Sample Itinerary - Overnight Cruise
Overview of a Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise with Fiordland Cruises
Day 1.
Fiordland Cruises' courtesy coach will collect you from your Lake Te Anau accommodation at 8.15am, or meet you at the Pearl Harbour Visitor Centre in Lake Manapouri at 9.15am (Queenstown departures available from 26th October 2011 - 30th April 2012; departing Queenstown at 7.00am - additional cost).
At Pearl Harbour, Manapouri we will provide guests with their boxed picnic lunch and at 9.40am sharp guests will depart from Pearl Harbour on a fast vessel which will take you across New Zealand's most beautiful lake, Lake Manapouri.
Once at West Arm you will meet Fiordland Cruises staff who will drive by courtesy coach over the Wilmot Pass, at the top of the pass we will stop to capture views of Doubtful Sound stretching to the West.
Around noon we arrive in Deep Cove, Doubtful Sound and board the MV Southern Secret. The vessel cruises at around 7-10 knots initially heading down the main Fiord before heading off to explore some of the more remote Doubtful Fiords.
Conditions allowing, the skipper will select locations for fishing, and placing "pots" to capture Fiordland Lobster. Cruises often include a visit to the entrance of Doubtful Sound where, weather dependant, you may visit the Shelter Islands, home to a colony of Southern Fur Seals.
Typical overnight anchorages in Doubtful Sound include Crooked Arm, First Arm, Hall Arm and Precipice cove in Bradshaw Sound or on the eastern tip of Secretary Island.
Day 2.
The Ship awakes, and after a light breakfast we have a leisurely cruise back towards Deep Cove and from there end the journey with a trip back across the Wilmot Pass and Lake Manapouri. We arrive in Te Anau around noon.
If you are joining the coach from Queenstown* it departs from The Station at 7am on day one and departs Te Anau at 5pm on day 2. You will have a couple of hours in Te Anau on day 2 - we can arrange a Glow Worm Caves Tour on your behalf, however this needs to be reserved well in advance.
* Queenstown coach only available from 26th October 2011 - 30 April 2012.
Bookings
To book your overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound - please phone, email or click here to visit our secure online booking engine to check availability and reserve your cruise. Simply use the calendar to select the date you wish to depart on your cruise to check availability for your preferred dates.
Fiordland Cruises reserves the right to amend timetables cancel departures, substitute plant or equipment and alter ticket prices at any time. Due to variability of weather and other conditions beyond our control Fiordland Cruises cannot guarantee certain activities/subjects will be available. The actual route activities and anchorages may vary.
Fiordland Cruises reserves all rights
