Doubtful Sound is the second largest fiord in Fiordland, and the least accessible. There is no road in. You reach it by boat across Lake Manapouri, then by coach over Wilmot Pass. Clear days bring mirrored water. Grey days settle low cloud into the forest. Bottlenose dolphins, NZ fur seals, and Fiordland crested penguins are regularly seen along the water.
Immerse yourself in the vast and untouched wilderness of Doubtful Sound, the second largest fiord in Fiordland National Park.
With its rugged peaks, verdant rainforest and twisting, hidden inlets, Doubtful Sound will take your breath away. Home to abundant wildlife you may see bottlenose dolphins and fur seals at play, or catch a glimpse of a rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.
Getting to Doubtful Sound is an adventure in itself. With no direct road access, the only way you can to get to Doubtful Sound is by a cruise across Lake Manapouri and a coach trip over Wilmot Pass. This isolation makes the fiord a very special, private place, a place only those in the know get to see.
If you’d like to experience the pristine beauty of Doubtful Sound for yourself, join us for a Wilderness Day Cruise or better still, spend an unforgettable night on the fiord on our Fiordland Navigator Overnight Cruise. And if you prefer not to drive to Manapouri (where the trips depart), we can get you there by coach from Queenstown and Te Anau.
For a more intimate experience, join us on a kayaking adventure where you get to paddle or explore and camp overnight in Doubtful Sound.
About Doubtful Sound
There’s no settlement here and no easy access. Cruise vessels and fishing boats ply the waters only seasonally. When you visit Doubtful Sound, it’s unchanged, pristine nature is striking. You are witnessing the same spectacular scene that greeted early Maori and European visitors – the years have changed little, if anything, in this magnificent place.
The mood of the fiord is dominated by the weather – glorious and sparkling on a sunny day, tranquil and mysterious in the mist or dramatic and exciting in the wet as hundreds of waterfalls thunder into the sea.
This is an awesome place where you’ll experience the raw power of nature. The sheer scale and beauty of the fiord makes for a profound experience for any holiday itinerary.
Getting There
All our Doubtful Sound experiences start in Manapouri which is around 2.5 – 3 hours from Queenstown and 30 minutes from Te Anau.
You can drive there yourself or if you’d much rather relax and let us do the driving, we offer coach connections from Queenstown and Te Anau.
Our coach drivers for your Doubtful Sound tour are extremely knowledgeable about the area, its history and local flora and fauna and will provide you with commentary and information along the way.
Weather
Fiordland is one of the wettest places in the world with a mean annual rainfall of 6813mm (268 in). It rains for around 180 days of the year, with rainfall reaching 250mm (10 in) over a 24 hour period.
The temperature here can vary depending on the season and can go from an average high of around 19C in summer (Dec - Feb) to around 9.5C in winter (Jun - Aug).
As weather shapes this landscape, it’ll also shape your experience of this pristine place. Glorious and breathtakingly beautiful on a sunny day, in the mist it’s a magical fairyland of hidden peaks and twisting arms while in the rain, the power of nature is unleashed as walls of water thunder to the sea.
All year round, whatever the weather, a visit to Doubtful Sound is profound and unforgettable.
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Wildlife
Dolphins playing in Doubtful Sound
Located deep in the heart of Fiordland, and almost inaccessible to humans, Doubtful Sound is within a temperate rainforest and home to a largely undisturbed wildlife.
The rainforest is an extravagance of green and incredibly dense with vines, perching plants, tree and ground ferns and podocarp trees. Home to a wonderful array of native birds, you’ll hear their songs if you listen carefully.
The waters of the fiord are fascinating and home to an amazing array of sea-life because of a surface layer of dark fresh water that blocks sunlight. This layer is caused by the incredibly high annual rainfall which is darkly coloured by the tannins of the forest as it tumbles through a huge catchment area to the sea. This dark layer allows corals and undersea life to grow in waters much shallower than they normally would. Creatures of the southern oceans live here – there’s a resident pod of dolphins and lots of fur seals. Others visit and you could glimpse Mollymawks and Royal Albatross, penguins, including the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin which breeds at Doubtful Sound or even a whale.
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History
Two million years ago the glaciers of Fiordland were grinding their way towards the sea sculpting the landscape as they retreated and advanced.
In Maori legend, Doubtful Sound and the other Fiords were created by the godly figure Tu Te Raki Whanoa who split the rock with his adze allowing the sea to pour in creating safe harbours from the restless, often stormy sea.
The first European to discover the fiord was Captain Cook during his search for a ‘great southern continent’. Visiting the mouth of Doubtful Sound in 1770 and unsure whether it was navigable, he named it Doubtful Harbour. 23 years later, a visiting Spanish scientific expedition charted the entrance and lower parts of the sound.
In 1971, the Manapouri Hydro-Electric Power Station, New Zealand’s largest hydroelectric facility, was completed on the western arm of the lake. Considered one of the country’s greatest engineering feats, the power station uses the 230 metre drop between the lake and the sea (the Deep Cove arm of Doubtful Sound) to create electricity. The road over Wilmot Pass was created as part of the project and provides our access to the fiord.
What is the difference between Milford and Doubtful Sounds?
The main difference between Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound is their locations in Fiordland. Milford Sound, in the northern region, is captivating with its dramatic beauty. Doubtful Sound, on the other hand, is further south, in the heart of Fiordland, and is vaster and wilder, approximately ten times larger than Milford Sound.
Doubtful Sound, originally dubbed 'Doubtful Harbour' in 1770 by Captain Cook, earned its name due to the captain’s hesitation to venture into its waters, unsure of its navigability under sail. Despite Cook's reluctance, subsequent explorers, including whalers and sealers, renamed it Doubtful Sound.
What is the best time of year to visit Doubtful Sound?
The best time of year to visit Doubtful Sound is during the winter. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the fiord in crisp, fresh air and snow-capped mountains. In winter, the landscape transforms with snow often visible at low levels and occasional ice formations within the fiord itself. To make the most of your visit during this magical season, be sure to pack plenty of layers, including a warm hat and gloves. Embrace the invigorating chill of winter in Doubtful Sound and create memories that will stay with you forever.
How do you get to Doubtful Sound?
Your journey to Doubtful Sound begins at the Manapouri Visitor Centre, where you’ll board a 45-minute cruise across Lake Manapouri. After disembarking at the West Arm, you’ll travel by coach over the Wilmot Pass (approximately 45 minutes), passing through lush rainforest and mountain scenery. At the end of the coach journey, you’ll board a second cruise vessel, taking you into the remote waters of Doubtful Sound itself.
How long does it take to travel to Manapouri?
From Queenstown to Manapouri by car or coach takes around 2 hrs 45 mins and from Te Anau around 30 minutes. For more information refer to our Driving Times webpage.
What wildlife can you see in Doubtful Sound?
Keep an eye out for bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, and penguins. The remote nature of Doubtful Sound makes wildlife sightings common, though never guaranteed.
Can you visit Doubtful Sound as a day trip?
Absolutely! Day trips are available and typically last 7–8 hours, making it possible to experience Doubtful Sound in a day from Manapouri or Te Anau. Overnight cruises are also an option for a more immersive experience.
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