Picton passes the tourists' test

KAT PICKFORD

It is a small world when you are travelling. I remember at a backpackers in Bangkok, one of the only Kiwis I met in Thailand had attended the same primary school as I did.

I had this in mind as I stepped into the reception of Atlantis Backpackers in Picton and the familiar, awkward feeling of being in someone else's space washed over me.

But when receptionist Beata Komlo greeted me I forgot my inhibitions and fell into easy traveller conversation.

Miss Komlo is from Hungary and is travelling and working in New Zealand for three months through the Willing Workers on Organic Farms scheme.

American owner Sheira Hudson, who invited me to meet the inter-continental fusion of people who stay at Atlantis, is a keen ambassador for Picton.

"I've been very fortunate to live in many different places, but this is the only place in the middle of nowhere that has a town with beautiful art galleries, amazing music, lovely restaurants, and boating and fishing," she said.

Mrs Hudson toyed with the idea of hiring cleaners and receptionists to help run the backpackers, but finds the camaraderie of a team of Wwoofers, who stay for a few weeks, creates a relaxed vibe.

"It's a beautiful symbiosis. Wwoofers want food, internet, laundry, and accommodation and I need to keep the place clean."

When she took over the backpackers in 2008 she said the place was a mess, but with a lot of cleaning, some comfortable couches and a lot of paint the place is now bright, spacious, welcoming and clean.

Anna Goetz, 19, from Germany, is travelling alone on a working holiday visa. After some initial home sickness, she is enjoying her first summer Christmas holiday and plans to stay at Atlantis until work at the Picton laundry dries up at the end of the busy season.

"I really like it here. Everybody is friendly, the showers are really clean and I like how we have curtains around our bunks for a bit of privacy."

David Cox, 28, from Sunderland, England, has been travelling in New Zealand with his partner Erin Clark, 26, for four months and intends to stay in Picton for two weeks.

"We love it in Picton. We never seem to get bored. It's a shame people don't take the time to hang out instead of getting off the ferry and driving straight through."

They keep busy in the morning doing the backpackers' laundry, which pays for their accommodation, food and internet through the Wwoofer scheme.

In the afternoons they go for walks around Picton – to Bob's Bay, the Waikawa marina and the lookout above Picton. Their plan is to save money before heading to Auckland to meet Miss Clark's parents.

At dinner time, the greatest concentration of backpackers emerge in the kitchen, stirring pots filled with the inevitable pasta and two-minute noodles.

One woman who broke the trend of the typical backpacker was Beverly Hay, 72, from Australia, who was shucking a big pot of fresh mussels to eat raw.

She was staying in Picton for two days for a guided tour of Marlborough wineries and to check out the Marlborough Sounds on the mail boat.

Spending time with so many visitors, I was again reminded how travellers will squeeze every last drop of adventure and romanticism from the places they visit.

It was an enlightening experience to view our region through the eyes of people who were impressed by Picton's solitude, the beautiful outlook, clean beach and laid-back lifestyle.

- The Marlborough Express