Untouched, unearthly, and unforgettable! Doubtful Sound’s evocative landscapes might be reminiscent of “The Lord of the Rings,” but they also invite you to embark on an adventure of your own.
Doubtful Sound is in Fiordland National Park, South Island, a tract of unspoiled wilderness the size of Connecticut, with a population – according to the most recent census – of just over 100 people. The park is celebrated for the eye-catching fjords that cut into the great divide, carved out by glaciers more than twenty thousand years ago.
Doubtful Sound, one of the region’s longest and deepest fjords, is just as spectacular as its famous cousin, Milford Sound – once described as the eighth wonder of the world. However, Doubtful Sound’s remote location ensures it remains off the beaten track. Even Captain James Cook, first British explorer to discover it, sailed right past, having refused to enter the sound because the fjord’s considerable height made it “doubtful” he’d get enough wind to sail back out.
This means little has changed since the glaciers retreated. Mountains vanish into the mist and waterfalls descend from the heavens. The highest waterfall, Browne Falls, would stretch halfway between the Empire State Building and the Burj Khalifa if they were placed side by side. A clear day reveals snowy peaks and ancient beech forest, which clings, as if by miracle, to the thin layer of peat and moss sitting atop the near-vertical granite slopes. It is also home to rare Fiordland crested penguins, a pod of bottlenose dolphins, and prosperous-looking fur seals.
Doubtful sound is open year-round and is superbly photogenic no matter what the weather.
When the rains come, and they come often, the mountains come alive with thunderous waterfalls descending like burst drainpipes from the sky. One of the wettest places on Earth, averaging 182 days of rain annually, the sound hits peak moisture levels in summer (typically, December and January).
Winters (June to August) are chilly, with temperatures around ten degrees Celsius, but this is when you're more likely to find clear, sunny days. For the tour operator RealNZ, winter is their favourite time to visit because the bracing elements foster a stronger connection with nature, making the experience more exhilarating.
Doubtful Sound’s remote location means the journey to get there is quite an adventure, one filled with striking scenery, but it is merely an entrée to in the smorgasbord of sightseeing that awaits. RealNZ offers a range of tours to Doubtful Sound, taking care of all the logistics for you. The tour begins from the small town of Manapouri, roughly three hours from Queenstown and 30 minutes from Te Anau. First up is a scenic cruise across Lake Manapōuri, a deep lake peppered with thirty small islands resembling floating matzo balls, offset against a backdrop of snow-dusted peaks. Then, it is an enjoyable bus ride over Wilmot Pass, a remote stretch of road weaving through a dramatic landscape of mountains and waterfalls to the entry of Doubtful Sound. From here, your cruise will begin.
