Itinerary | Doubtful Sound Overnight | Southern Secret

Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise Itinerary

Overnight Cruise

  • Departure Dates: September - May
  • Queenstown Departure: 6:55am
  • Te Anau Departure: 8:45am
  • Manapōuri Departure: 9:30am
  • Location: Doubtful Sound
  • Priced from $1600.00 Per cabin (2 pax)
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Southern Secret Overnight Cruise details

For one night, we invite you to journey into the wilderness of Doubtful Sound

Join us and experience this spectacular Fiord with your hosts aboard the MV Southern Secret. Marvel at steep mountain cliffs surrounding the deep waters of the Fiord. View incredible scenery, wildlife and waterfalls from the comfort of your vessel. You can meet us in Queenstown*, Te Anau or Manapōuri for your Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise experience.

  • 6:55am departure from Central Queenstown. Available from 29th Oct 2024 to 1st May 2025. (* There is an extra charge for Queenstown transfers)
  • 8:45am departure from Te Anau (pick up from your accommodation)
  • 9:30am departure from Pearl Harbour, Manapōuri Visitor Centre at Lake Manapōuri

Important Note: A medium level of Fitness is required to join the cruise. We strive to provide a comfortable experience for all our guests. However, due to the nature of our facilities and layout, which include steps and inclines, we regret to inform you that access for people with limited mobility and those who require mobility aids such as walkers is unfortunately not possible. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. If you have any further questions or need assistance, please get in touch with us.

Inclusions:

  • Free Transport from Te Anau or Manapōuri
  • Lunch, Dinner & Breakfast
  • Small ship with maximum of 12 guests per cruise
  • Fishing & checking Fiordland lobster pots
  • Local, Te Anau family-owned business
  • Knowledgeable crew
  • Kayaking
  • Fishing
  • Sightseeing
  • Wildlife & waterfall viewing

Sample Itinerary: Day One

Timings Location Events
09:00 Te Anau Depart Te Anau by 9:00am to check in and meet other guests by 9:30am at Manapōuri.
10:00 Manapōuri Depart Manapōuri's Pearl Harbour. You will board a scenic cruise across Lake Manapōuri to West Arm (50-minute cruise). At West Arm you will see the above-ground sections of the Manapōuri Power Station. This underground hydroelectric power station is capable of generating up to 850 MW using water from Lakes Te Anau and Manapōuri. It is the largest hydroelectric power station in New Zealand.
11:00 West Arm At West Arm, you will meet your crew, who will take you by courtesy bus over the Wilmot Pass where you will capture breathtaking views of Doubtful Sound from Wilmot Pass.
12:00 Deep Cove You will arrive at the Southern Secret at its mooring in Deep Cove around midday. Onboard refreshments and Lunch will be served as you set off and begin to explore the environs of Doubtful Sound such as Hall Arm, Crooked Arm, Bradshaw Sound and more. Cruises may include a visit to the entrance of Doubtful Sound where you may visit the Shelter Islands.
13:00 Doubtful Sound Your Doubtful Sound Overnight adventure includes: sightseeing and exploring the history and splendour, pause at features for photographs and to observe marine mammals, cast a line for fishing, check our crayfish traps and savour the spectacular scenery and wildlife. Activities onboard can include: fishing, kayaking, mammal watching and star gazing on clear evenings. Wildlife often sighted in Doubtful Sound may include bottlenose dolphins, penguins, seals and sea birds.
18:30 Doubtful Sound Your evening meal is served at one of our overnight anchorages in Doubtful Sound – these include Crooked Arm, First Arm, Hall Arm and Precipice Cove in Bradshaw Sound or on the eastern tip of Secretary Island.

Sample Itinerary: Day Two

Timings Location Events
06:30 Doubtful Sound The Ship awakens, and after a light breakfast we have a leisurely cruise back towards Deep Cove.
09:30 West Arm Journey back across the Wilmot Pass.
11:00 Lake Manapōuri Travel back across Lake Manapōuri from West Arm to Pearl Harbour by boat.
12:00 Manapōuri Arrive back at Manapōuri's Pearl Harbour.
12:30 Te Anau. Arrive back in Te Anau.
View down the side of MV Southern Secret towards the aft with reflections of the surrounding ocean and mountains in its windows

Sunset

Landscape, Boat
Aerial view of the Southern Secret close to shore edge on sparkling clear waters.
The Southern Secret floating in calm waters with guests on its bow taking photos of fellow guests in kayaks.
The M V Southern Secret cruising along the fiord on calm waters.
Aerial view of the Southern Secret cruising in Doubtful Sound.

Boat

Boat
Water level view of a kayaker looking across the bow of their kayak back towards other kayakers and the moored Southern Secret.

Video

Kayaking,
Water level view of a kayaker looking across the bow of their kayak back towards other kayakers and the moored Southern Secret
Two kayakers on very calm waters of the Fiord, with snowy mountains rising up from the waters behind them.
A group of five kayakers on calm waters looking up at waterfalls on Doubtful Sound.
Four kayakers following each other on rippled waters of Doubtful Sound with mountains behind them.
A male and female paddling yellow kayaks with the rocky shore behind them

Kayaking

Kayaking
Two males with fishing rods over the side of the Southern Secret Overnight Cruise.

Fishing

Boat, Fishing
Group of people enjoying the scenery on the bow of the Southern Secret while it's cruising on Doubtful Sound.
Four passengers onboard the Southern Secret taking photos of the cloud formations above the mountains in the distance.
Guests gathered on the bow of the Southern Secret posing for a photo in front of a waterfall.
Looking over the bow of the Southern Secret out towards the setting sun on the horizon.

Views

Landscape, Boat
Five young guests gathered for a photo opportunity on the bow of the Southern Secret.

View

Landscape, boat
Master Suite cabin with large double bed onboard the Southern Secret Doubtful Sound overnight cruise.

Boat

Cabin
Cosy dining area onboard the Southern secret with an oak table and powder blue coloured chairs.

View

boat
View down the side of MV Southern Secret towards the aft with reflections of the surrounding ocean and mountains in its windows.

Sunset

Boat
Skipper Clint taking a photo with a canon camera with some snowy mountains in the background.

Photography

Landscape
Group of guests at the dining table of the Southern Secret enjoying dinner and making a toast together with red wine

Food

Boat
Fiordland Crock lobster hiding under a rock
Fiordland Cruises staff lifting a lobster pot over the side of the boat with several lobster inside.
Male with a woollen hat on laughing and holding a red rock lobster.

Crayfish

Fishing, Wildlife
Four Southern Fur seals frolicking on a rock island while waves break violently on the rocks around them.
Southern Fur seal basking on a rock surrounded by green seaweed.
Two Southern fur seals basking on a rock with seaweed in the foreground

Seals

Wildlife
Looking back towards the aft of the Southern Secret towards a rainbow in the distance across the Fiord.

Rainbow

Landscape, Boat
Cabin 4 onboard the Southern Secret.

Boat

Cabin
A bottlenose dolphin jumping clear out of the water.

Dolphin

Wildlife, Landscape
A woman proudly holding a Blue cod that she has caught onboard the Southern Secret

Fishing

Boat, Fishing
Inside one of the Southern Secret's cabins showing the entrance to the ensuite bathroom.

View

boat
Four Fiordland Crested Penguins, or Tawaki, standing on a rock and about to leap into the water.

View

boat