Skip to contentSkip to menu

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises

Treat your senses to a truly unique wilderness experience with a Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise to the second largest fiord in Fiordland National Park, Doubtful Sound.

With untamed peaks, lush green rainforest and intriguing, winding inlets, your Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise will prove absolutely breathtaking. You will notice an abundance of wildlife here and you may even see some bottlenose dolphins and playful fur seals. The Fiordland Crested Penguin also calls these parts home so make sure you keep a watchful eye and don’t miss a thing!

Simply reaching Doubtful Sound itself is an adventure. There is no direct road access and, so, the only way to get there is by cruising across Lake Manapouri and then traveling over Wilmot Pass via coach. Though it takes time and effort to get here, it is this very isolation that makes it such a special place. As you cast your eyes on your surroundings, just remember that these are not the kind of sights that anyone or everyone is lucky enough to enjoy up close.

If you would like to be one of these lucky people and witness the perfection of Doubtful Sound with your own eyes, join us for a memorable trip on our Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise on the Fiordland Navigator where you will spend a night on the fiord itself! If you would rather not drive out to the departure point in Manapouri, we can arrange for transportation by coach from Te Anau and Queenstown.

Wildlife

Since it is located in the very heart of Fiordland and is fairly inaccessible to people, Doubtful Sound has managed to maintain its wonderful natural appeal. The Sound is located within a rainforest which is home to various forms of undisturbed wildlife. This rainforest really is quite something to behold and you can’t help but be amazed by just how dense it has grown with a variety of plants including vines, tree and ground ferns, perching plants and podocarp trees. Thanks to this forest, a wide variety of native birds have a place to call home and, if you listen carefully, you can hear them sing.

Just as the land is abundant in life, so too are the surrounding waters of the fiord. The surface layer consists of dark fresh water which acts well in blocking the sunlight. It is caused by the massive annual rainfall in the area and it is so coloured due to the forest’s tannins as the water flows through a large catchment area on its way to the sea.

BESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswyBESbswy

Thanks to this dark layer, different types of coral and sea life are able to live and flourish in shallower conditions than normal. Various southern ocean creatures have made these waters their home including a pod of dolphins and plenty of fur seals too! Other sea animals may not settle here but they do like to visit. So, depending on when you visit, you might see Mollymawks and Royal Albatross. There are even penguins that visit these areas. The rare Fiordland Crested Penguin also visits these parts to breed and, if you are really lucky, you might even spot a whale on your Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise!

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise from Manapouri
Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise from Manapouri
South Island
NZ$599.00 to NZ$1,849.00 per person
Enjoy the most peaceful and tranquil getaway as this amazing Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Your great escape begins in Manapouri with a brie...