Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises & Charters Southern Secret

Table Of Content

• Cruise on Doubtful Sound - Day Tours & Overnight Cruises
• Cooper Island Restoration Fund
• Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises
• Multi-generational travel
• Views in Salzburg You Don’t Want to Miss
• Day Unseen Fiordland & Stewart Island
• What to expect: Doubtful Sound overnight cruise day 1
• WAS OUR GUIDE HELPFUL IN PLANNING YOUR TRIP?

For more information refer to our Driving Times webpage. The Fiordland Navigator is a purpose-built vessel designed to replicate a traditional trading scow and is perfectly suited to cruising the fiords. Choose to explore the Fiord by kayak or tender craft (weather dependant).

Cruise on Doubtful Sound - Day Tours & Overnight Cruises

Adam is prone to seasickness, which is amplified when he is trying to photograph (which is always). The Fjordlands National Park receives more rainfall than any other region of New Zealand. The heavy rain can actually bring the landscape to life with hundreds or even thousands of temporary waterfalls spilling from the cliffs to the sea. Factor how much you would spend on all your meals, lodging and entertainment for the time you are on the cruise. Now deduct that from your cost at $500 NZD ($300 USD) per person.

Cooper Island Restoration Fund

I would’ve been disappointed if all we got was three hours in the rain on a day cruise. In looking at the day trip, it felt like you spent most of your time just getting out to Doubtful Sound. The day cruise experience lasts seven hours (and that doesn’t count the time it takes you to get to Manapouri), but you only spend three of those hours on Doubtful Sound. The rest of the time is spent getting there and back across Lake Manapouri and the Wilmot Pass. And while those are nice parts of the trip, it seemed like a lot of back and forth for not enough time on the fiord.

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises

In the evening, you can mingle with fellow travellers and if the skies are clear, spend some time on the upper deck gazing at the stars. You’ll need to pinch yourself to prove that you really are in a wild and remote location. The next morning, you’ll return back the same way to Manapouri Wharf.

Alternatively you could choose to pay for the entire quad cabin, or two double cabins, to ensure privacy. If you wish to pay for an entire quad cabin, please contact us directly. Daytime car parking is provided adjacent to the Visitor Centre. Overnight car parking is a available on View St, a short 2 minute walk from our Manapouri Visitor Centre. The Real NZ overnight tour on Doubtful Sound we took last week was outstanding.

Views in Salzburg You Don’t Want to Miss

For the majority of the cruise, you’re sailing along the fiord where the waters are relatively calm. We experienced one rainy day and one sunny day on our overnight cruise – the waters were better on the sunny day but not awful on the rainy day. However, storms and rocky waves can occur in worse weather.

Our captain treated us to two fun experiences on the deck this morning. It was so impressive to see the powerful cascade of water up close and the mist coming off of it. Next, he pulled into Hall Arm for something he likes to call the Sound of Nature. We also learned that Doubtful Sound is home to 70 bottle nose dolphins and the Tawaki Fiordland crested penguin.

Cruise to Doubtful Sound, New Zealand: Sailing through New Zealand's magical Fiordland - Sydney Morning Herald

Cruise to Doubtful Sound, New Zealand: Sailing through New Zealand's magical Fiordland.

Posted: Fri, 28 Aug 2015 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Join an unforgettable Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise and discover the unspoilt and remote wilderness of Fiordland National Park. Cruise across the beautiful Lake Manapouri, travel the sub-alpine road through dense rainforest over Wilmot Pass and arrive in Deep Cove to board your overnight vessel. Three-course buffet dinner and a cooked continental breakfast provided.

LOOK: This Travel Expert Shares the Best Ways to Explore New Zealand's South Island - TripZilla

LOOK: This Travel Expert Shares the Best Ways to Explore New Zealand's South Island.

Posted: Fri, 08 Jul 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Plus, with just three weeks to see as much of New Zealand as possible, I didn’t think it made sense for us to spend another night in Fiordland. Despite the Tasman Sea not sitting well with me, I still think a Doubtful Sound cruise is a good idea for people who get mildly seasick. For the most part, the boat ride is quite calm and what you get to experience is well worth a few minutes or hours of nausea (in my opinion, at least!).

This dark layer allows corals and undersea life to grow in waters much shallower than they normally would. Creatures of the southern oceans live here – there’s a resident pod of dolphins and lots of fur seals. Others visit and you could glimpse Mollymawks and Royal Albatross, penguins, including the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin which breeds at Doubtful Sound or even a whale. The nature guides will also keep an eye out for wildlife and let you know if there are any sightings. During our cruise we were thrilled to see albatross and other birdlife, fur seals climbing up rocks and bottlenose dolphins on two different occasions!

With over 200 days of rain a year, the steep hills surrounding the fiord are lush and green all year round, making for spectacular scenery at every turn. Located deep within Fiordland National Park, there is no direct road access in which you can drive yourself to Doubtful Sound. You’ll need to book in with a local tour operator who will arrange transport from Manapouri. You are likely reading this because you are trying to decide if it’s worth doing.

We got ready and headed back to the mess hall for our buffet breakfast. There was a nice spread with bacon, eggs, vegetables, toast, fruit and pastries, as well as tea and coffee. We decided to take our plates out to the observation deck to enjoy the view.

Throughout the journey, an expert nature guide will point out significant landmarks and tell you about the unique flora and fauna of the area. Private ensuite rooms or quad-share cabins aboard a spacious catamaran for a Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. A Doubtful Sounds overnight cruise provides an unforgettable experience. You will be immersed in untouched wilderness, discovering one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand. The journey takes you through some of the most stunning scenery in the country, with snow-capped peaks and crystal-clear waters.

Click here to check current prices and availability for the overnight cruise. In 1971, the Manapouri Hydro-Electric Power Station, New Zealand’s largest hydroelectric facility, was completed on the western arm of the lake. The road over Wilmot Pass was created as part of the project and provides our access to the fiord.