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Lake Manapouri Tours

Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri

Lake Manapouri Tours and Tickets

902 reviews

Nestled within Fiordland National Park, Lake Manapouri is surrounded by the majestic Cathedral Range and dotted with 33 islands. Forested slopes descend into the water, creating impressive waterfalls and isolated sandy coves perfect for swimming and picnics. It is also the jumping-off point for travel to Doubtful Sound.

Fiordland National Park, Southland

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Tours and Tickets to Experience Lake Manapouri

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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Explore Fiordland National Park's Doubtful Sound on this full-day cruise from Manapouri. Journey across the clear waters of Lake Manapouri, drive over Wilmot Pass into the breathtaking Doubtful Sound. Take in the scenery and keep an eye out for fur seals, bottlenose dolphins, and crested and little blue penguins while listening to commentary from your naturalist guide

7 hours
Free Cancellation

Likely to Sell Out

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

Embark on a cruise of Doubtful Sound in New Zealand, starting from Te Anau or Manapouri. Travel by coach to Manapouri Lake for a short boat ride, followed by a bus trip over Wilmot Pass. En route, stop for alpine views of the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park, before taking in the dramatic landscapes, soaring peaks, and wildlife of Doubtful Sound.

9 hours
Free Cancellation

Likely to Sell Out

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

Join a Doubtful Sound cruise from Queenstown and discover this alpine gem nestled in the UNESCO-listed Fiordland National Park. Traveling by coach, take a ferry across Lake Manapouri and cross over Wilmot Pass for your catamaran cruise. Admire the fiord’s vivid beauty as you search for dolphins, fur seals, and penguins amid a dramatic landscape of soaring granite peaks and crystal-clear waters.

12 hours
Free Cancellation

Likely to Sell Out

Te Anau Highlights & Lord of the Rings Small Group Tour from Te Anau

Te Anau Highlights & Lord of the Rings Small Group Tour from Te Anau

See the hidden gems and famous Lord of the Rings sites surrounding Te Anau on this half-day tour. The highlights include the Mavora Lakes, the Te Anau Bird Sanctuary, and Fiordland National Park. While the destinations are beautiful, what sets this tour about is its attention to detail and small-group focus, allowing for a more intimate and dedicated experience.

5 hours
Free Cancellation

Discover Doubtful Sound // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

Discover Doubtful Sound // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

See Fiordland National Park’s second-largest fjord from the sky on this scenic helicopter tour. Doubtful Sound is impossible to access by road so this helicopter tour offers a quick and convenient way to visit this stunning landscape of rugged mountains, lakes, and lush native rainforest. If weather permits, land in an isolated location to get panoramic photos of the fjord – you can even choose to land twice if you want!

1 hour
Free Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Likely to Sell Out

Premium Milford Sound and Te Anau Highlights 2 Days Small Group Tour

Premium Milford Sound and Te Anau Highlights 2 Days Small Group Tour

Visit the highlights of Fiordland on an easy, fully guided overnight tour from Queenstown. While many day tours just rush through Te Anau on the way to Milford Sound, on this two-day tour you can experience both lovely places. Leave your car behind in Queenstown so you can focus on the views rather than the road. The trip includes a Milford Sound cruise and Te Anau highlights tour.

2 days
Free Cancellation

Taste of Fiordland // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

Taste of Fiordland // Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

Take a scenic flight over Fiordland National Park on this 20-minute helicopter tour, departing from Te Anau. Enjoy aerial views of mountain peaks and alpine lakes including Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau. Listen to live commentary from the professional pilot via audio headsets. Top off your adventure with an alpine landing. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included.

20 minutes
Free Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Doubtful And Dusky Sound Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

Doubtful And Dusky Sound Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

Doubtful Sound and Dusky Sound are two of the most stunning destinations in the Fiordland National Park. On this tour, explore both in less than two hours on a thrilling helicopter flight. Soar over the dramatic glaciers, lakes, and fjords; touchdown at remote viewpoints overlooking both fjords; and enjoy stunning aerial views of Lake Manapouri and the Kepler Mountains.

1 hour 30 minutes
Free Cancellation

Price varies by group size

Helicopter Transfer from Milford Sound Airport to Te Anau

Helicopter Transfer from Milford Sound Airport to Te Anau

This flight covers a huge part of the Fiordland National Park - departing from the iconic Milford Sound you fly over a portion of the Milford Track - one of New Zealands Great Walks. What an easy way to see this track! If the weather is suitable, you may get views of one of New Zealands highest waterfalls - the Sutherland Falls. Heading south along Fiordlands main divide of mountains, many differing views appear including hidden alpine lakes, rocky mountain peaks and if you look really hard, some hardy animals like red deer. Descending over the mountains takes you closer to Lake Te Anau, Te Anau township and Lake Manapouri for landing at Te Anau Airport.

40 minutes
Free Cancellation

What are people saying about Lake Manapouri

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Rebecca_T, Nov 2023

Sound of Silence

We loved the misty waterfall views, and the informative commentary. The best part was the “Sound of Silence.”

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Ron_P, Nov 2023

The magic of rain and waterfalls

Started the tour in rain, regretting that we booked this tour and could not cancel. Out way nothing special though the photos in fog were not bad. On the way back, however, like magic, waterfalls appeared everywhere. Hundreds of them, everywhere.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Samantha_D, Nov 2023

Oh wow

Peanut with NZ gave a whole bunch of fun facts while on the bus ride! The views were truly unreal. The whole journey felt like a dream. There was a part where they turned off the boat and asked us to be quiet so we can hear all the wildlife in the forest.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

SonyaQuintal, Oct 2023

Doubtful Sound cracker

Doubtful Sound Real NZ tour was fabulous. Especially enjoyed Tony's commentary and Sunny the bus driver was the best. Awesome

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Sigal_A, Oct 2023

A great day out

It is a long 7hrs trip, but divided very well so that it is not an issue. Had a lovely cruise from Manapouri over the lake, then abus ride into the snow and some spectacular views. But without a doubt, the cruise in doubtful sound itself was the best part. It is wild and beautiful and never boring. Both boats were very comfortable with penty of options for sitting areas and for standing outside. The operation was smooth and very professional with friendly commentary. Highly recommended

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Sohrab_B, Apr 2023

I highly recommend this breathtaking experience.

Amazing scenery. Friendly Staff. Clean & very well maintained equipment. Highly recommend this experience.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Timothy_G, Nov 2023

Less crowds and fantastic experience

On advice from our Airbnb hosts, we decided to take this tour instead of the Milford Sound one, and were glad we did. It ended up being a good choice. It's so remote and inaccessible that fewer people take the tour and there are not tons of other boats to get in the way of the scenery. We even made it out to the sea the day we went, which isn't always possible if weather isn't cooperative. You can drive parts of the Milford Sound, which isn't possible on Doubtful Sound, and that's what we did the next day. Definitely worth the drive after doing this tour. Different sights on the way and plenty of waterfalls and wildlife to enjoy.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

John_K, Nov 2023

Delightful voyage with professional crew and spectacular scenery

Well ordered boarding on time to set off. Plenty of comfortable seating available on both boats, plus ample deck space to enjoy the sea breeze and sunshine - it was a perfectly glorious and sunny day, which meant more wind on the water. Good commentary on board to highlight particular sights along the voyage. Easy to disembark at the end of Lake Manipuri and get aboard a bus over Wilmots pass for a leisurely drive to Doubtful Sound Deep Cove to catch the next boat. We appreciated the slow and steady pace and finding Penguins and Seals and a quick trip out to the Tasman Sea since it was so calm today. Then a glorious five minutes of silence in Crooked Arm at the end of the cruise with engines off and allowed to drift and enjoy the sounds of the wilderness. Highly recommended. Very professional, friendly and helpful crew.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

OMAR_Z, Jun 2023

wonderful experience

You must book this trip. Its a whole wonderful experience. Me and my partner both enjoyed from the boats, the bus and the description.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Steven_S, May 2023

Unspoiled majestic fjordland

Dolphins swimming toward the ship, could hear them breathing. Wee blue penguins swimming by. Ship shut down engine for silent time - we all got emotional in that grand silence.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Ros_H, Apr 2023

Fantastic trip

A fantastic trip to a remarkable area. Well worth the long day. We had a visit from tge resident dolphins who were very playful.

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri

Shona_G, Apr 2023

Heaven on earth

Manapouri is a stunning location. Words and photos only scrap the surface of how awesome it is. The tour guides were amazing and happily shared their information. 7 hours is too short a visit, but it gave us an amazing taste of a beautiful piece of New Zealand

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:What's the best way to experience Lake Manapouri?

A:

The best ways to experience Lake Manapouri are:

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown
Te Anau Highlights & Lord of the Rings Small Group Tour from Te Anau

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Things to do near Fiordland & Milford Sound

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Fiordland National Park
Te Anau Glowworm Caves
Lake Te Anau
Doubtful Sound
Milford Track
Mitre Peak
Milford Sound
Milford Discovery Centre and Underwater Observatory (Milford Sound Observatory)

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