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 &
Oct-Apr)
.
camping $385;
Fiordland Cruises
BOAT TOUR
( 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.
Deep Cove Charters
BOAT TOUR
( 0800 249 682;
www.deepcovecharters.co.nz
;
s bunk $500, tw/d cabin $1100/1200)
Overnight cruises on board the
Seafinn
(maximum 12 passengers).
Real Journeys
BOAT TOUR
( 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 spe-
cialist nature guide. The overnight cruise, which runs from September to May, is aboard
the
Fiordland 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.
Go Orange
BOAT TOUR
