Travel with us to this untouched world deep in the heart of Fiordland National Park. The beauty and vastness of Doubtful Sound will take your breath away as you experience its deep wilderness.
When you discover Doubtful Sound you will be struck by its silence – a silence broken only by birdsong or the rushing of a distant waterfall. Its beauty and vastness will take your breath away.
Your day begins in Manapouri with a cruise across the picturesque Lake Manapouri followed by a trip across New Zealand's most expensive road over Wilmot Pass, pausing along the way to experience the dense Fiordland rainforest and view Doubtful Sound glistening far below.
In Doubtful Sound, you will board our spacious, purpose built catamaran Patea Explorer for a three hour cruise through this pristine fiord. During the cruise our knowledgeable and friendly nature guides will share with you their passion for the region through their commentary. They will answer questions, point out landmarks and provide you with information about the varied wildlife you may encounter like dolphins, fur seals and the rare Fiordland crested penguin.
A visit to one of New Zealand’s major sources of sustainable energy – the Manapouri Underground Power Station is also included. (Please note: the power station is currently closed for maintenance).
Power Station visits not operating due to maintenance
Power Station visits not operating due to maintenance
Power Station visits not operating due to maintenance
Doubtful Sound is the second largest of Fiordland National Park’s 14 fiords (Dusky Sound is the largest).
It is three times longer than Milford Sound and it has a sea surface area roughly 10 times larger than Milford Sound due to its greater length and its three arms - Hall, Crooked and First.
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
"Real journeys offers an exceptionally professional service. The day was well coordinated and flowed seamlessly. Even with a very full group ample opportunity to to gain the view you desired."
All our Doubtful Sound experiences start in Manapouri which is around 2.5 – 3 hours from Queenstown and 30 minutes from Te Anau.
You can drive there yourself or if you’d much rather relax and let us do the driving, we offer coach connections from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Our coach drivers are extremely knowledgeable about the area, its history and local flora and fauna and will provide you with informative commentary along the way.
Adult $25, Child $25 (1 Oct 2012 - 31 Oct 2016)
Adult $26, Child $26 (1 Nov 2016 - 30 Sep 2017)
Bread roll- fillings including a combination of Lettuce, Cucumber, Beef, Swiss Cheese, Alpha Sprouts, Mayonnaise, Apricot & Capsicum Chutney; Croissant with Ham & Swiss Cheese & Aioli; Apricot & Coconut Slice and Chocolate Muesli Brownie; Cheese and Crackers; Apple; Grapes; Dried Fruit/Nut Mix (Trail mix); After Dinner Mint; Complimentary Tea and Coffee.
Adult $17, Child $17 (1 Oct 2012 - 31 Oct 2016)
Adult $18, Child $18 (1 Nov 2016 - 30 Sep 2017)
Turkish Bread - fillings including a combination of Lettuce, Cucumber, Beef, Swiss Cheese, Alpha Sprouts, Mayonnaise, Apricot & Capsicum Chutney; Honey Muesli Slice; Cheese and Crackers; Apple; Grapes; After Dinner Mint; Complimentary Tea and Coffee.
Adult $17, Child $17 (1 Oct 2012 - 31 Oct 2016)
Adult $18, Child $18 (1 Nov 2016 - 30 Sep 2017)
Noodle Box, 2 Pieces of seasonal fruit, Cheese & Crackers, A piece of Chocolate Cake, Complimentary Tea and Coffee.
Please Note: If you require a vegetarian lunch, or if you have any special dietary needs please add this into the comments box during the booking process. Please order your lunch when you make your booking. Lunches to be picked up at the Manapouri Visitor Centre prior to boarding the vessel. Lunch menus are indicative only.
Non-slip shoes/boots, waterproof jacket, warm sweater/fleece jacket, sunscreen/sunglasses, insect repellent and camera.
We also offer Doubtful Sound Daytime Scenic Cruises from Manapouri.
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
"We did the doubtful day tour, I was totally blown away of the Beauty of this place, the tour itself was very comfortable and informative, real journeys are professional with very friendly staff. Would definitely do the trip again!"
The road over the Wilmot Pass is rumoured to have cost approximately $80 per square metre, making it New Zealand’s most expensive road.
The road is notable as being the only road on the New Zealand mainland which is disconnected from the rest of the roading network.
In case you haven't found the information you were looking for, we've put together some of the most common questions our customers ask about our trips. If you need more specific answers, please contact us directly.
From Queenstown to Manapouri by car or coach takes around 2 hrs 45 mins and from Te Anau around 30 minutes. For more information refer to our Driving Times webpage.
Overnight car parking is 950m from the Manapouri Visitor Centre and daytime car parking is provided adjacent to the Visitor centre.
Access is not always possible as it is a working power station. However due to scheduled maintenance the Manapouri Underground Power Station is CLOSED - date for re-opening to be confirmed.
Most people choose to visit the power station as it is very interesting. For those who choose not to visit the power station* there is the option of staying longer in the informative West Arm Visitor Centre. *Due to scheduled maintenance the Manapouri Underground Power Station is CLOSED - date for re-opening to be confirmed
All prices and transactions on the Real Journeys website are in New Zealand dollars (NZD). This is specified on the Terms & Conditions page.
Our staff are trained to deal with incidents and in case of an emergency you should listen to their instructions.
We have a portable defibrillator on board each of our overnight cruise vessels (Milford Mariner, Milford Wanderer and Fiordland Navigator).
In addition to this we also have portable defibrillators at the following locations:
• Milford Sound Visitor Terminal
• Real Journeys Visitor Centre, Manapouri
• Cavern House (Te Anau Glowworm Caves)
• Colonel’s Homestead Restaurant, Walter Peak
• TSS Earnslaw Vintage Steamship
• Stewart Island Ferry (Bluff - Oban - Bluff).
