Sample Itinerary - Overnight Cruise
Overview of a Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise with Fiordland Cruises
Day 1.
Deaparting Queenstown from "The Station" at 7.00am (Nov - April)
Departing from your Lake Te Anau accommodation at 9.00am (8.15am in October)
Departing from Pearl Harbour, Manapouri Visitor Centre at Lake Manapouri at 9.40am (9.15am in October)
At Manapouri you will board a scenic cruise across Lake Manapouri (45 min cruise) to West Arm. At West Arm you will see the above ground sections of the Manapouri Power Station, an underground hydroelectric power station which is capable of generating up to 850 MW using water from Lakes Te Anau and Manapouri. It is the largest hydroelectric power station in New Zealand.
At West Arm you will meet your crew, who will take you by courtesy bus over the Wilmot Pass where you will capture breathtaking vistas of Doubtful Sound and the surrounding mountains.
You will arrive at the Southern Secret and Doubtful Sound around midday, welcome refreshments will be served as we begin to explore the environs of Doubtful Sound such as Hall Arm, Crooked Arm, Bradshaw Sound and more, all the while keep watch for inhabitants such as bottlenosed dolphins, penguins sea birds and seals.
Onboard the Southern Secret, your Doubtful Sound Overnight adventure includes sightseeing and exploring the history and splendor, pause at features for photographs and to observe marine mammals, cast a line for fishing, check our crayfish traps and savor the spectacular scenery and wildlife. Activities onboard can include fishing, mammal watching and star gazing on clear evenings. Wildlife often sighted in Doubtful Sound may include bottlenose dolphins, penguins, seals and sea birds.
Conditions allowing, the skipper will select locations for fishing, and placing "pots" to capture Fiordland Lobster. Cruises may include a visit to the entrance of Doubtful Sound where, you may visit the Shelter Islands, home to a colony of Southern Fur Seals.
Typical overnight anchorages in Doubtful Sound include Crooked Arm, First Arm, Hall Arm and Precipice cove in Bradshaw Sound or on the eastern tip of Secretary Island.
Day 2.
The Ship awakes, and after a light breakfast we have a leisurely cruise back towards Deep Cove and from there end the journey with a trip back across the Wilmot Pass and Lake Manapouri. We arrive in Te Anau around noon.
If you are joining the coach from Queenstown* it departs from The Station at 7am on day one and departs Te Anau at 5pm on day 2. You will have a couple of hours in Te Anau on day 2 - we can arrange a Glow Worm Caves Tour on your behalf, however this needs to be reserved well in advance.
* Queenstown coach only available from 1 November - 30 April
Bookings
To book your overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound - please phone, email or click here to visit our secure online booking engine to check availability and reserve your cruise. Simply use the calendar to select the date you wish to depart on your cruise to check availability for your preferred dates.
Fiordland Cruises reserves the right to amend timetables cancel departures, substitute plant or equipment and alter ticket prices at any time. Due to variability of weather and other conditions beyond our control Fiordland Cruises cannot guarantee certain activities/subjects will be available. The actual route activities and anchorages may vary.
Fiordland Cruises reserves all rights
