5 Day Fiordland Voyage: Doubtful Sound Cruise
price from
NZ$ 4461
per person (twin share)
New Zealand - South Island 
Cruise 
5 days 
Te Anau 
Te Anau 5-Day Doubtful Sound Cruise | 18-Guest Yacht | Helicopter & Coach Transfer | Kayaking, Fishing & Guided Walks | Dusky Sound & Breaksea Sound | Wildlife, History and Local Cuisine Included
Join us on this unforgettable Doubtful Sound cruise, a 5-day voyage deep into Fiordland’s most remote and least visited waterways. It’s the trip of a lifetime for anyone chasing untouched wilderness.
This Doubtful Sound cruise aboard an 18-guest expedition yacht sails from Doubtful Sound through Breaksea Sound and into Dusky Sound. Onboard comfort is paired with kayaking, fishing and guided walks. Expert Kiwi naturalist guides join you throughout. For a shorter voyage further north, our 7-Day Marlborough Sounds Cruise explores Queen Charlotte Sound and French Pass.
New Zealand’s Deepest Fiord and the Sound of Silence
Established in 1952, Fiordland National Park now spans over 1.2 million hectares. It’s famous for grand-scale scenery, untamed wilderness and unique wildlife, including Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals. Doubtful Sound is the park’s crown jewel, stretching some 40 kilometres and holding the title of New Zealand’s deepest fiord. Locals call it the “sound of silence.” Its cloud-wrapped mountains, sheer stone cliffs, waterfalls and quiet coves make for scenery on a truly grand scale.
Fiordland is also rich in natural history, geology and conservation milestones. Only accessible by sea, Doubtful and Dusky Sounds are among the most isolated areas on New Zealand’s mainland. This isolation has kept their pristine beauty unspoiled and their historic sites undisturbed.
Retracing Captain Cook Through Dusky Sound
Dusky Sound is one of Fiordland’s largest fiords, some 40 kilometres long and studded with more than 350 islands. Captain Cook moored the HMS Resolution here in 1773, and today you can walk in his footsteps at Astronomer’s Point, where his astronomer William Wales recorded observations of Venus. Nearby, Luncheon Cove on Anchor Island marks the site of the first European boat built in New Zealand.
Breaksea Island guards the entrance to Breaksea Sound. It was here that the first successful island rat eradication programme was completed, and the island remains a protected nature reserve today. Its predator-free status has allowed rare birdlife to flourish, including South Island Saddleback, Robins, Yellowhead and Parakeets.
If you’d prefer to explore other parts of New Zealand’s coastline, please take a look at all our New Zealand cruises below.
- 10-Day Fiordland Expedition Cruise – All the Fiords
- 7-Day Marlborough Sounds Cruise: Explore New Zealand’s Sounds Up Close
- Fiordland Explored: 5-Day Cruise of Doubtful Sound & Dusky Sound
- 13-Day Expedition Cruise Around the New Zealand Coast
- 7-Day Northern Fiords Cruise: Expedition Through Fiordland’s North
- 7-Day Southern Fiords Discovery: A Deep Exploration of Fiordland’s Southern Fiords
- 9-Day Top of the South Cruise: Explore Beyond Marlborough Sounds
- 5-Day Dusky Sound Cruise: Explore Remote Fiordland
- 6-Day Fiordland & Stewart Island Explored
- 5-Day Queen Charlotte Sound Cruise: Walking & Sailing Tour
- 8-Day Stewart Island Cruise: Wilderness and Wildlife Adventure
You can experience this firsthand on any of the following upcoming voyages: 8 Feb 2027, 24 Feb 2027, 4 Mar 2027, 7 Apr 2027, 1 Aug 2027, 9 Aug 2027
Tour Photo Gallery
Tour Information, Departure Dates & Price
Transportation
- Cruise, Helicopter & Coach
Tour Departures
- Please review the cruise departure options below
Airport Transfers
- N/A
Pricing
-
from NZD4,461
Meals
- Check the meal details in the itinerary
Accommodation
- Yacht Cabins
Cities/Regions Visited
-
Te Anau – Lake Manapouri – Doubtful Sound – Breaksea Sound – Dusky Sound – Te Anau
Group Size
- 18-Guest Yacht
Tour Code
- HE11082026
Pre & Post Accommodation
- Available
5 Day Fiordland Voyage: Doubtful Sound Cruise Days
Meet with your fellow expeditioners in Te Anau before travelling across Lake Manapouri and over the Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound (times and meeting point will be confirmed with your voyage documents). The Captain and Expedition Leader will be waiting to welcome you aboard and show you to your cabin.
Settle into life aboard before we set sail along the scenic waterways of Doubtful Sound, finding a suitable anchorage to enjoy your first evening at sea.
Note: Some voyages will operate the itinerary in reverse, starting with a helicopter transfer into Dusky Sound.
After a quiet night surrounded by Fiordland’s nature and wilderness, we continue exploring the most spectacular scenery in the region. Spanning some 40 kilometres, Doubtful Sound presents cloud-wrapped mountains, sheer stone cliffs, waterfalls, inlets and quiet coves on a truly grand scale.
Sailing along the Fiordland coast towards the protected waters of Breaksea and Dusky Sounds, join your naturalists on deck to spot seabirds, including the majestic Wandering and Buller’s Albatross. Breaksea Island guards the entrance to Breaksea Sound and is the site of the first successful island rat eradication programme, now a protected reserve for endangered species.
Today we explore Breaksea Sound and Acheron Passage. Resolution Island is separated from the mainland by the scenic waters of Acheron Passage, and at its southern end we enter Dusky Sound. Keep a lookout for resident Bottlenose Dolphins along the way.
This afternoon you might try your luck fishing for tonight’s dinner, or take the kayaks out for a shoreline exploration. Time permitting, we venture into Wet Jacket Arm, named for the soaked crew of Cook’s HMS Resolution during their survey work, and once the release site of New Zealand’s only moose.
Visit Luncheon Cove on Anchor Island, where the first European boat was built in New Zealand. A short walk along the coastline reveals abundant birdlife, with South Island Saddleback, Robins, Yellowhead and Parakeets thriving thanks to the island’s predator-free status.
Nearby Pigeon Island was the base for pioneering conservationist Richard Henry during his time in Dusky Sound. At Astronomer’s Point, walk in the footsteps of Captain Cook and his astronomer William Wales, where the HMS Resolution was moored during their stay. Our cruise through Dusky Sound takes in some of New Zealand’s most significant historical and conservation sites, alongside its most majestic scenery.
This morning we sail to Supper Cove at the very head of Dusky Sound for a final chance to take in the majesty of the fiords. From here, enjoy a spectacular helicopter transfer back to Te Anau, taking in grand views along the way.
In case of unexpected delays, we ask that you not book any onward travel from Te Anau until after 1pm today.
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.
Inclusions & Highlights
Cruise Highlights:
- Sail two of Fiordland’s most remote and rarely visited waterways
- Retrace Captain Cook’s 1773 voyage through Dusky Sound
- Visit Luncheon Cove, site of New Zealand’s first European-built boat
- Search for rare birdlife on predator-free Anchor Island
- Spot Bottlenose Dolphins, Fur Seals and Fiordland Crested Penguins
- Enjoy a scenic helicopter transfer over Fiordland’s peaks and valleys
Includes: Landing fees, pre cruise helicopter transfer and post cruise coach transfer, all onboard ship accommodation with meals, all shore excursions and activities, GST, house drinks and expert onboard naturalist guides.
Excludes: All personal items, laundry, domestic flights, Queenstown packages, extensions and travel insurance.
Tour Departure Dates
- 8 Feb 2027
- 24 Feb 2027
- 4 Mar 2027
- 7 Apr 2027
- 1 Aug 2027
- 9 Aug 2027
Accommodation
All lodging is on board the ship, and meals are included throughout your stay.
About the Expedition 18-Guest Yacht
Setting a new standard for discovery travel in New Zealand, our yacht combines the ultimate in comfort with unique itineraries and a personalized experience for a maximum of just 18 guests on board.
The expedition yacht is a 30-meter, 4-deck, New Zealand-flagged vessel built in 2004 by the renowned wooden boat-building family at Carey’s Boatyard in Picton. It features a contemporary wood-finished interior, 10 well-appointed cabins across three decks, a dining room boasting spectacular 180-degree panoramas and theater capabilities, a lounge and bar featuring a complimentary selection of regional New Zealand wines and beers, and a well-stocked library.
Outside, guests can enjoy plenty of covered space on the Bridge Deck — perfect for wildlife spotting, watching sunrises and sunsets, or simply taking in the voyage as it unfolds. Kayaks and fishing equipment are available for use throughout the voyage, while two tenders allow for deeper exploration and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
As with our other vessels, the yacht operates an open bridge policy and features a full commercial kitchen helmed by a talented chef who focuses on showcasing local produce and any guest catches of the day. Guests are also accompanied by an enthusiastic and passionate expedition team, with the vessel crewed by a New Zealand captain and crew.
The expedition yacht features state-of-the-art technology to ensure a comfortable voyage, including high-performance dual Scania 653-horsepower engines, bow thrusters, fin stabilizers, full air conditioning, sound-attenuated twin generators, and a hydraulic aft ramp. A comprehensive navigation package rounds out the vessel’s capabilities, ensuring the ultimate Kiwi adventure awaits every guest.
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