Doubtful Sound

We were up early the next morning to begin the journey to Doubtful Sound for our overnight cruise. The trip started with a long bus ride through farmland and New Zealand countryside. There were countless flocks of sheep in all directions, as apparently sheep outnumber people in NZ by a margin of ten to one. We made a brief stop in Kingston to check out an old steam train, then continued on to Manapouri. After a ferry ride across Lake Manapouri, we hopped on another bus to take us to the beginning of Doubtful Sound. Along the way, we stopped at Wilmot Pass for our first glimpse of the sound, which was an absolutely beautiful sight.

The overnight cruise was a one of a kind experience. We totally lucked out with the weather… it was a sunny, pleasant day that ran counter to the typical rainy climate. The sound has sheer cliff walls of rainforest and stunning views in all directions. Paul kayaked while I rode on a small boat to get close-up views of the mountains. The Fiordland Navigator (our boat) then sailed out to the Tasman Sea, at which point we saw a colony of fur seals up close and albatross birds flying around. Once the sun went down and the sky was pitch dark, the view of the nighttime sky was unlike any I had ever seen. Being so far remote from all civilization, the volume of stars visible was spectacular. The next morning we were up early to watch the sunrise in the sound, with dramatic lighting. We then came upon a pod of dolphins, who swam up close and right beneath the boat. Overall, a wonderful experience.