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While activities abound, it’s essential to carve out moments of quiet reflection. The absence of light pollution makes this one of the best places for stargazing. Wrap up in a blanket, sip on a hot beverage, and let the cosmos narrate tales of ancient times.
The Cruising Doubtful Sound Experience
This is just a taste of what you will see once you get to Doubtful Sound. The best place to stay for a Doubtful Sound day trip is either in the very small town of Manapouri or in Te Anau (a 20-minute drive from Manapouri). You can also do a Doubtful Sound day trip from Queenstown, but with an additional 2 hours of driving each way (for a total of 4 hours), this becomes a very long day.
View All Cruises Through Doubtful Sound, New Zealand
Listen carefully to the water descending from an incredible view of verdant mountains. All Doubtful Sound experiences start at our Manapouri Visitor Centre, located at 64 Waiau Street. Manapouri is a 2.5 – 3 hour drive from Queenstown and 30 minute drive from Te Anau. For a more intimate experience, join us on a kayaking adventure where you get to paddle or explore and camp overnight in Doubtful Sound.
What to expect: Doubtful Sound overnight cruise day 2
While he was at the inlet to the fiord, Captain Cook was doubtful that he would be able to sail out of the fiord because of the wind patterns, so he never entered it. The fiord was later named Doubtful Sound by the sealers and whalers who lived here. Fiordland National Park encompasses both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound and is home to rugged landscapes and quintessentially New Zealand experiences. Not far from Queenstown, Fiordland National Park was established to preserve and honor the local wildlife, valleys, and fjord systems in New Zealand. Browne Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in New Zealand at over 2,000 feet.
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Go Beyond Milford Sound: A Fiordland Local's Guide - World Nomads
Go Beyond Milford Sound: A Fiordland Local's Guide.
Posted: Tue, 12 Dec 2017 08:00:00 GMT [source]
But the most magical part of our experience was the next morning when the clouds lifted and we got to experience absolute stillness on the water. I would’ve been disappointed if all we got was three hours in the rain on a day cruise. We decided to do the Doubtful Sound overnight cruise (1 night) because it was the perfect compromise of time and budget. As someone who gets seasick, I didn’t want to push it being on a boat for two nights.
Adventure Awaits: Kayaking and Fishing
Once we arrived at Doubtful Sound, we boarded our boat and headed up to the mess hall/dining area for a quick safety briefing, crew introduction and to get our room keys. Colin and I were booked into a private twin cabin; we would’ve gone for a double but I don’t think any were left when we booked. The room was small but very cute and clean with a nice ensuite bathroom. From Manapouri you will join your tour group and take a boat across Lake Manapouri and then a coach bus across the Wilmot Pass.
Things to Know BEFORE Booking the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise
The Lake Manapouri cruise and the trip over the Wilmot Pass are beautiful, but this is the moment you’ve been waiting for. For the next 3 hours, you will cruise on the Doubtful Sound, with a few side trips on the arms that lead off of the fiord. The longer you cruise across the lake, the more beautiful the views become. As you leave Manapouri behind and cruise to the west side of the lake, the mountains grow taller and the scenery gets to be more dramatic.
Kayaking - Sea Kayak Fiordland OvernightDoubtful Sound
You may think it’d be a bad idea for seasick-prone people to spend more time on board but with an overnight cruise, you get to experience the fiord at different times. I found the water in the morning was the most still and least seasick-inducing. Charter cruises of Doubtful Sound aboard the Southern Secret can be arranged for small groups, friends, family, or couples seeking a private Doubtful Sound experience. Our cruise can accommodate up to 12 people in five private cabins with ensuites.
Doubtful Sound is very remote, so you need a tour to get here! Doubtful Sound is located in the heart of Fiordland National Park where the mountains are still very impressive but not as high as Milford Sound. Doubtful Sound is three times longer and has a sea surface area roughly ten times larger than Milford Sound. It is famous for its wilderness scenery and wildlife sightings.
Discover cascading waterfalls, lush rainforest, and serene beauty - rain or shine. The vastness of this untouched world will take your breath away as you experience its spectacular beauty and scenery. This video showcases the hard work and dedication of the people involved in creating our amazing experiences. Discover the breath-taking, pristine wilderness scenery of Doubtful Sound, deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. The booking process is not supported when in private browsing or incognito mode. Our twin sleeping compartments provide the best privacy for travelling with your family and children.
Its remote location is one of the things that makes this place so special, since a limited number of people can visit it each day. In this guide, we cover what to expect on a Doubtful Sound day trip, including photos, a map, tour options, tips to have the best experience, and whether or not it is worth it. On a Doubtful Sound cruise, you’ll be sailing along Lake Manapouri, a lake formed thousands of years ago.
Mingle with fellow travellers, try some local wines from our bar, and if the skies are clear, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars. After dropping anchor in a sheltered cove, you can choose to explore the shoreline by kayak or tender boat, or simply relax onboard. For those looking to refresh, there’s even a chance to go swimming.
Kick off the next day with a hearty cooked breakfast or a nourishing continental selection and get ready to explore the other arms of the fiord. Before long, you’ll return to Deep Cove, and take the trip back to Manapouri where you’ll tell the story of your experience in the remote wilderness of New Zealand. Your itinerary starts with a 45min-1hr cruise across Lake Manapouri, where you’ll hop off at the west arm.
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