An Unforgettable Overnight Voyage

There are actually three choices for the Doubtful Sound cruise - a day trip, an overnight for one night and an overnight for two nights. We recommend the one-night cruise as you get the overnight experience and you have enough time to explore the sound without the added expense.

The trip involves a couple of hours to get to Doubtful Sound, which includes a boat excursion over Lake Manapouri and a short bus ride over the hill and down to the dock where you board the ship. The overnight ships are large, powered sailboats, which is great for the environment and for cruising with very little engine noise.

The overnight ships are large, powered sailboats, which is great for the environment and for cruising with very little engine noise

The typical route for the ship is to cruise out to the head of the sound, where it meets the ocean to see the natural beauty of this rugged coast. The peaks and little islands dotting the route are amazing and picturesque. The trip is quite smooth on the sound, but once you reach the ocean it can get a little 'rolly'. So if you are prone to feeling queasy on the water make sure you bring some sea sickness pills or a patch.

The food served on these cruises is fine, but don't expect a high-style dining experience. It's buffet style (!) but perfectly acceptable, with a full bar and a comfortable interior space for eating, relaxing and viewing. The cabins are very clean, and well kept, but don't expect a lot of space! Keep in mind that you're really only in the cabin for your sleeping hours - you want to make the most of the on-deck and outdoor experiences. 

With good weather they launch the one-person kayaks and you can take a swim as well - both quite fun

The wildlife is abundant in Doubtful Sound with penguins, fur seals, whales and dolphins, along with loads of birds. On this trip we were fortunate to observe a pod of Bottlenose dolphins who swam with the ship and gave us many chances to take some good videos and photos.

On the morning of the second day we explored some inlets and dropped anchor in one where we stopped the engines to experience the incredible quietness of this special spot 

In one of the inlets they steered the boat very close to the wall of a peak with native vegetation growing up the side. The depth of the water, close to these vertical mountains, enables the ship to navigate in this way. We were able to study the scene with great clarity only a few metres away!

The schedule for the overnight cruise begins at 12noon and you arrive back at the Lake Manapouri dock at 12noon the following day - refreshed and excited about a truly memorable experience!