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Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau
Badge of ExcellenceTe Anau, New Zealand
Likely to Sell Out
From $214.55
Select Date and Travelers
up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
- 9 hours
- Offered in: English
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Overview
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.
- Sightings of seals and bottlenose dolphins are often seen
- Plenty of photo opportunities
- Skipper provides live commentary
- Hotel pickup and drop off from Te Anau hotels
Why Travelers Choose This Tour
This tour offers stunning scenery but fewer crowds to the more accessible Milford Sound.
What's Included
- Lake Manapouri cruise
- Doubtful Sound cruise
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Food and drinks
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- 85 Lakefront Drive, Te Anau 9600, New Zealand
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Your Doubtful Sound cruise begins with hotel pickup in Te Anau for the coach journey to Manapouri Lake. After a brief boat ride over the lake’s vivid waters, board another bus and cross over Wilmot Pass, stopping to view the Fiordland's dense rainforest and alpine moss gardens with a glimpse of Doubtful Sound in the distance.
Continue on to Deep Cove, where you board a spacious catamaran for your boat tour of Doubtful Sound, part of the UNESCO–listed Fiordland National Park and ten times larger than Milford Sound. Amid this pristine wilderness, whose deep waters are sometimes vivid blue-green and sun-drenched and other times shrouded in mist, you find a rugged landscape of granite peaks and cascading waterfalls.
Soak up views of the dramatic topography as your skipper provides insightful commentary and points out South Island wildlife, such as bottlenose dolphins that frequently swim alongside the vessel. Search for rare Fiordland penguins in their natural habitat and New Zealand fur seals often seen basking on the rocks.
End with the return trip to Manapouri, where you’re transferred back to your Te Anau hotel.
Continue on to Deep Cove, where you board a spacious catamaran for your boat tour of Doubtful Sound, part of the UNESCO–listed Fiordland National Park and ten times larger than Milford Sound. Amid this pristine wilderness, whose deep waters are sometimes vivid blue-green and sun-drenched and other times shrouded in mist, you find a rugged landscape of granite peaks and cascading waterfalls.
Soak up views of the dramatic topography as your skipper provides insightful commentary and points out South Island wildlife, such as bottlenose dolphins that frequently swim alongside the vessel. Search for rare Fiordland penguins in their natural habitat and New Zealand fur seals often seen basking on the rocks.
End with the return trip to Manapouri, where you’re transferred back to your Te Anau hotel.
Doubtful Sound
2 hours 45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lake Manapouri
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Lake Te Anau
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
Te Anau
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Manapouri
50 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Cruise maximum capacity: 135 people
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please wear comfortable shoes, waterproof jacket and warm clothing
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
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Featured review
Charles_F
Wonderful green mountains with waterfalls, seals on rocks and even a short trip into the Tasman Sea. This trip is value for money with a coach trip to Lake Manapouri, a boat trip across the lake, a scenic coach trip across Wilmot Pass and then the wonderful Doubtful Sound. Excellent boat and friendly, helpful crew.
Reviews
5.0
189 reviews
Terry_T, Apr 2024
A wonderful day providing an insight into nature’s rawness and beauty at its very best.
Tour facilities were of a very high standard along with great commentary.
Richard_V, Apr 2024
The moments of silence on Doubtful sound on a perfectly beautiful day. I was able to just focus both inwards and outwards on the beauty of this part of New Zealand
James_C, Apr 2024
Very satisfying full-day experience! Don’t force me to say more—as you just forced me to do or I will never fill out another evaluation from you. Shame on you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Anita_C, Mar 2024
Beautiful scenery and commentary! We started our day with a van ride to Manapouri, then a 45 minute boat ride across the lake and a coach bus to the dock to catch our boat to the fiords! Great sites all along our journey!!A definite must-see in the South Island!
Mikhala_S, Feb 2024
Excellent staff that were very knowledgeable, smooth travels on the route to the sound, and we got to see fit seals AND dolphins! Only two other boats seen the whole day!
Charles_F, Feb 2024
Wonderful green mountains with waterfalls, seals on rocks and even a short trip into the Tasman Sea. This trip is value for money with a coach trip to Lake Manapouri, a boat trip across the lake, a scenic coach trip across Wilmot Pass and then the wonderful Doubtful Sound. Excellent boat and friendly, helpful crew.
Richard_T, Feb 2024
The tour is well orchestrated and the views are simply spectacular. It’s an easy, relaxing and fun day. Highly recommended!
Clare_T, Jan 2024
Wow! What a great day.
Seamless efficiency from start to finish. Friendly and knowledgeable drivers and staff. Doubtful Sound was stunning.
Jason_L, Jan 2024
The price, description, and picture of this tour made it seem like it would be a relaxed experience. When we got to the tour a much inferior boat was used and it was completely packed. I basically was not able to sit with the person I was traveling with due to the boat being so packed. I then had to absolutely sprint to one of the boats to be able to find seats together. For this price, I would not expect that type of service. I would recommend a different tour, possibly a small group going to Milford Sound rather than this overpacked trip.
Kelly_B, Dec 2023
Such an amazing experience and very well organised. The moment of coming over the Wilmot Pass to see Doubtful Sound was simply breathtaking. Being on the water with towering cliff around us was a great experience
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