Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri
5
Doubtful Sound Wilderness Day Cruise from Manapouri
By RealNZ
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
About
Experience the remote beauty of Doubtful Sound on a full-day tour from Manapouri. Boat across Lake Manapouri, drive over Wilmot Pass, then transfer to a catamaran for your cruise on the sound. Look for New Zealand wildlife like bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and penguins, and learn from your guide about this pristine wilderness in a less-visited part of Fiordland National Park.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 0-99, max of 135 per group
Duration: 7h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
Highlights
- Relax aboard a catamaran cruise through stunning Doubtful Sound
- Explore the rainforest and waterways of Fiordland National Park
- Experience the South Island’s uncrowded wilderness and native wildlife
- Choose from a few morning departure times to suit your itinerary
- Live commentary on board
What's not included- Food and drinks (available to purchase)
- Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Start your tour with a short cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a drive over the Wilmot Pass. Make stops along the way to experience the dense rainforest of Fiordland National Park and to view Doubtful Sound from above. Upon arrival at the water, board your spacious catamaran for the Doubtful Sound cruise. Your naturalist guide shares commentary about the natural landmarks and wildlife you might see, including bottlenose dolphins, fur seals, and the rare Fiordland crested penguin. Choose from several morning departures for your tour to Doubtful Sound, a gorgeous destination that rivals popular Milford Sound for natural beauty, yet remains less crowded. Non-slip shoes, warm fleece or sweater, waterproof jacket, sun protection, and insect repellent are recommended. Your tour ends with your return to Manapouri.
- Start:
- 64 Waiau Street, Manapouri 9679, New ZealandPlease be sure to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2264P28- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- It is recommended to wear comfortable shoes, warm clothing, and a rain jacket or hat, as necessary
- Most travelers can participate
- Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
- Please note: During survey the Patea Explorer will be substituted with another vessel from the RealNZ fleet
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 135 travelers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 2264P28
From
$213.54
per adult
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- 64 Waiau Street, Manapouri 9679, New ZealandPlease be sure to arrive 20 minutes before your scheduled departure to check in.
- 1
- 2
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- sylviat1690 contributionsLike stars in the night but with glow worms!Well organized; friendly, courteous and knowledgeable staff. The walk in the cave, the force of the water, the boat ride, the glow worms... We loved the experience. Great place.Written October 4, 2024
- CharoftheShire0 contributionsWhat an adventure!This was pricey and a long day, coming from Queenstown, but as the only operator, we had no choice. Thankfully, it was a totally brilliant experience from start to finish, and completely worth the money. From the coach to Manapouri (excellent commentary), beautiful trip across the lake, stunning coach trip through Wilmot Pass (despite the diet!), and the tour itself. Conditions were very changeable- very cold, windy and with intermittent showers. But the waterfalls were incredible. The commentary on board was brilliant. We managed to get out to the Tasman Sea despite the weather. Highly recommend- it's such an adventure!Written October 4, 2024
- jessen7010 contributionsRemarkable ExperienceRemarkable experience. Boat ride easygoing and relaxing. Very educational information provided about caves and glow worms. Exciting/thrilling tour of caves, so much beauty. Fun/romantic activity.Written September 29, 2024
- TheEatos0 contributionsWonderful sight to seeAmazing to see the cave formations and glow worms in their natural environment. Tour guides seemed to be new to guiding this experience so were lacking a little confidence so would have been good to have them partnered with someone who was a bit more experienced to give more details about the workings of the caves.Written September 23, 2024
- Navigator508556320070 contributionsGreat family activityOnce in a lifetime experience. Can be scary for young children as caves are dark and wet. The boat ride reminded me of Willy Wonkas chocolate boat ride. Boat ride relaxing and informative.Written September 21, 2024
- pczetroc0 contributionsGlow worm tour well worth itAlex our guide was well informed and shared his knowledge with excitement. We enjoyed seeing and learning more about the glow worms. The sheer volume/power/beauty of the water and the caves themselves were equally impressive. The pathway construction to enable this tour was amazing. We also enjoyed the boat ride to the caves, the informative Q&A and nature walk.Written September 21, 2024
- Camper553028730230 contributionsOutstanding value-for-money experience in a gorgeous locationAfter a fun drive to Te Anau from Queenstown, we were welcomed onto the new catamaran by Chris (captain) and Warren (first mate). Warren provided useful and interesting commentary on the ride and once at the cave, the professional cave team took over and ensured our safety and enjoyment. The water was flowing wildly and the glow worms looked like stars in the sky. After the cave we had refreshments and Toby gave a very interesting video presentation on the life cycle of a glow worm. On the ride back everyone was happy and relaxed. It's a truly great value-for-money experience that I would recommend to everyone as long as you can bend a little as the entrance to the cave is low. Enjoy.Written September 16, 2024
- R7079XWtravisg0 contributionsReally great experienceOverall, this really exceeded my expectations. I found the glowworms to be interesting, but the whole experience from the walk through the (very wet) caves and the sensory depravation boat ride in the dark, all really made this value for money. I recommend.Written August 25, 2024
- lilyt8120 contributionsMagical!The glow worm caves themselves are absolutely stunning, one of the coolest things I've ever seen. The forest around the caves is also beautiful. Minus one star for the guides being very scripted/bored and the "nature walk" being a five metre path to a pavilion with some posters then we had to leave after about two minutes.Written August 21, 2024
- Dudegetabike0 contributionsA truly amazing experience.We went in August so the worms were not at peak activity, however this was still one of the highlights of the trip. Tour guides were great, explaining what the glow worms were and fun facts about the caves. No pictures allowed (your phone wouldn't be able to anyways in that dark) but I almost preferred it. It was a surreal experience floating in a little boat in the pitch black, the only sound was the water gushing through the caves. As your eyes adjusted more and more of these little blue dots appeared. It felt like you were floating in the void of space. I loved it. If I return to New Zealand I will definitely be returning.Written August 21, 2024
- Dariabeck0 contributionsFun, beautiful and well worth it.Amazing trip! The boat across was very scenic and the guide had great facts about what you were looking at. Once we arrived, we were given a very informative talk about the glow worms. Our guide Heath was fantastic taking us through the cave, with lots of fun facts and jokes along the way while seeing an amazing underground formation. The glow worms themselves were absolutely beautiful. A trip myself, and my family will treasure forever. Thanks RealNZ!!Written August 16, 2024
- jaydenb8570 contributions🪱Oh my goodness, Worms! And caves and rocks and fun facts and worms that poo light out of their bums and light up my day. I love worms! 🪱Written August 15, 2024
- kristyg6990 contributionsDont waste your money.Do not waste your money. You cant take photos. Such a waste of time and effort. The only good part of it was the talk at the end of the tour while you are drinking a not so great cup of hot chocolate. The talk was fantasic and learnt a lot but still not worth it.Written July 22, 2024
- teresakM6681DS0 contributionsGreat tourGreat trip with RealNZ to see glow worms. Well-run and informative. Went with kids aged 5 and 8, they were perfectly fine with staying quiet/silent when observing the glowworms, but keep this in mind if you are going with younger children who might struggle with this!Written July 7, 2024
- emmabY4150ZP0 contributionsMagical underground starry skyExploring the Te Ananu Glowworm Caves was an enchanting experience. The shimmering glowworms created a magical underground starry sky, making the boat ride through the caves unforgettable.Written July 4, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
208 reviews
Excellent
172
Very good
28
Average
5
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Linda A
Peterborough, UK39 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
This was a lovely day out. Trip consisted of a 50 min (fairly fast) ride across Manapouri Lake. We then took a 50 min coach trip across land to the sound and our guide/driver Malcolm made some photo stops and provided interesting and amusing commentary on the way. We then had about 2 hours (?) on Doubtful. Stunning scenery. We caught it after rain so there were lots of falls and cascades to see. We went right to the sea to visit a colony of fur seals with their pups. Even on a calm dry day it was VERY blustery on deck and you’ll need a warm fleece and coat if you feel the cold.
Written February 20, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
niamhs456
County Cork, Ireland544 contributions
Aug 2020
My husband and I did this tour recently and it was amazing . It is such a well run trip again from real journeys , they really know what they are doing . Its so easy to sit back and relax for the day on this trip . It starts with a 30 min or so ride to across manapouri lake which is lovely and the boat is super comfy . Then you have about 10 to 15 mins at the information centre across the island while the buses are prepped . Here there are some information stands about the area, the electric plant etc to read or you can wander slightly outside...though even in winter there are sandflies to watch for and of course there are bathrooms. Then its a 40 min coach trip to the next boat ride for the few hours on doubtful sound . this is a fantastic tour, so informative and relaxing in winter. The weather isnt like milford as its more overcast for sure and rainy but the boats are super warm and have abudant tea and coffee for free or some snacks ( most people bring there own food as it is advised as its a cash bar on the boat ) . You get heaps of time to wander the boat on all levels even to the front of these boats which is unusual to me but fantastic. the crew have heaps if knowledge and answer all questions with a smile.
A must do tour i cannot rave about it anymore !!!
A must do tour i cannot rave about it anymore !!!
Written August 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SBPB2014
Hamilton, New Zealand55 contributions
Feb 2021
This has been one of the highlights of our holiday in the Queenstown area. We had the best of both weathers - the rain on the first day and sunshine the following day which showed us the many facets of this wondrous sound. We were able to explore the area in a small boat whilst it was raining and see nature at its finest with a helpful guide ( thank you Roo). What makes this so special is going into different parts or arms of the sound. The dinner and the breakfast were delicious and plentiful and the nature talk at night was most informative especially hearing the bird calls.
Thank you so much and this is definitely a must see.
The only criticism was when the driver was asked if masks were required on the bus taking us over Wilmot Pass we were told this was unnecessary as in down south there was no Covid danger.
Thank you so much and this is definitely a must see.
The only criticism was when the driver was asked if masks were required on the bus taking us over Wilmot Pass we were told this was unnecessary as in down south there was no Covid danger.
Written March 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Poppy T
Sydney, Australia166 contributions
Mar 2023
We did the Doubtful Sound tour starting in Te Anau which involved a short bus trip from Te Anau to Manapouri. We were wondering if this was the best option and quickly realised that it was, as it avoided the hassle of trying to find a parking spot from the jetty!
The tour takes you by fast ferry across Lake Manapouri, then by bus across to Doubtful Sound. The bus drivers are lots of fun and make that part of the process enjoyable.
Lake Manapouri itself is very scenic, but nothing compared to Doubtful Sound, the scenery and photo opportunities are pretty well non-stop.
There are two things which I highly recommend. Firstly, organise a lunch box through RealNZ, it is great value, with ample food and variety and there is nothing else available! Secondly, follow the requirements suggested by RealNZ when you book ie. make sure that you take insect repellent, the sandflies are vicious on arrival and departure of the Lake Manapouri ferry!
The tour takes you by fast ferry across Lake Manapouri, then by bus across to Doubtful Sound. The bus drivers are lots of fun and make that part of the process enjoyable.
Lake Manapouri itself is very scenic, but nothing compared to Doubtful Sound, the scenery and photo opportunities are pretty well non-stop.
There are two things which I highly recommend. Firstly, organise a lunch box through RealNZ, it is great value, with ample food and variety and there is nothing else available! Secondly, follow the requirements suggested by RealNZ when you book ie. make sure that you take insect repellent, the sandflies are vicious on arrival and departure of the Lake Manapouri ferry!
Written March 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for joining our Doubtful Sound adventure and sharing your insights! Your suggestions are perfect for future guests.
Written April 4, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
JayEdward
Florida83 contributions
Feb 2020
Per Kiwis, Doubtful Sound is better than Milford Sound and thus well worth the effort. Real Journeys makes it easy. We drove to Manapouri to get the first boat across Lake Manapouri where you then take a modern coach over the Wilmot Pass to board the vessel in Deep Cove for the three hours on Doubtful Sound. They also do pick ups in nearby Te Anau and elsewhere. If you drive yourself leave extra time to find parking. Also bring your own lunch or preorder one. Doubtful Sound is much bigger with more arms to it and much less traffic - we hardly saw other vessels while we were on Doubtful Sound. It also takes you all the way out to the Tasman Sea plus rare quiet time in a secluded cove where they shut the engines and drift for a time - magical.
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora Jay. Thank you very much for your 5 star review. Hearing the sounds of nature when the vessel's engines are off is often a highlight for our guests and we agree it is a magical experience. Enjoy the rest of your visit to our region. Kind Regards - The Team at Real Journeys.
Written February 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Laurie Winter Photography
12 contributions
Aug 2021
isiting Doubtful Sound was a bucket list item for me. I recently went aboard on one of Real Journey's new two-night/three-day cruises. I fully recommend the experience, as it was very relaxed and the length allowed us to experience a real variety of weather conditions.
Highlights of the trip were all of the wildlife we saw (mollymawks, dolphins, penguins), our nature guide Courtney who was exceptional and, as many reviewers point out, the food on board!
Over the course of the cruise we had the opportunity to explore every arm of Doubtful Sound, it was surprising how different each area of the fiord was. I would definitely do this trip again, I thought it was great value for money.
Highlights of the trip were all of the wildlife we saw (mollymawks, dolphins, penguins), our nature guide Courtney who was exceptional and, as many reviewers point out, the food on board!
Over the course of the cruise we had the opportunity to explore every arm of Doubtful Sound, it was surprising how different each area of the fiord was. I would definitely do this trip again, I thought it was great value for money.
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stephen
41 contributions
Feb 2020
This excursion starts with a cruise on Lake Manapouri, followed by a coach trip over the Wilmot Pass & then a 3 hr cruise on Doubtful Sound to the Tasman Sea.
This was a great excursion & the weather was good. The guides & the commentary were very interesting & informative & we thoroughly enjoyed this trip.
This was a great excursion & the weather was good. The guides & the commentary were very interesting & informative & we thoroughly enjoyed this trip.
Written March 3, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Local tourist
Tauranga54 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
This was a good day... its a little expensive and there should be cheaper rates for NZers taking tourists. The information and humour from the bus drivers was excellent. The information on the boat repeated what we had already heard and needed new info. Safety practice and food services were excellent. There were too many people on the boat making it difficult to get views. Doubtful Sound was incredible a must see in the Sth Is
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kylie O
Mosgiel, New Zealand163 contributions
Excellent value for 7 hours of spectacular scenery. We are kiwis and have travelled overseas to many countries and done such tours. We get the price was fair in comparison to overseas experiences and the scenery was breathtaking! Good food and drinks available on board at doubtful sound leg. Only disappointment is was no coffee available for the early morning cruise at 6:30am- not ideal from out point of view to stand and look at a shut cafe with 80 people! Totally small blemish on a spectacular day trip. We’d like to do the overnight option next and would recommend it to locals and tourists.
Written December 26, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
For such an early start, coffee is always a good idea! We'll be sure to adjust our Manapouri Café hours once we get a few more RealNZ crew members.
Thank you for this 5-star review. We all hope you have a fantastic new year!
Written January 10, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
h2orev
Hadleigh, UK11 contributions
Mar 2020
We are so grateful that there is mobility parking right next to the terminal - something lacking in much of New Zealand! I could write a book on this subject but will spare you. The staff were very helpful on both boats and on the coach. All 3 parts of the journey were awe inspiring and the accompanying commentaries informative and humourless. This was our third time on Doubtful Sound and all have been so different. Would love to come again if it were not for our ages and the distance.
Written March 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kia Ora. It's fantastic to hear that this was your third visit to Doubtful Sound and that you were well looked after by our team. Thank you for taking the time to post your 5 star review and we hope you enjoy the rest of your holiday. Kind Regards - The Team at Real Journeys.
Written March 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
November is a good month for travel. Maybe busy. Best to book ahead!
Written June 12, 2023
Hi there
I am wanting to book for a November Doubtful Sound cruise - are the bookings not open yet?
Look forward to hearing from you
Kind regards
Written July 12, 2022
When does the 8 hour cruise leave.
Written November 23, 2021
What is the earliest set off and return time for this cruise from manapouri? We need info to plan for our trip, thanks.
Written September 8, 2019
Google GoOrange Tours and have a look at their tours, from memory they picked us up at 8am. They offer a really good tour for Doubtful Sound.
Written September 8, 2019
We have a hire car. We are staying in Te Anau 19th Jan. Can we drive to Manapouri, park car and join this trip there.?
Written November 15, 2018
How long will it take me to drive from Queenstown to your point of departure?
Written November 8, 2018
How long is tthe drive from Queensltown to Manapouri?
Written November 8, 2018
Are there toilet facilities on the boats
Written October 17, 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 13