Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Until relatively recently, only the most intrepid tramper or sailor ever explored Doubt-
ful Sound. Even Captain Cook only observed it from off the coast in 1770, because he was
'doubtful' whether the winds in the sound would be sufficient to blow the ship back out to
sea. The sound became more accessible when the road over Wilmot Pass opened in 1959
to facilitate construction of the West Arm power station.
Getting to Doubtful Sound involves boarding a boat at Pearl Harbour in Manapouri for
a one-hour trip to West Arm power station, followed by a 22km (40-minute) drive over
Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove (permanent population: two) where you hop aboard a boat for
your cruise on the sound. Manapouri is the easiest place to base yourself, although Te
Anau and Queenstown pick-ups are readily organised through the cruise-boat operators.
Tours
Your major considerations here are overnight (infinitely preferable) or day trip, and size of
boat. Other considerations are whether you want to tour the power station. Overnight
cruises include meals plus the option of fishing and kayaking. Note that the only
Manapouri-based company specialising in kayak tours on Doubtful is
Adventure Kayak &
Cruise
(
0800 324 966;
www.fiordlandadventure.co.nz
; day trips $245; overnight kayaking & camping $385;
Oct-Apr)
.
Fiordland Cruises
( 0800 368 283;
www.fiordlandcruises.co.nz
; s/d $600/1200)
Overnight cruise on the
Southern Secret
(maximum 12 passengers); cabins are en suite doubles.
BOAT TOUR
Deep Cove Charters
( 0800 249 682;
www.deepcovecharters.co.nz
; s bunk $500, tw/d cabin $1100/1200)
Overnight cruises on
board the
Seafinn
(maximum 12 passengers).
BOAT TOUR
BOAT TOUR
Real Journeys
( 0800 656 501;
www.realjourneys.co.nz
)
The day-long 'wilderness cruise' (adult $245 to $265,
child $65) includes a three-hour journey aboard a modern catamaran with a specialist
nature guide. The overnight cruise, which runs from September to May, is aboard the
Fi-
ordland Navigator,
which sleeps 70 in en suite cabins: twin-share (adult $417 to $595,
child $209 to $298), and quad-share (adult $263 to $375, child $132 to $188). Some trips
include a visit to Manapouri underground power station.
