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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - Wilmot Pass

Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - Low clouds

Fiordland Crested Penguins

Doubtful Sound waterfalls

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - Manapouri Visitor Centre

Go with the flow | Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise with RealNZ

64 Waiau Street , Manapōuri , New Zealand .

Travel across beautiful Lake Manapouri, coach across Wilmot Pass and explore spectacular Doubtful Sound on this amazing day cruise. Look out for wildlife, such as dolphins, seals, penguins which are often seen.

Pricing and Conditions

Delicious lunch options available.

Prices are valid until 30 September 2024, and are per person and based on a Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise departing Manapouri. Infants (0-4 yrs) carried free of charge. Manapouri Power Station has been closed for maintenance by Meridian for several years & re-opening date is unknown.

If cancelling or amending a retail booking, a refund will only be granted when RealNZ receives notification 24 hours prior to departure.

Doubtful Sound is an unspoilt and remote wilderness of many moods. One minute clear, blue and sun-drenched, the next mysterious and mist shrouded. Cruise across beautiful Lake Manapouri and coach over Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove where you will board our vessel for a three hour cruise taking in the dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound. Our nature guides are always on hand to point out the highlights and wildlife sightings are common (dolphins, seals, penguins), experience the 'Sound of Silence'. Daily departures. Delicious lunch options available to purchase from Manapouri Café and coach connections are available from Queenstown (extra cost).

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Real Journeys Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

The Real Journeys Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise is a night to remember! With rugged peaks, verdant rain forest and twisting, hidden inlets, Doubtful Sound takes one’s breath away. Home to abundant wildlife, guests may see bottle-nose dolphins and fur seals at play, or catch a glimpse of a rare Fiordland Crested Penguin. Getting to Doubtful Sound is an adventure in itself. With no direct road access, the only way is by a cruise across Lake Manapouri and a coach trip over Wilmot Pass. The isolation of this location makes the Fiord a truly special place.

The overnight cruises depart at 12:30pm and return at 11:30am the following day (Sept-May only), giving guests the opportunity to experience the Doubtful Sound during all hours of the day. The vessel is on the larger side, accommodating 72 passengers, but they provide excellent naturalist guides, kayaking and tendercraft excursions, and a social atmosphere. 

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Real Journeys Doubtful Sound Wilderness cruise

Great value for money. Picked up at our accomodation, driven to lake Manapouri. 1 hour boat trip across the lake and then 1 hour in a coach to get to Doubtful Sound. We thought the scenery was amazing so far. Then we board the Patea Explorer and cruise Doubtful Sound. What an amazing part of the world. The service, staff and whole day was amazing. This is a must do!

We did first a nice Milford Day Cruise and decided to top that with the Overnight Cruise on Doubtful Sound. If Milford was nice, Doubtful was without a doubt! even much more spectacular. The ride by boat and bus to get to the sound was already a great adventure. We then met the super friendly Navigator staff and left for a 24 hour cruise on astonishing Doubtful Sound. In the morning it was raining like we never experienced which made it even more adventurous but suddenly in the afternoon it stopped and in the evening we enjoyed a wonderful sunset right there where the sound meets the ocean. On some rocky islands we admired the seals and watched the Albatros. Dinner buffet was exceptional especially taking in mind that we where on a boat - a wide selection of typical very tasty food followed by a great dessert buffet! The relaxing night sleep on the tranquil waters was crowing the first day. In the next morning, I specially liked the moment when the boat stopped the machines and all passengers together with the crew enjoyed a 10 minutes of silence at this so magical place - thank you all for making this cruise to us one of the most remarkable highlights on our 3-month around the world journey! By the way: We are a family with a 2 and a 4 year old boy and they enjoyed the cruise just as much as we did!

We absolutely loved the Kayak tour in Doubtful Sound. We started the day a little put off by the rain (it rains here practically all the time we found out) but it actually turned out great since it made the waterfalls so much more stunning. Our guide, Tobias, was excellent. He provided wool undergarments and wetsuit tops to keep us warm as well as rain jackets and hats. He did a great job explaining everything and leading the group. The kayaking itself was great and we covered what must have been 5+km in 3 hours. We saw and could paddle right to the base of countless waterfalls - some of them huge with the amount of rain that was coming down. While the experience isn't cheap, it was an unforgettable day and we really enjoyed seeing the sound from the perspective of the kayak.

Fantastic! Thanks for your review - glad you got to see the magic of Doubtful Sound while it rained.

My friends and I did the day-trip boat ride in Doubtful Sound. I'd say this was my favorite part of the trip. The sound is absolutely beautiful and far surpasses Milford. Lucky for us, a few dolphins decided to join us for about an hour. The whole day felt almost surreal. As for the company, we were pleased with the service. The boat was beautiful and our group wasn't huge. Lunch was also filling. Definitely give them a chance. It's worth the few extra bucks.

Travelling to Doubtful Sound in April will always be cooler. I was lucky to have a semi-sunny day so could see far into the distance and take some great photos. It was less commercialised than Milford Sound which meant that it was a more personal experience out on the water without many other boats around. The bus transfer near the power station was an eye opener. A Chinese Real Journey tour guide appeared and segregated the entire group into two buses for Mandarin / English speakers. I felt this segregation was rude and discriminated the entire group to favour the Chinese people with personal support. Once on the main boat ride there was loud Mandarin commentary every 5-10 minutes and the boat seemed segregated once again. This is Commonwealth New Zealand with English as the mother language and Queen as head of state. Lets entirely accommodate according to the mother country please.

John M, Glad you could take some great photos whilst on your Doubtful Sound trip with us. We have investigated your concerns and can confirm that on your day of travel we had a Chinese speaking tour group booked whom had paid for a dedicated Chinese Speaking Guide. Commentary is in English on board, but as the group was a reasonable size it was sensible to provide the Chinese commentary over the speaker system - however for smaller groups this isn’t required. There is NO segregation on any of our vessels, but what you may have observed was the tour group gathering together with their leader in various areas of the boat awaiting further information. As a safety requirement we do provide multi-lingual addresses to ensure safety instructions are delivered effectively and to alert customers of the “Sound of Silence” to ensure this experience isn’t jeopardised. To ensure guests receive the relevant commentary whilst experiencing the Wilmot Pass by coach the best option is to allocate a coach offering English commentary & the second coach providing their Chinese speaking guide. There was no discrimination nor favouritism during your tour. Our guests are from all around the world and we want to ensure we deliver a fantastic experience to every visitor. Kind regards The Real Journeys Team

this trip was beautiful, our guide John was a lovely knowledgeable guy. He knew alot and had a refreshing sense of humour and made us feel safe out in the wilderness. we even got to have a beautiful natural encounter with dolphins, possums and perfectly timed rain.

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

Take on a close-up experience of Doubtful Sound’s waterfalls, abundant wildlife, rainforest and mountains.

Board the Fiordland Navigator for a special dinner, bed and breakfast wilderness experience. Cruise across the crystal waters of Lake Manapouri to West Arm, take a coach across the dense rainforest of Wilmot Pass then stay overnight on this traditional heritage vessel.

Day 1 - Manapouri - Doubtful Sound

Board the luxury catamaran and cross Lake Manapouri (tour departs half an hour later between Dec-Feb).

Board the Fiordland Navigator.

Buffet dinner is served in the dining saloon.

Dinner complete. Relax, unwind, view the stars and take in the stillness of staying overnight on a luxury vessel anchored in a sheltered bay.

Day 2 - Doubtful Sound - Manapouri

Breakfast to be served in the dining saloon.

Retrace journey back towards Lake Manapouri.

Disembark the Fiordland Navigator.

Arrive at Manapouri.

Information

• Lake Manapouri catamaran cruise
• Coach across Wilmot Pass
• Doubtful Sound cruise on the Fiordland Navigator
• Accommodation is in private cabins with ensuite bathrooms or quad share bunk style compartments with shared bathrooms
• Nature guide on board
• Water activities: kayaking and tender craft
• Three-course buffet dinner with a selection of mains, including a vegetarian option
• Cooked and continental buffet breakfast
• Fully licensed bar

Tour Departures

This cruise departs daily from Manapouri at 12.00pm (tour departs half an hour later between Dec-Feb).

Your Overnight Experience

With nature guides on board, the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise offers a close-up experience of Doubtful Sound’s waterfalls, abundant wildlife, rainforest and mountains. Throughout the cruise, the guides share stories of the fiord’s history and are happy to answer your questions. Cruises have a flexible itinerary that allows plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and to pause to view highlights.

Complimentary Activities

The Fiordland Navigator offers a relaxed environment, where you can do as much or as little as you like. Kayaking and tender craft (small boat) excursions are complimentary and available to all guests. If relaxation is more your style, then you can choose to soak up the views from the deck, read a book, or interact with our knowledgeable crew. As evening falls, enjoy a lavish three course buffet carvery in the dining saloon (vegetarian option available – please advise if required at the time of booking). Then relax in the company of fellow travellers or indulge in some star-gazing before retiring to your private cabin. In the morning enjoy a cooked breakfast, served in the dinning saloon.

Onboard Accommodation

The Fiordland Navigator has 18 cabins with ensuite bathroom (12 cabins with twin single beds, 6 cabins with double beds), and 9 quad-share bunk style compartments with shared bathroom facilities. Bed linen, duvet, towel and pillow are provided for both cabins and bunkrooms.

What to bring

One overnight bag only to be brought on board for passenger convenience and safety reasons. Limited lock-up storage facilities are available at the Visitor Centre in Manapouri. It is advisable to bring non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jacket, warm sweater/fleece jacket, change of clothes for kayaking, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent, swimwear (optional), camera, cash for bar and snacks.

The Fiordland Navigator Specifications

Fiordland Navigator is a purpose built motor vessel, designed along the lines of a traditional New Zealand coastal trading scow. The vessel is also equipped with kayaks and two shore tender vessels.

Length/Beam/Draft: 40m/10m/2.75m Max Displacement: 693 Gross tonnage Engines: 2 x 485KW Yanmar aye Cruising Speed: 11 knots Overnight Capacity: 70 passengers Spacious Viewing Decks: Three Sails: Three masted staysail schooner

Travel between 01 Sep 2024 - 30 Sep 2025 Book by 30 Sep 2025

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Every aspect of the trip was well organised. Would have like a little bit longer for the Kayak and swim but otherwise it was the highlight of our trip and would love to do it again. I did particularly like the moment when we stopped on the way back and were able to be present in our surroundings with no sound or human element. The guide was excellent and had vast knowledge of all the different aspects about the Doubtful Sound. Thanks.

Absolutely amazing! Everything about the cruise was awesome, and I would highly recommend the doubtful sound overnight cruise to anyone. The only very minor improvement would just be that on the kayak section it felt a little rushed and for those who don’t kayak much the pace was a little tiring without time to rest. A slower group or pace would have been helpful. Thanks though!!

The overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound was fantastic. It was wet and cloudy providing plenty of amazing waterfalls and great scenery. We’re so glad we included this trip in our NZ itinerary.

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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise

$329 - $379 NZD

Experience the spectacular, untouched beauty of Doubtful Sound on a guided day trip with RealNZ. Jump onboard one of our glass-roofed coaches from Queenstown, cruise across Lake Manapouri and then journey over Wilmot Pass into the heart of Fiordland National Park.

Discover ‘the sound of silence’ and explore the dramatic scenery on a three-hour cruise. Nature guides are on hand to share their knowledge and point out the local wildlife (dolphins, seals, penguins).

• Daily departures: all year
• 3 hour cruise of Doubtful Sound
• Nature guide onboard to provide insightful commentary
• Chance to spot local wildlife, including dolphins, fur seals & penguins
• Lunch options available to purchase at Manapouri Café

RealNZ Visitor Centre

88 Beach Street

Queenstown, 9300

• MinPrice: $329
• MaxPrice: $379
• Prices valid until 30 September 2024.
• Monday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Tuesday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Wednesday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Thursday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Friday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Saturday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Sunday: 7:30 AM - 9:00 PM
• Months of Operation: Jan - Dec
• Group Capacity: 0

Doubtful Sound Day Cruise

Real Journeys

283 Rankers Reviews

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Doubtful Sound Cruise

Experience the spectacular, remote wilderness of Doubtful Sound on our guided day trip.

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Kids travel FREE from 11 January - 5 February 2021

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Doubtful Sound Day Cruises - Real Journeys

Information

Cruise beautiful Lake Manapouri with Real Journeys and explore the wilderness of Doubtful Sound

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruises: Doubtful Sound is an unspoilt and remote wilderness of many moods. One minute clear and sun-drenched, the next mysterious and mist shrouded. Cruise across beautiful Lake Manapouri, coach over Wilmot Pass and board our catamaran for a 3-hour cruise taking in the dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound. Our nature guides are on hand to point out the highlights and wildlife sightings are common (dolphins, seals, penguins). Coach connections available from Te Anau and Queenstown. See our website for departures, prices and other great Real Journeys excursions.

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• Went on a raining/stormy day; wonderful!
• Great trip to Doubtful Sound.
• Good boat, good weather, nothing to complain.
• Very Nice daytrip into the doubtfull sound.
• Very good service/team.

The place is breathtaking! The crew fantastic and amazing,the facts that they shared are very informative.We love the tour overall.you have to be in warm jackets /attire if you wish to stay outaide to see the view.You can also bring your own lunch and snacks.They have some chocolates,drinks,cup noodles,muffins,chips etc for sale if needed. Drinks like coffee and tea are always available.In the big boat ,they have a machine with different types of coffee nd even chocolate drink and of course clean filtered water. My family and I all had fun! Shout out to the people with us who tolerated my kids, i found them were very well behaved during the cruise compared to experiences with other kids so apologies to the lady who wished that the kids could also shut down when we had the amazing five minutes of silence, as im pretty sure they were quiet and silent even in the bus.Aside from that we would surely come back again and would cross our fingers we wont encounter such comments from fellow passengers again.Just be wary if you have kids otherwise it was an awesome experience.

Reviewed almost 3 years ago

Fantastic day on the wilderness cruise.Staff were amazing and nothing was a problem.A must do experience for all Kiwis.

Reviewed about 3 years ago

Joanne&Ian

Beautiful part of NZ. Both bus drivers over the pass were great, and extra marks for Ian our bus driver from Te Anau as he returned my camera I left on the bus to our camp before we even noticed it was gone! Only downside was not enough seating inside the cabin on the at the Doubtful Sound end when the weather is poor.

Reviewed over 6 years ago

Geoff Steele

Expensive but beautiful; Doubtful Sound! The people of Real Journeys are friendly and kind. We were lucky, many dolphins!

Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016

Leonie Westerhot

Well organised, however, quite touristic and very expensive. Although the weather was cloudy and rainy at times there were some great views. In the end though too expensive.

Reviewed almost 7 years ago and experienced in February 2017

Axel and Patricia G

The cruise was fantastic on a beautiful sunny day. We enjoyed everything, the cruise on Lake Manapouri, the drive over the Wilmot Pass and the wonderful Doubtful Sound.

Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

Lorenz Pfisterer

This day was one of our best days so far. Beautiful nature, staff, well organised!

Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016

We had a good day. Good weather which is important in this town. Staff are very, very friendly and professional.

Reviewed almost 8 years ago and experienced in March 2016

Anouk Jongsma

Expensive but beautiful and we met dolphins and penguins.

Heidi et Mat

Very Nice daytrip into the doubtfull sound. Good information during the bus rides and boattrip. The silence during that boattrip was amazzing. A must do during your travell. I say its better than the milfotd sound but then the drive up there is something you should do.

Reviewed about 7 years ago and experienced in February 2015

Peter Beeloo

In addition to the, without doubt, incredible scenery, we had penguins, seals and jumping dolphins - and sunshine, we were very lucky.

Reviewed over 8 years ago

Robin WUERFEL

We went on a cruise to Stewart Island with a nature walk, a daytime cruise on Doubtful Sound and a cruise on Milford Sound. Each activity was punctual, professionally done with well informed guides. Value for money although not cheap.

Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2015

Helen Parsons

Amazing sights and sound - the cruise/bus/cruise ride was really informative while breathtaking views passed. Carol's nature narration is passionate, great food buffets, courteous staff.

Reviewed about 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014

Douglas Dean

Well organised tour but coming from Switzerland, Doubtful Sound is not the must see in New Zealand! The only spectacular thing were the dolphins, but the stop was much too short. All in all quite long - would not go again.

Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in February 2014

I have waited 40 years to do this tour and it was very well done. Entertaining and informative.

Well organised, friendly staff, but it was a bit boring at the end!

Excellent experience - company were very good and guide knowledgable. Very good facilities on board and new boats. A little expensive but worth it!

Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2014

Simon Galpin

Day trip to Doubtful Sound and powerstation. Very well organised, quality of boat and other transportation excellent, good value for money.

Sheila Galpin

Very good (and long) day starting from Queenstown. The staff is professional and we got what we expected. But the price is high!

Reviewed over 9 years ago

Laurent Arditi

Seemed to take a lot longer than should have, a lot of queuing unnecessarily. Doubtful Sound and boat spectacular. No morning or afternoon tea as advertised.

Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Colin Billington

Tour from Queenstown, a great day, good bus and fab boat tour.

Beautiful trip, excellent staff, great facilities, food could have been better.

Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2013

Dave Mertzig

Amazing experience with even the dolphins and penguins playing along. I really enjoyed the biologist's love of all things living - it is contagious!

Good performance and well organised (very) expensive. Good information during the three trips.

Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

Maya Bakker-deDreu

Good boat, good weather, nothing to complain. Though price quite a bit too high with $265.

Reviewed about 10 years ago

Alexander Zimmer

Was nice but not that much (maybe because of bad weather conditions) especially I've had some kind of deja vu of being one of million tourists.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in December 2013

Elly Zimmer

The experience of the cruise was extraordinary. We saw the wildlife trifecta -- penguins, seals and dolphins -- as well as a beautiful view of the sound from the Wilmot Pass overlook on the clear day. I did not enjoy the obligatory stop at the power station. Real Journeys should offer the Doubtful Sound cruise with the option to skip the stop at the power station. High cost for the cruise is worth every penny.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

Terry Seaman

All day boat trip - bus into powerstation and to the sound over Wilmot Pass - boat over the sound and then all the way back. Great trip, one of the best.

Leon Courtney

Milford Sound boat cruise and lunch. Food was great and information from host was fantastic. Amazing Milford Experience.

Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

Stuart Wilson

Pretty expensive but you get a lot for your money-Lake Manapouri, power station, Doubtful Sound, very touristy. Pack them in. I happened to be on a coach with screaming loud children/babies. This was not pleasant and children under a certain age should be banned from this once in a lifetime experience. What does a 6 week old get out of it anyway.

Experiencing the Silence: 3 days in Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

It’s the incredible silence that reverberates through your soul here, and the ‘ place of silence ’ is the literal translation of Patea , the Maori name for Doubtful Sound. The English name was bestowed by NZ’s most famous European explorer, Captain James Cook when he decided it was ‘doubtful’ he would make it back out to sea if he entered the fiord, so he opted to carry on without ever knowing what beauty lay in wait for him. I bet he would be kicking himself now if he knew!

‍ Visiting this remote part of Fiordland had long been on my bucket list, so when I saw Real Journeys were offering a new 3-day, 2 night cruise over winter for the first time in 2021, I jumped at the opportunity to experience this incredible part of New Zealand.

Thinking about visiting Doubtful Sound? Here’s 5 things you should know:

1. real journey cruise options.

In 2021, Real Journeys are running 3 day, 2 night cruises in May, July, August and September (departing twice a week on Friday and Sunday), with 2 day, 1 night cruises available every night in the warmer months from October to April. You can also visit Doubtful Sound as a day trip, but I highly recommend spending longer here to truly appreciate this place and let it really get under your skin - especially as takes some effort to get here, it really is tucked away in the bottom southwestern corner of New Zealand.

Going in winter may seem a bit risky weather wise, but given how much annual rainfall Doubtful Sound experiences, you're just as likely to get rain and bad weather in summer as in winter. Though it might be too cold to swim (think 4-5 degree water temperatures - far too cold for me!), you have the added bonus of potentially seeing fresh snow on the incredible 1,000 metre peaks - that's well worth braving the cold for in my opinion!

2. Doubtful Sound vs Milford Sound - which should you choose?

I've visited Milford Sound by driving the the jaw-dropping scenic route from Te Anau many times. I've also seen it from the air on scenic flights , taken a 2-hour cruise along the length of Milford Sound, and hiked the 54km Milford Track in April 2021, so I was intrigued to see just how different Doubtful Sound and this more remote part of Fiordland would be.

For a start, Doubtful Sound is 3 times larger than Milford Sound , so it’s not a place you can easily do justice to in a day trip. Over the course of our 3-day cruise, we were able to explore every inch of the Sound and its many sheltered coves and arms, as well as taking 2 trips right out to the Tasman Sea to experience the exhilarating force and swells of the open water. The time out at sea felt like a juxtaposition, and a real assault on the senses compared to the perfectly calm inner reaches of the fiord we'd sailed through only a couple of hours earlier.

3. Getting to Doubtful Sound, Accommodation & Food

The journey departs from Lake Manapouri, which is about 20 minutes south of Te Anau, and includes an hour’s cruise across Lake Manapouri. This is followed by a 45-minute bus ride over Wilmot Pass to reach Deep Cove, the innermost area of Doubtful Sound where the cruise departs.

We journeyed on the Milford Mariner (a 64 berth vessel) although this route is normally sailed by the Fiordland Navigator over summer which is a slightly bigger boat (72 berth). There are three decks from which to view the scenery - the lower decks where the cabins are based, the deck with the dining room and forward saloon, and the upper deck where the captain's bridge is - this gives you options for viewing the Sound from many different angles.

There are various cabin options available on the boat: quad-share bunk room style, twin-share or double, and some with external deck views (it will depend on your vessel as to what options are available on your individual cruise). We had a twin-share room with an external deck, which meant we could step right outside to enjoy the fiord views.

There is an incredible selection of chef-prepared food on board, and you will be spoilt for choice with an array of NZ meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes as well as cooked and continental breakfast options. It’s hard not be completely stuffed after every meal! My favourite dishes were the NZ lamb and Stewart Island smoked salmon. There are snacks and complimentary tea and coffee available throughout the day, as well as a great selection of beer, wine, soft drinks and snacks available to purchase on board too (not that you really need it!).

4. Nature & Wildlife

Commentary throughout the cruise by an onboard nature guide is the right mix of being informative, educational and fun. Wildlife spotting opportunities abound - you may see Tawaki (Fiordland crested penguin), bottlenose dolphins, albatross and seals depending on the time of year. You’ll also hear all about the impressive conservation efforts in the Sound on Secretary Island - NZ's biggest predator-free island, the history of the Lake Manapouri Dam (which has provided the road access to the Sound), and each night you can choose to hear more with a 30 minute nature presentation - I highly recommend these!

‍ The kayaking and tender craft boating options (and swimming depending on your bravery in the cold water!) are a great opportunity to experience the serenity of the Sound away from the noise of the main boat, and this experience only further enhances the enormous sense of scale in the fiord.

‍ 5. Weather & Gear

The views and weather conditions are ever changing: be prepared for combinations of sunshine, rainbows, snow, misty drizzle and atmospheric low cloud, or torrential rain and raging waterfalls - this can all happen in the same day within a few hours and it's surprising how many microclimates exist within the different areas of the fiord.

‍ Photo opportunities are endless: think glacier-carved mountain valleys with the occasional perfect reflection (these are rare but you may get lucky in the calmer parts of the fiord like Crooked Arm), wildlife that might appear at any minute, and sunrises and sunsets with layered mountain backdrops.

It’s very hard to use a tripod on board or take long exposures due to the boat movement, but a circular polariser is VERY handy to cut glare from the water, and a graduated filter as well if the sky is much brighter than the foreground, I choose to use Kase Filters for their high quality glass and clever design.

Camera gear to take : 90% of the time I shot with my Sony a7RIV + 24-70mm GM lens, swapping to a 70-300 lens for longer shots down the fiord or when trying to capture wildlife (not always successfully I might add!). A waterproof camera sleeve is also super handy to be able to shoot in the rain AND a good microfibre cloth - you’ll be wiping your lens clean a lot!

Clothing wise: it’s sensible to take windproof and waterproof layers. As our cruise was in the depths of winter, we had puffer jackets, rain jackets, hat and gloves. Sometimes it was almost warm enough for a T-shirt in the sunshine and the more sheltered parts of the cove, while at other times I needed at least 4 layers on in the rain and wind.

Top Ten Highlights of our 3 day journey:

It's hard to pin the highlights of this trip down to a manageable number due to the tremendous variety of weather and scenery we experienced but here are my picks:

I hope this post has inspired you to plan a journey through Doubtful Sound, it truly is one the most incredible places I've ever been. I believe it's a place everyone should have the opportunity to experience in their lifetime.

I travelled courtesy of Real Journeys on this 3-day voyage, but all opinions are my own.

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• Aug 29, 2021

A Bucket List Trip to Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Fiordland is one of the most stunning parts of New Zealand. And having seen so many incredible photos showing its beauty, Doubtful Sound has been on my bucket list for a very long time. In August, I finally got to experience the magic of Patea – “the place of silence”.

As a photographer, I often chase the weather and make short notice decisions on where I am headed next. But you can’t visit Doubtful Sound like that. It’s a conscious decision you must make because there are several steps to the journey, and you can’t just drive a car there. This is one of the things that make it so special to visit. Booking my trip back in May, I was counting down the days until I could go – the anticipation levels were high!

Read on and I will tell you a bit about an amazing three days in this special part of the country.

GETTING THERE

Real Journeys as a company actually started back in 1954 with trips Doubtful Sound – fulfilling a vision to take visitors to one of the wildest and most remote parts of New Zealand. Back then, the trip involved a very slow boat ride, followed by a 20km hike in either direction, up and over the formidable Wilmot Pass. These days it’s a whole heap easier, with the long journey replaced by a comfortable one-hour boat cruise and forty-five-minute coach ride.

Our journey to Doubtful Sound started at the edge of Lake Manapouri. We took the opportunity to enjoy some morning photography at the lake before we headed to the visitor centre. Having snowed the night before in Fiordland, the ride across Lake Manapouri to West Arm was spent admiring the stunning surrounding snow-capped mountains.

After disembarking and a short stop at the West Arm visitor centre, we boarded our coach for the ride over Wilmot Pass. Our bus driver kept us entertained with informative and hilarious commentary. The road over Wilmot Pass was built in the 1960s to provide easier access for the construction of the hydro station, and passes through lush rainforest, past roadside waterfalls, stunning river gorges and beneath the towering mountains. At the top, the coach stops to take in the first, distant view of Doubtful Sound. We were lucky to see this view after the recent snowfall, which made it even more beautiful and unique.

Arriving at Deep Cove, you immediately get a sense of the isolation. Deep Cove is nothing like Milford Sound, with its huge visitor terminal and expansive parking lot. There were just a few fishing boats floating in the cove, and a small, cantilevered wharf. There is also an outdoor education facility and a small hostel located in Deep Cove, although both were completely quiet the day we arrived. We boarded the boat (we sailed on the Milford Mariner, as the slightly larger Fiordland Navigator was having its annual maintenance) and started our cruise.

Here are five highlights from my time cruising the beautiful Doubtful Sound.

1) GETTING TO EXPLORE THE FULL AREA OF DOUBTFUL SOUND/PATEA

Doubtful Sound is actually a fiord rather than a sound. It is carved from huge ancient glaciers, that created massive U-shaped valleys stretching to the sea. Towering peaks stretch steeply up to 1,000 meters into the sky and carve to a depth of more than 400m below the surface of the water. And it’s huge – the fiord is three times longer than Milford Sound and has a sea surface roughly ten times larger. This is where the one and two-night cruises shine – there is just no way to take everything in on a day trip. During our time on board, we were able to cruise up all five arms of the fiord, travel the full length of the main channel twice, and take two trips out beyond the entrance and into the rolling Tasman Sea.

We spent our first night anchored at the end of First Arm – although close to the entrance of the fiord, this is the place to shelter from a southerly. On our second night we anchored in Precipice Cove. During the two days we sailed Thompson Sound, both sides of the massive predator-free Secretary Island, and along both Crooked and Hall Arms. The cruise also twice took in the tiny Seymour Island, where we had a lot of our wildlife sightings. We were able to really appreciate the enormity of Doubtful Sound and also stop and relax for periods of time without feeling like we would be missing out on seeing something incredible.

2) OUR NATURE GUIDE & THE WILDLIFE

Ok, I am being sneaky by putting these two together, but they would be hard to separate. I was so looking forward to experiencing the wildlife on this trip, but what was an extra surprise was the quality of the information and commentary on board. Our nature guide was Courtney, and she was first class. Such an asset to Real Journeys, she struck the perfect balance with her informative and educational commentary, funny stories and trivia and being available to ask questions and chat during the day. Courtney also held a thirty minute talk each night on the boat – one about the natural wonders and history of Doubtful Sound and one about the history of Real Journeys, the Manapouri power scheme and the conservation efforts occurring in the Fiordland area. I learned so much from Courtney over our trip. Of course, the rest of the crew were also awesome and deserve praise for looking after us during the journey.

We managed to see an impressive amount of wildlife on our trip. The highlight for me was seeing several Tawaki, the Fiordland Crested Penguin. These birds are thought to be the rarest of NZ’s mainland penguins and they spend months at sea at a time, returning to Doubtful Sound in winter (perfectly timed with our trip!). I didn’t have the zoom lens needed for quality photos, but the memories are special. We also saw fur seals, mollymawk albatross and a large number of the resident bottlenose dolphins. The dolphins joined us a couple of times, riding the bow wave of the Mariner as we sailed past Seymour Island. We learnt that the Fiordland bottlenose is significantly larger than other bottlenose dolphins, due to the colder waters of the area in which they live. As the speed of the boat increased, these beautiful creatures did a few dives for us as well.

3) THE EXTRA ACTIVITIES

On our first morning, we had the opportunity to get off the boat for a short period. We had anchored in a sheltered spot in First Arm the night before and after breakfast we could opt for either for a self-guided kayak, or for a trip in the tender boats. I opted to go in the tender boats, mostly because I wanted to take photos without the fear of drowning my camera gear! This became another highlight due to the interesting commentary by crew member AJ. Although the morning felt completely windless, we had not yet experienced the perfect reflections I yearned for. AJ explained that these were rare, which is understandable when you consider the area being close to the exposed Tasman Sea, the long arms for the breeze to funnel up and the huge surface area of the fiord. I wasn’t really disappointed, but still hopeful that we might get those perfectly calm moments (spoiler alert – we did!).

After returning to the Milford Mariner, a special activity awaited just those braver and hardier than myself – the Polar Plunge. You want to really experience Doubtful Sound? Then jump off the back of the boat, into the icy cold waters. With a water temperature of around 5 degrees Celsius, I can’t say I am too disappointed to have missed out in favour of watching those who experienced the resulting gasp effect!

On our last morning, the captain edged our boat right up to one of Doubtful Sound's permanent waterfalls so we could all taste a glass of some of the purest, freshest water you will find in New Zealand. Is it even a trip to Fiordland if you've not had a glass of water direct from a waterfall?!

4) THE WEATHER AND THE VARIETY OF CONDITIONS WE EXPERIENCED

It rains in Doubtful Sound. A lot. Each year the fiord receives an average of between 3,000mm and 6,000mm of rain, making it one of the wettest places in New Zealand. So, we went to Doubtful Sound knowing that we could have a lot of rain, and our forecast was not looking the best in the lead up to our trip. But that didn’t bother me too much – because Fiordland rainfall leads to epic Fiordland waterfalls, and they are something particularly special to see. In the end, we had an enormous variety of weather, but not any persistent heavy rain and so perhaps the waterfall game was not at its highest. However, the variety of weather was an absolute highlight in terms of experiencing this wonderful place.

We were lucky enough to experience calm, sunny weather, light rain with rainbows, strong wind and big swells, and a magical, misty monochrome morning. The conditions at the entrance of the fiord can be quite intense (Captain Cook was 'doubtful' his boat would get back out to sea if he entered, and that was how this area earned its name). I won’t soon forget captain Dave telling us how the Milford Mariner is not really the ideal boat for rough weather, as we laughed and held on for dear life while riding an ocean roller coaster out in the Tasman Sea. Although exciting, I was thankful not to spend too long out in the open at that point!

And yes, (so, so grateful!), we also were lucky enough to experience stunning perfect reflections in Crooked Arm, for just a few minutes. These fleeting moments were definitely a highlight, I will always remember those surreal minutes of absolute stillness and know how lucky I was to have that experience in Doubtful Sound. Crooked Arm instantly became my favourite place in the fiord.

It was misty and raining for our whole last morning, and so a good raincoat and a plastic covering for the camera was an absolute must! It was often quite pleasant out on deck, except for when it was really windy. When the wind was up, or when outside of the fiord on the Tasman Sea, I kept layered up and with a woolly hat on. Over our trip, I spent many hours outside with my camera taking in the scenery. Being the middle of winter, I had expected it to be much colder, but you are sheltered a lot of the time given the height of the surrounding mountains.

The last morning, with all the beautiful stillness and floating low cloud, ended up being one of my favourite parts of the trip. Such moody weather really epitomises Fiordland, and it gives it a mystical feeling that is fitting with the fact that its location feels a million miles away from anywhere else.

5) THE FOOD!

So, almost every review I read about this trip before going highlighted the food, and so I couldn't possibly leave the eating situation unmentioned. Given all the positive reviews, my expectations were already high, but I certainly was not disappointed. We were so well-fed on board, it became hard to get hungry in time for the next meal. The delicious food was a real talking point aboard the Milford Mariner!

Fir, our chef, prepared us a huge nightly feast – Stewart Island salmon, Southland roast lamb, Bluff mussels, gourmet salads, roast vegetables and delicious curries. Hearty meals beautifully prepared were followed up by several options for dessert each night – if you had any space left! There was also a hot and continental breakfast each morning, and a generous lunch on the middle day. Fruit was always available, and muffins came out for morning and afternoon tea. Tea, coffee and water was also always available and there was also a bar to purchase beer, wine and spirits. Dietary requirements are well-catered for.

So - make no mistake, despite being on a boat about as far away from civilisation as you can get, the food is amazing and you will definitely not go hungry. It's funny to think of the snacks I packed, just in case. Not one of them touched. Your tummy will be happy.

I feel so grateful to have been able to experience Doubtful Sound. It really is an incredible place, that feels like true, untouched New Zealand. The effort to get to Doubtful enhances the experience, because you gain an appreciation for just how tucked away this part of the country is.

Making changes to suit the New Zealand market, Real Journeys began offering three-day/two-night cruises in Doubtful Sound over the winter months in 2021, and these may continue in the future. Over the summer months, where the days are longer, you can do a single night cruise and still enjoy the full expierience. When I saw the two-night option, I knew the time had come for me to tick this off my bucket list and I am really glad to have not rushed our trip. I had such an amazing time that actually, this experience remains on my bucket list – I will definitely come back at some point in the future and take my husband.

My trip to Doubtful Sound really did exceed my expectations and I had a wonderful time onboard. Real Journeys was kind enough to host me at no cost for my trip, however my recommendation to add this to your list is genuine.

Please visit the Real Journeys website for more information about the options for visiting, or feel free to contact me if you have any questions. I hope you enjoyed hearing about my time in Doubtful Sound!

Wow and fabulous! Thank you for sharing so much beauty, in all its guises.

Absolutely stunning photos. I had a day visit to Doubtful Sound a few years ago. Your photos brought back all the memories. The cool mist on my face. The wild and rough Tasman Sea. And the stillness and quiet when the motors were turned off was a moment I’ll never forget. Thank you for sharing. I hope I get a chance to return to NZ 🖤🤍

Beautifull photographed and descibed. We did this trip back in 1998 and it remains one of my fondest memories.

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• Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise From Queenstown Real Journeys

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - RealNZ

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Doubtful Sound Boat Cruise

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• 2nd largest fiord in Fiordland National Park
• Cruise across Lake Manapouri
• Bus transfers across Wilmot Pass
• 3 hour wilderness cruise in Doubtful Sound

Description

Doubtful Sound is a mind blowing fiord located in a World Heritage area. The isolated fiordland of Doubtful shows nature in its rawest and most overwhelming form imaginable. Known for its rich abundance of flora and fauna it is the second largest fiord of the 14 within the Fiordland National Park, standing at three times the length of Milford Sound and ten times larger!

To access the isolated Fiordland your adventure begins with a boat cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a coach ride over the Wilmot Pass where you can absorb the breathtaking sight which stands in front of you before descending into Deep Water Cove and boarding the catamaran for your three hour cruise.

The cruise provides you with dramatic views of Doubtfuls awe-inspiring scenery along with detailed commentary from the friendly and knowledgeable skippers who will highlight key viewing points to ensure that you don't miss a thing. As well as the scenery you will be treated to sightings of fur seals basking on the rocks, bottlenose dolphins frolicking alongside the ship and even the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.

Trip Includes

• 45 min boat cruise across Lake Manapouri (and return)
• 45 min coach trip over the Wilmot Pass (and return)
• 3 hour luxury boat cruise on Doubtful Sound
• Optional transport from Queenstown 
• 8 hrs from Manapouri
• 13 hrs from Queenstown
• from Manapouri: 7:30am & 10:30am in summer & 10:00am only in winter
• from Te Anau: 6:45am & 9:45am in summer & 9:15am in winter
• from Queenstown: 7:40am in summer & 6:55am in winter

Other Information

• You can self drive to Manapouri or get the coach from Queenstown (2.5hrs)
• Child rates apply (5-15yrs)
• Infant rates apply if transfers ex Queenstown or Te Anau are selected
• Dress warmly for the cruise boat & don't forget your camera
• Free tea & coffee are available on the cruise boat. We recommend bringing a packed lunch with you
• Doubtful Sound overnight cruises are available (Oct-May only). These are very popular and we recommend booking several months in advance

Normal Retail Prices

• adult NZD$379.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$189.00
• adult NZD$399.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$209.00
• infant (0-4yrs) NZD$10.00
• adult NZD$479.00
• child (5-15yrs) NZD$289.00
• infant (0-4yrs) NZD$50.00

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All prices shown in NZD$.

Genuine Customer Reviews powered by

Service rating:

This was a lovely way to see doubtful sound. We were picked up on time in TeAnau and everything went well. I enjoyed the 2 short stops on the drive to start the main boat trip. My only complaint is with a family who did not supervise their children on the boat - not the company's fault!

Product rating:

Reviewed 08-Apr-2024

We were well looked after by experienced staff and were well informed of all the pictorial surroundings. Staff were very courteous and obliging.

Top value for money spent.

Reviewed 09-Mar-2024

Friendly knowledgeable staff well run trip to beautiful scenery Seals and a trip on the Tasman a bonus on a great day. Comfortable travel on boats and bus. Altogether a great day out

Great trip loved everything boats and bus trip awesome views the whole way.

Reviewed 13-Apr-2023

Outbound service was wonderful, inbound was atrocious

This would have been 5 stars but the return leg after coming back to the boat and waiting for almost an hour without communication was chaotic.

Reviewed 04-Apr-2023

Staff friendly and courteous. Everything was done to schedule

It was a great experience

Reviewed 10-Feb-2023

Lady at counter was grumpy, boarding was delayed ( lined up and waiting for staff / crew to arrive for 15 mins) Bus trip and sailings were awesum $20/person picnic absolute rip off (take you own food) all bins choka with thrown away picnic parcels and the 10 minutes of silence ( no talking, no photos, no moving around) was 8 mins too ****** long The crew were great and the scenery is truly magical

Lady at counter was grumpy Picnic absolutel rip off Forced silence was too long (10 mins) Crew and scenery awesome

Reviewed 26-Jun-2021

Reply from Everything Travel Group

Thank you so much for your review, we really appreciate it. We have passed your feedback on to the operator. The Sound of Silence is actually one of the things customers enjoy most. Feel free to get in touch regarding any future holiday plans, we would be more than happy to assist you & offer you a repeat customer discount. All the best! :) Everything Travel Group

Posted 13-Oct-2021

Booked by phone as internet booking would not work ,took me right through to the end , even asked for Credit card details and then when I selected submit, nothing happened and it took me back to the first page, very frustrating as didn't know if it accepted by booking or not. No e-mail sent so phone 2 hrs later to find that my booking hadn't gone through. . Phone staff were excellent and tours booked in minutes. Thank you.

Awesome experience. Service was exceptional and tour guides fantastic.

Reviewed 10-Sep-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Milford Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Posted 21-Oct-2020

Simple and easy to follow processes, good follow through with communication

Stunning a hidden gem that is valued by those who use it, the staff where knowledgeable with great humour

Reviewed 09-Sep-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Queenstown and Doubtful Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Eve was just the bestest at getting us to and from Doubtful Sound. Once over there The day was a beauty and the scenery was magical

Great value for money. Thank you

Reviewed 25-Aug-2020

Thank you so much for your feedback. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your great experience. We hope you had a great time in Doubtful Sound! All the best & stay safe!

Latest Questions about Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise - RealNZ

Hi, we want to book the tour. There is no field for our 2 year old. Is she allowed to come? We would like to book the tour for Friday

Yes, an infant can go on the Doubtful Sound Day Cruise, you just need to add them to the additional comments section and provide us with their ages

Comment by: Everything Travel Group on 25th Jul 23 at 14:27

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Hello, I was looking to book a doubtful sound cruise for this Thursday morning. The 7:00am slot appears available and could work for us, but does that have to a Queenstown departure? It wasn’t clear to me. We would be staying in Te Anau ideally and would prefer to start from there. Is the 7:00am option only for those in Queenstown?. If we needed to be in Queenstown we might be able to arrange that. But ideally there is a 7:00am option from Te Anau (or 10:00 but appears booked up)

I hope you're well. Thanks so much for your enquiry in regards to the Doubtful Sounds Wilderness Day Cruise. Unfortunately with the 7.00 am sailing we are unable to provide transport from Te Anau for this sailing, you would need to self-drive down to the check-in point in Manapouri.

Comment by: Karma on 21st Feb 23 at 14:36

Hi - myself and my 3 kids will be in Queenstown between Feb 19-26. We are looking to do this but I could not find how to add the coach ride to/from Queenstown? Thanks!

0 comments - Post a Comment

With the departure from Queenstown option, does that include hotel pick-up and drop-off? Thanks.

Thank you for your question about the Doubtful Sound wilderness day cruise. For the Queenstown departure, the coach offer pick ups from accessible locations which will be as close as possible to your hotel. 

Comment by: ETG on 5th Jun 21 at 15:45

Hi! Just want to ask how much is Doubtful Sound Day Cruise from Queenstown?

At the moment we have a special for $175 for the Doubtful Sound Cruise departing from Queenstown.

Comment by: Everything New Zealand on 15th Sep 20 at 19:00

If this deal include a coach pick up from Queenstown on Thursday 23rd? We don't have a car so would appreciate a pick and return drop off after the cruise.

Currently, this tour is not running coaches from Queenstown, the coaches will be operating again from the 29th of August. Tours are running from Manapouri only for the time being. 

Comment by: ETG on 22nd Jul 20 at 17:01

Le repas est-il compris dans le prix ?

My partner and I are looking to do this cruise on Monday. We want to depart from Te Anau. The link for this on the page is not working. I’m just wondering how we go about being picked up from Te Anau?

I notice you have specials right up the 11th October and Monday 12th is back to high price, is there any discount you can provide for 9 people on Tuesday the 13th of October.

Comment by: Ann Mcgreal on 13th Jul 20 at 15:40

This winter season the Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Tour only departs from Manapouri, only 40 minutes from Te Anau. I will contact you regarding your enquiry for the 13th of October.

Comment by: Everything New Zealand on 13th Jul 20 at 17:39

2 comments - Post a Comment

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