The Ultimate Guide to Exploring New Zealand’s Doubtful Sound

With towering mountains and glassy waters, Pātea / Doubtful Sound on New Zealand’s South Island is one of the country’s most magical hidden gems. Immerse yourself in the remote wilderness of the fiord, which runs for 40 kilometres towards the Tasman Sea. Ten times larger than the 25 square-kilometre Milford Sound, its lesser-known sister is also more secluded and therefore far less frequented.

The three waterways of Hall, Crooked and First Arm crawl into the mainland from the Tasman Sea and are where guests on a RealNZ cruise can encounter lounging seals, soaring cliffs and waterfalls. Here are the best ways to explore Doubtful Sound.

Take the scenic route 

Doubtful Sound’s isolation is part of its allure and with no direct road access, reaching the fiord is its own experience. RealNZ guests begin the adventure with a boat ride across the 28-kilometre Lake Manapouri to West Arm. From here, you’ll take in the subalpine scenery by bus as you travel over the 671-metre-high Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove. The 21-kilometre drive reveals vistas of Doubtful Sound below as you wind through the rainforest of Fiordland National Park. On arrival at Deep Cove, guests board RealNZ’s Patea Explorer for a three-hour Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise or the Fiordland Navigator for the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise.

Witness natural wonders

The deepest and second-longest of New Zealand’s 14 fiords, Doubtful Sound is a safe harbour for wildlife. Clued-in onboard nature experts on both day trips and overnight cruises know just where the local fauna might show itself – RealNZ guests visit the homes of New Zealand fur seals, sometimes spotting pods of bottlenose dolphins, albatross, and on occasion, whales. Guides also shed light on the history of Doubtful Sound and the Fiordland National Park as the journey progresses.

Wake up to serenity

Spending a night aboard RealNZ’s Fiordland Navigator is a chance for guests to fully immerse themselves in the natural wonder of Doubtful Sound. There’s accommodation for 72 guests onboard, including private ensuite or bunk-style cabins, while a dining saloon and bar provide all the comforts. With the anchor dropped in a sheltered cove, watch the night engulf the fiord while enjoying antipasto followed by a chef-prepared buffet dinner of roast meat or seafood, hot vegetable dishes and dessert of sticky date pudding. On the spacious upper deck you can marvel at the stars before turning in for the night, only to awaken to breakfast of eggs, hash brown and bacon prepared by the onboard chefs or a continental selection of pastries and yoghurt.

Take in the sound of silence

One of the most striking attributes of Doubtful Sound is its tranquillity. To amplify the feeling of isolation on an overnight cruise, the Fiordland Navigator engines are switched off as it glides into Hall Arm. Guests are invited to suspend conversations for a few minutes to absorb their surroundings, taking in the birdsong and splashing of the nearby waterfalls.

Get closer to the action

Overnight guests of RealNZ can see the fiord in detail while gliding across the water in a kayak or tender craft. Choose between the slow-paced rhythm of paddles hitting the water or the tender craft, with a guide riding along. The only way to get closer to the water is to get in, those feeling brave can take a plunge into glacier water in a remote, untouched part of New Zealand.