Have No Doubt
Doubtful Sound New Zealand Will Stun You

There’s no doubt that Doubtful Sound New Zealand is among the most stunning and remote instances of nature at its purest. Located at NZ’s southwest corner, Captain Cook named this Doubtful Harbor. Uncertain that the inlet was navigable, he never entered it. Afterward, whalers and sealers gave the passage its current name.

Deepest (420 meters) and second largest fiord among 14 that make up the designated World Heritage Fiordland National Park, Doubtful Sound is three times longer (40 km) and 10 times larger than more easily accessible Millford Sound.

Doubtful Sound, New Zealand is a must stop in the Queenstown area on your New Zealand vacation. Check into a motel or other accommodation in Te Anau, and experience a harrowing drive through dramatic mountain passes along the way, rewarded by awesome natural beauty.

This fiord has 3 distinct arms, and is unusual in having two distinct layers of waters that don’t mix – fresh water at the top flowing from surrounding mountains, and a layer of cold, heavy saline sea water below. This creates a condition making it difficult for light to penetrate and enabling a habitat for many deep sea species such as black coral that grow in comparatively shallow strait depths.

Deep Cove is an arm of Doubtful Sound, New Zealand with a naturally high fresh water inflow creating a unique and pristine environment. Water discharge from the Manapouri Underground Power Station tunnels through Deep Cove, contributing slight impact, yet the arm still measures 7.6 meters of rain annually, occurring more than 200 days of the year and causing overwhelmingly lush greenery.

The arms of the sound contain several large waterfalls, and there are literally hundreds of waterfalls during the rainy season found among steep hills. Most notable are Helena Falls at Deep Cove, and Browne Falls, which plunges over 600 meters. Commander Peak, a 900 meter imposing sea cliff, stands at the entrance to Hall Arm.

The most noticeable feature may well be the dead silence, interrupted only by the sound of rushing water or birds and other area wildlife, including bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and fiordland crested and blue penguins. Among numerous species of sea creatures that make their home in the sound waters are starfish, sea anemones and corals, particularly the black coral trees found in the shallows.

Wilderness daytime and overnight cruises provide the best exploration of Doubtful Sound, New Zealand with excellent narration. New Zealand cruises begin in the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri, through Wilmot Pass and dense rainforest to view colorful alpine moss gardens, then continue onto exploration at Deep Cove. The 8-hour tour includes an appetizing picnic lunch box and visit to the power station.

Overnight cruises travel through towering peaks and bush clad islands for more in depth nature experiences. Opportunities to spot wildlife, kayak aournd the shoreline, or take guided tender exploration are among the offerings.

Awe inspiring views abound and the Fiordland Navigator, built specially for cruising the fiords, drops anchor at a favorite mooring for a buffet in the port’s spacious dining saloon. Overnight accommodation takes place on board the vessel, which offers private cabins or shared arrangements, spacious viewing decks, and full bar.

New Zealand Governor-General (1957-62) Charles John Lyttelton once described Doubtful Sound, New Zealand as one of “just a few areas left in the world where no human has ever set foot…..This is big country…one day a study in green and blue, the next melancholy and misty, with low clouds veiling the tops….an awesome place, with its granite precipes, its hanging valleys, its earthquake faults and its thundering cascades.”

Without doubt, these words consummately summarize Doubtful Sound, New Zealand!