to Stay in Picton.

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6. Picton Accommodation Gateway Motel

Another motel worth considering for a family stay in Picton is the Picton Gateway Motel. Located on High Street, the motel is in the centre of it all, yet have your own space for family time in one of the contemporary-style units or apartments. Even your entry-level “Studio Queen Unit” sleeping three has kitchenette facilities, while you might also want to have dinner in the large grassy barbecue area at the centre of the motel. “Family Units” and the “Two Bedroom Units” increase your space and allow mum and dad to have their private room, while the “Two Bedroom Deluxe Apartment” gives the little ones a separate bedroom too. While not all of the rooms exactly bask in natural light, the decor is fresh and clean, making it a pleasant place to relax after a ferry trip or exciting excursion in the Marlborough Sounds.

Check the Picton Accommodation Gateway Motel out:

7. Parklands Marina Holiday Park

This peaceful holiday park set in Waikawa Bay offers tent and powered sites for campervans, as well as budget cabins and self-contained units ideal for families on a budget. The one-bedroom units sleep up to four people and have easy access to communal facilities. Alternatively, you can upgrade to the self-contained units, which all have a kitchen and bathroom provided. During your stay, kids have the joy of the adventure playground, while a popular place for a family gathering is around the barbecue area. For alternative self-catering stays, also be sure to check out the 10 Best Self-Catering Accommodations in Picton.

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8. High Street Living Motel

“High Street Living” means you have one of the most central locations in Picton, where you can enjoy views of the town from the motel’s communal deck. The budget motel offers 10 units, four studios and six two-bedroom units with the two-bedroom apartment being the best option for families sleeping up to five people. All rooms have very basic kitchenette facilities, but at least guests can enjoy discounted family meals at the motel’s partner restaurant across the road. Each unit has its own designated parking space for easy parking, while a town car can also be hired for your stay. For alternative motel stays, take a look at the 10 Best Motels in Picton.

Check High Street Living Motel out:

9. Picton Waterview Apartments

Providing the home-away-from-home experience with unbeatable views, choose the Picton Waterfront Apartments. Even the largest families will find something to suit in one of their many contemporary self-contained apartments scattered across the Picton waterfront, with three-bedroom apartments sleeping up to six guests and a couple of holiday homes sleeping eight and 10 guests. The modern and stylish apartments are set in the heart of Picton with large balconies offering spectacular harbour and water views. You’ll also have the convenience of secure parking, free WiFi and Sky TV. For more luxury holiday homes for families, head to the 10 Best Luxury Accommodations in Picton.

Check Picton Waterfront Apartments out:

10. Lochmara Lodge

Located in the beautiful Marlborough Sounds, Lochmara Lodge not only provides family accommodation but an experience. Although you will need to take water transport to get there from Picton, of which the lodge provides its own, it’s worth it once you get there with the lodge’s natural playground of forest trails, flying fox, kayaks, a restaurant and underwater observatory. The family unit makes an affordable stay in the Marlborough Sounds, sleeping five people across two rooms with a kitchenette and shower room. Alternatively, get more space in the chalets. You’ll need to get in quick as it books up fast, but note that the lodge is closed in winter.

Check Lochmara Lodge out:

11. Tombstone Backpackers

While families sometimes shy away from backpacker accommodation, the hostel offering in Picton is particularly great for families on a budget. One of the top choices is the Tombstone Backpackers, boasting well-appointed private triple and quad rooms with an ensuite bathroom. What’s more, a self-contained apartment is available for those seeking more space with a private kitchen and bathroom. Whatever room you choose to stay in, don’t miss the freshly-baked scones at breakfast, free of charge! See more hostel recommendations, some of which are also family-friendly, in the 5 Best Backpacker Hostels in Picton.

Check Tombstone Backpackers out:

12. Admirals Lodge B&B

For small families on a budget, a popular option is Admirals Lodge B&B in Picton town centre. The budget lodge features 10 rooms, one of which is a queen room with a sofa bed and a triple room. Both of these family options have ensuite bathrooms, a TV to keep the little ones entertained, and a fridge. A free continental breakfast is served daily in the communal dining room. While the decor is nothing flashy, the price doesn’t give you too much room to complain.

Check Admirals Lodge out:

More About Family Accommodations in Picton

That’s it for our list of the best family accommodations in Picton, but it’s by no means the end of our advice! Check out these articles to make the most of your stay in Picton:

Finally, if there’s anything we’ve missed, you’re likely to find it in The Guide to Picton for Families.

Sources:

The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:

Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])

Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.

About The Author

Laura S.

This article has been reviewed and published by Laura, the editor-in-chief and co-founder of NZ Pocket Guide. Laura is a first-class honours journalism graduate and a travel journalist with expertise in New Zealand and South Pacific tourism for over 10 years. She also runs travel guides for five of the top destinations in the South Pacific and is the co-host of over 250 episodes of the NZ Travel Show on YouTube.

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