Today is dedicated to exploring Preservation Inlet.

Rich in history, we’ll delve into the gold mining and forestry efforts that once made this now-quiet waterway a bustling hub of activity. The area’s natural resources drew more than 2,500 gold miners and sawmill workers to the region in the late 1890s. This early settler history at the mining towns of Cromarty and Te Oneroa, now reclaimed by nature, can still be observed—nowhere more spectacularly than at the failed Tarawera Mine and Smelter, where the ruins of the smelter’s historic three-story chimney were restored in 2015.

Preservation Inlet can also lay claim to New Zealand’s first whaling station at Cuttle Cove and to one of the country’s most remote lighthouses at Puysegur Point, which began operating in 1879 and is perched some 40 feet above the South Island’s southwesternmost point. Here, a scenic coastal walk—once a telegraph track built to connect the lighthouse—leads to the old landing shed at Otago Retreat.

The entrance to Chalky Inlet is guarded by the impressive limestone cliffs of Chalky Island, the inspiration behind Captain Cook’s naming of the fjord.

One of several important predator-free islands in the inlet, along with Great Island and Passage Islands, Chalky Island is home to some of New Zealand’s most critically endangered bird species, including the Little Spotted Kiwi and Kākāpō, as well as the endemic Te Kakahu Skink, discovered in 2002. The protected harbors at North and South Port offer plenty to explore as centers of human history in the inlet. North Port is the final resting place of the rusting hulk of the purposely grounded GSS Stella, while South Port reveals an industrial past with the remnants of once-prolific sawmilling activity.

Sailing to the head of the fjord, the surrounding mountains envelop us with their majesty.

Our expedition cruise through Dusky Sound visits some of the most significant historical and conservation sites in New Zealand, as well as some of its most majestic scenery, as we sail deep into the heart of Fiordland.

Predator-free Anchor Island is home to half of the world’s population of Kākāpō and Little Spotted Kiwi, and is also the site of historic Luncheon Cove and several New Zealand firsts-including the country’s first sealing gang, the building of its first European homestead, and the construction of the first European-designed ship, the 16-meter Providence, built here and launched in 1795.

On nearby Pigeon Island, learn the history of Richard Henry and his pioneering effort to relocate birds to island refuges-an international first in wildlife conservation. While his attempts were unsuccessful due to stoats swimming over to the island, it’s heartening to learn the island is now pest-free and a sanctuary for native birdlife, with Henry’s vision finally realized.

Navigating Acheron Passage, which separates Resolution Island from the mainland, is sure to be one of the highlights of our time in Fiordland.

This iconic scenic waterway is an area where bottlenose dolphins are often spotted. Our explorations here may include venturing into Wet Jacket Arm, where the crew of Cook’s HMS Resolution ended up with wet jackets during their survey work. It’s also the site where moose were released—and last seen—in New Zealand.

The extensive sheltered waters of scenic Breaksea Sound, initially scouted for sheep-farming potential by early settlers in the 1850s, are also home to Breaksea Island, a landmark site in New Zealand conservation history as one of the first large islands declared rat-free in 1988.

Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Fiordland-Doubtful Sound, also known as the Sound of Silence.

Spanning a staggering 25 miles and holding the title of New Zealand’s deepest fjord, Doubtful Sound-with its cloud-scraping, wilderness-cloaked mountains, sheer stone cliffs, waterfalls, inlets, quiet coves, and wildlife—presents nature on a scale that’s off the charts.

Photo opportunities abound, and our time here could include cruising Blanket Bay, the Shelter Islands, Pandora River, Deas Cove, and Open Bay.

One of the southernmost of the Northern Fiords, Charles Sound branches into Emelius and Gold Arms at its head, with Gold Arm home to one of the most extensive marine reserves in the inner fjords (Kahukura Marine Reserve), while other sections fall within the Taumoana Marine Reserve.

Your Captain and Expedition Leader will find a sheltered anchorage for Explorer, where activities could include kayaking or joining your expedition guides for a coastal exploration by Zodiac. Another rarely explored fjord, Caswell Sound is home to the last physical remains of the 1949 New Zealand–American Fiordland Scientific Expedition—a primitive hut still standing on the banks of the Stillwater River, once used to study the Wapiti/elk herd introduced earlier in the century.

Tiny Styles Island guards the fjord’s entrance to the Tasman Sea, while walks include a scenic stroll along the Stillwater River toward Lake Marchant. Fishing here is good for those interested in catching tonight’s dinner.

Today we plan to navigate to the largest of the Northern Fiords, George Sound.

Stretching 16 scenic miles, George Sound is also the longest of the Northern Fiords, and with several arms branching off it, we have multiple options for exploration. Still, the spectacular sight of Alice Falls, flanked by dense forest and tumbling over boulders as it thunders out of Lake Alice at the head of the fjord, is always a strong draw. It was at the head of George Sound that Wapiti/elk were introduced to New Zealand in 1905, part of a herd gifted by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.

We enter the magnificent Milford Sound this afternoon and enjoy a leisurely final cruise of this unforgettable location.

Enjoy your final night aboard in the protected waters beneath the towering peaks of Milford Sound, and take in the sensational scenery as you celebrate this unforgettable adventure with a farewell dinner.

After a final breakfast and farewells, head ashore, where a transfer to Te Anau awaits-via the historic Homer Tunnel and the lowland beech forests and golden tussocks of scenic Eglinton Valley. In case of unexpected delays, we ask that you not book any onward travel from Te Anau until after 3 p.m. that afternoon.

Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse. During the voyage, circumstances may require deviations from the planned itinerary, including poor weather or opportunities for unplanned excursions. Your Expedition Leader will keep you fully informed. Voyages are planned and scheduled pending final regulatory approval.