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Doubtful Sound Cruise and Coach from Te Anau

South Island

RealNZ

from

NZ$373

per adult

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Aerial view of the Patea Explorer cruising past small islands in Doubtful Sound’s vast fiord landscape

Experiences

Day Tours

Nature & Wildlife Cruises

Cruises

Family-friendly Tours

South Island

Start: Te Anau

Duration: 1 day

Travel Time: 9 hours

Details

Experience Fiordland’s Wild Heart from Te Anau

Begin your Doubtful Sound adventure with a boat cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a scenic drive over the legendary Wilmot Pass—New Zealand’s most expensive and remote road. This journey into Fiordland National Park sets the tone for what lies ahead: an extraordinary experience through lush rainforest and towering peaks.

Once you reach Deep Cove, board the Patea Explorer for a serene three-hour cruise through Doubtful Sound, a fiord known for its unspoiled beauty and haunting silence. With far fewer visitors than Milford Sound, this remote location offers a peaceful and truly immersive wilderness escape.

Discover Untouched Nature and Remarkable Wildlife

Your skipper or onboard nature guide will bring the fiord to life with fascinating commentary on Doubtful Sound’s geology, history, and wildlife. Keep watch for native birds, fur seals basking on rocky outcrops, and pods of bottlenose dolphins gliding through the deep, still waters.

Doubtful Sound’s meandering arms, mist-shrouded cliffs, and dense forests create a setting that feels otherworldly. This coach and cruise package from Te Anau is perfect for travellers seeking a deeper, more tranquil connection with New Zealand’s natural wonders.

Coach driver steering through forested road on Wilmot Pass

Woman smiling while looking out of the coach window at snow-capped peaks on Wilmot Pass

Bright clear view of Doubtful Sound from Wilmot Pass with green ridgelines and blue sky

The Patea Explorer boat on calm waters in Doubtful Sound with dense forest and reflections

The Patea Explorer sailing through Doubtful Sound’s wide fiord surrounded by forested cliffs and snow-capped peaks

Close-up of passengers at the bow of the Patea Explorer enjoying the view in Doubtful Sound

Patea Explorer catamaran cruising through open water with soft light and rugged coast in the distance

Patea Explorer cruise boat sailing through Doubtful Sound surrounded by lush Fiordland forest

Distant view of the Patea Explorer boat on Doubtful Sound, dwarfed by towering Fiordland mountains

Close-up of the RealNZ Patea Explorer catamaran gliding past the forested cliffs of Doubtful Sound

Tourists wearing jackets on the deck of a boat cruising through Patea Arm in Doubtful Sound, surrounded by lush mountains

People in raincoats photographing steep cliffs and misty peaks from a boat in Doubtful Sound’s Patea Arm

Tall waterfall cascading down a rocky, forested cliffside in Doubtful Sound, Fiordland, New Zealand

View from a day cruise through Doubtful Sound in Fiordland National Park, with lush forested mountains and calm water under a blue sky.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

You’ll cruise across crystal clear Lake Manapouri to West Arm
A highlight is the coach trip through Fiordland’s rainforest and over Wilmot Pass
Your Skipper or Nature Guide will let you know all about the region's unique flora and fauna
Doubtful Sound is in remote Fiordland, with no WIFI available, the perfect place to unplug and recharge

EXTRA INFORMATION

Due to the multi-leg journey and floating wharf access, guests will need to have a reasonable level of mobility
Manapouri Café will be open daily from 9.00am. Café menu has a range of beautiful homemade food & Allpress Coffee for you to enjoy pre-cruise or to take with you
Snacks and drinks are also available onboard
The tour is suitable for all ages

WHAT TO BRING

Non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jacket, warm sweater/fleece jacket, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent and camera.
Please remember to bring personal medication including for asthma and allergies.
As this is a 7-hour adventure we highly recommend you bring a packed lunch or order a lunch box from our Manapouri Café

AGE INFORMATION

Adult: 16 years +
Children: 4-15 years
Infant: Under 4 years

CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS

More than 24 hours before departure: Full refund**.
Within 24 hours: No refund

Note: **Refund excludes credit card or payment fees, which are non-refundable.

Please see more information on refunds and cancellations in Go New Zealand's terms and conditions.*

Departure Dates

High Season: October-April

Low Season: May-September

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