Dusky Sound Discovery Expeditions

Click on “Choose Date” and search for your preferred departure date, then follow the prompts to complete your booking via this website. Alternatively contact us on 0800 65 65 01 (Freephone within New Zealand), phone +64 3 249 6000 or email us at discovery@realjourneys.co.nz and our Reservations team will assist you. Please note that for website bookings the full payment will be required to confirm your booking, whereas phone & email bookings can be secured with a non-refundable deposit, with the remaining balance due 120 days before departure.

The Milford Wanderer has shared bathroom facilities on board.

We suggest you park your vehicle in the View Street car park, in Manapouri. This is free parking for unlimited time.

We offer courtesy transfers from Te Anau to Manapouri. For transfers from Queenstown, coach connections are available for an extra cost. Please contact us for further details.

All walks are optional. The Nature Guides provide a briefing prior to heading ashore so you can decide if you wish to join in. The walks are generally leisurely and not too strenuous, allowing you time to take in the area’s flora and fauna. Please note that the tracks are often muddy.

We recommend that you bring both gumboots and sandshoes/hiking/tramping boots. As we often do beach/shore landings where at the tide sweeps in/out and short walks, gumboots (preferably ones just below the knee) are ideal to stomp around in if the tracks are wet and boggy underfoot. The crew will advise you of what they recommend you wear on each adventure.

We ask all guests to keep any of their medication with them during the transfers as you may be separated from your main bags for some time (possibly hours). We also request hand luggage is limited to a day pack/ handbag, camera, raincoat and your medication.

We recommend all our guests reconfirm 48 hours prior to departure and provide details of where you will be staying the night prior to departure, confirm your pickup point and departure time.

Unfortunately we cannot provide to this level of detail as some places visited are weather dependent. We visit historic places, abandoned settlements, deserted shorelines and places of interest.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in the price of your trip. Complimentary tea and coffee is available throughout the cruise. We have an licensed bar on board the Milford Wanderer and these drinks are available for purchase on-board.

We have an licensed bar on board the Milford Wanderer and these drinks are available for purchase on-board.  We also sell a range of bar snacks and some souvenirs.

We set up an account for you for the duration of your cruise and we accept cash, cheque or credit card payments.

We offer a discount for groups of 10 or more people. Please enquire about availability and bookings.

Yes, we offer returning Discovery Expeditions customers a 10% discount. Please enquire directly with us about making your booking to receive the discount.

We strongly prefer our guests to limit their luggage to 1 soft sided suitcase or backpack and 1 day pack (ie small backpack or handbag). Luggage is especially restricted for helicopter transfers.

Nearer the departure date, we will provide a detailed list of “what to bring”.  However, we recommend our guests to bring gumboots / waterproof boots for onshore activities as it is often muddy on land and guest have to step into sea surge when going ashore. Please note that all shoes for wearing onshore are to be kept outside your luggage at check-in, as we need to put them in a salt water bath to eliminate any seeds or didymo before entering the National Park (new shoes do not need to be dipped).

The kayaks are available on all our Discovery Expedition departures – please ensure you talk to the crew onboard if you wish to go kayaking. Please note that all kayaking is weather and time dependent.

Due to Real Journeys’ commitment to the preservation of diminishing fish stocks, it is our company policy not to fish within the Fiordland waterways (in accordance with the Guardians of the Fiordland Fisheries). We therefore ask that you not to bring any fishing gear on-board. However, if weather and timing permits, there may be an option to fish outside these areas (hand line and barbless hooks are provided, must adhere to quota). 

Power points are 240volts and available 7am – 9pm, while the main generators are operating.

We can cater for most food requests, ranging from celiac, gluten free, vegetarian and lactose intolerant. Unfortunately we cannot cater for Kosher. Please contact us to discuss any of your dietary requirements.

There are hairdryers available on-board in the communal bathrooms.

We have an licensed bar on board the Milford Wanderer and these drinks are available for purchase on-board. The Milford Wanderer is not licensed for BYO so please leave any alcohol at home.

There is a space for guests to hang your wet clothes however it is not a specific drying room.

Unfortunately we cannot cater to guests who wish to scuba dive on our vessel.

The Milford Wanderer is also utilised for our Milford Sound Overnight Cruises (Real Journeys) during the summer season (mid November to March).

Smoking is only permitted in the designated outdoor areas on-board the Milford Wanderer. You cannot buy cigarettes on board the Milford Wanderer.

We have a guitar on board the boat but you are most welcome to bring along your own.