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It rains for around 180 days of the year, with rainfall reaching 250mm (10 in) over a 24 hour period. Immerse yourself in the vast and untouched wilderness of Doubtful Sound, the second largest fiord in Fiordland National Park. For the price, it’s the best value place in town, and I’ve seen prices as low as $189 NZD on Booking.com. Tipping is all in cash, so I recommend bringing some with you just in case. At the end of the cruise, you can decide whether or not to tip. There’s not a huge tipping culture here because servers get paid a living wage, so lots of locals will tell you that they don’t tip.
Normal Retail Prices
Rainfall is what makes Fiordland a land of lakes, rivers, streams, waterfalls and fiords. Visitors should always be prepared to enjoy some rainfall during their stay. It is recommended to bring sensible clothing for cool and wet weather to fully appreciate your stay. This was such a well organised, professionally run experience. All the staff were well trained, worked as a team, were friendly and so knowledgeable. The whole operation with all the transfers ran like clockwork.
Best time of year to visit Doubtful Sound
He also taught us how to fish and we caught dinner - blue cod and Jock Stuart - expertly cooked by Kirsten. The booking process is not supported when in private browsing or incognito mode. When we are informed in advance about guests with hindered mobility, we make every effort to mitigate the impact by assigning rooms in proximity to the main areas. However, it’s important to note that our vessels are not optimally equipped for potential needs. Throughout Fiordland the fiords are officially mapped as sounds. Visitors with enough time choose to visit both fiords as they have different characters.
View from Wilmot Pass into Deep Cove
Prices charged will be the valid rate at time of travel. The trip begins on the shore of Lake Manapouri, where you’ll hop onto a vessel to cross over to West Arm. Here, you’ll board our RealNZ coach to cross the scenic Wilmot Pass, before arriving at Doubtful Sound, and your home for the night.
And our resident Chef prepares the frehest of seafood that you help to catch, for an evening feast fit for royalty. With a maximum of 12 clients this compact but spacious vessel offeres plenty of opportunities to take in the scenery; either with your new friends or by yourselves. To protect our rare and endangered wildlife, we operate to a strict code of practice when we encounter wildlife.
Things to consider before you book a Doubtful Sounds Overnight Cruise?
Investigation underway into cruise grounding in Doubtful Sound - 1News
Investigation underway into cruise grounding in Doubtful Sound.
Posted: Thu, 25 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
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. We learned that Doubtful Sound used to be covered in ice up to 1200 metres thick, meaning that some of the cliffs we were seeing today used to be completely covered in ice and snow. We also learned that Doubtful Sound is home to 70 bottle nose dolphins and the Tawaki Fiordland crested penguin. All trips to Doubtful Sound leave from Manapouri, a small town just 30 minutes from Te Anau or 2-3 hours from Queenstown.
What to expect: Doubtful Sound overnight cruise day 1
Overnight car parking is a available on View St, a short 2 minute walk from our Manapouri Visitor Centre. The Fiordland Navigator is a purpose-built vessel designed to replicate a traditional trading scow and is perfectly suited to cruising the fiords. Enjoy a delicious dinner and cooked breakfast prepared by your on-board chef. The vastness of this untouched world will take your breath away as you experience its stunning beauty on our Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise.
Wildlife, small boat or kayaks launched from the ship. Afternoon cruise up most of the Milford sound then anchored overnight and the next morning cruised up to the Tasman Sea then back to docks. Small crew does triple duty to make sure everyone is well cared for onboard. Plus, you get to enjoy extra activities like kayaking and tender boat rides that you don’t get on the daytime cruises.
MY DOUBTFUL SOUND OVERNIGHT CRUISE EXPERIENCE + personal review
Greg's New Zealand trip, tips, and recommendations - Frequent Miler
Greg's New Zealand trip, tips, and recommendations.
Posted: Fri, 27 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
If you’re staying in Manapouri, you can join your group at the meeting point 20 minutes before your tour begins. However, you can also be picked up from your hotel in Queenstown or Te Anau for an additional fee. Your Doubtful Sound overnight cruise with Fiordland Expeditions offers you the opportunity to explore a small part of what Fiordland has to offer on an overnight cruise.
It is very pretty, but we felt that too much of the time on the Milford Sound overnight cruise was spent finding ways to keep us entertained. This overnight cruise is the perfect escape to relax, refresh, and reconnect with nature. The rainier the weather, the more powerful and abundant the waterfalls! Just make sure to pack warm and waterproof clothing so you can enjoy them. There’s a reason Doubtful Sound isn’t as busy as Milford Sound – it’s harder to get to!
Doubtful Sound is a stunning fiord that is one of the most beautiful places to visit in New Zealand. It’s incredibly remote and takes a while to get to, so doing an overnight cruise is a fantastic way to experience it. Not only do you get to discover the fiord’s pristine beauty, but you also get to spend the night and see the sunrise over the mountains and calm waters. We did a two night cruise on Doubtful Sound which was amazing.
However, storms and rocky waves can occur in worse weather. The crew told us the rainy weather we got was typical of Doubtful Sound, so you may experience the same, better or worse. Once you arrive, you will board the Patea Explorer for a 3 hour (approximately) cruise on Doubtful Sound - a spectacular pristine fiord.
Yes, you could potentially be sharing with another guest. 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.
With a head full of fresh memories and a belly full of divine food, you can retire to your comfortable quarters or choose to relax and enjoy the great company. Do you feel like lounging about on deck with a big glass of wine and a good book? Want to try your hand at catching a fresh fish dinner? How about testing out your kayaking skills, or even have a swim or snorkel?
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