Cruising Doubtful Sound
It’s really a fjord
Early in 2017 I wrote a “Must Do New Zealand” post about visiting Milford Sound on the Milford Mariner.
Late last year I was able to visit Doubtful Sound on an overnight cruise and I think it’s an even better experience than the Milford Sound overnight.
Both cruises run by Real Journeys operate in similar fashion.
Doubtful Sound Fjordland Navigator
Once you get to Doubtful Sound, you board the boat, get a small stateroom (ensuite), and are able to spend a full 18 hours on the water.
There are meals and talks from naturalists on the boat. The boat will sail the fjord until dark, heading out to the place where the ocean meets the mountains. At dusk, the boat will anchor in a side channel for the night. Star gazing, naturalists talks, dinner are all on offer.
In the morning there is breakfast, and a chance to go kayaking or boat sightseeing before the boat heads back to the dock and back to your coach for the return trip.
Sightseeing Boat Tour
The mountains are green, the water is dark, the mists rise off the water and float into the trees. Waterfalls pour down from high in the hills. In the far reaches of the fjords, all you hear is distant water and the birds.
We saw lots of wildlife: dolphins, and crested penguins. We saw whales breaching in the ocean.
Reflection on Doubtful
I cannot compare the the two Sound trips but I can tell you that I would do the Doubtful Sound Cruise again any time. It is an adventure and an opportunity to experience nature that will be found in few other places. One of my favorite memories is lying on the deck in the middle of the night. You cannot believe the stars and satellites that are visible with the naked eye. You are looking at the oldest and newest objects in the universe all at the same time.
Thanks for your comments! Definitely a great experience worth doing.