Doubtful Sound - Overnight on a Boat

Doubtful Sound is much harder to access than Milford, so this time we booked an overnight cruise. Our trip entailed: (1) a 15 minute bus ride to the first dock, then (2) a one-hour boat trip across Lake Manapui, then (3) another bus, for a 30 minute ride over Wilmot Pass (a winding road which had been cut from nothing so that tour operators could access Doubtful Sound; this road was the most expensive in NZ at $5 an INCH). 

Then, finally, (4) we arrived to the ship at the beginning of Doubtful Sound and we boarded our ship, The Fiord Navigator. We cruised through the Sound to the entrance to the Tasman Sea (ocean), and up and down a few different arms of the sound. We took in breathtaking views of the fiords: rainforest, waterfalls, seals, rock formations, inlets and bays... and we only passed 1 or 2 other small boats the entire day. There was an on-board nature guide who narrated much of the trip, always on the alert and calling our attention to interesting water features or wildlife. Rick and Kara spent most of the time on the deck, while the girls preferred the less-windy interior salon, where they happily played board games and read New Zealand children's books.

In the afternoon the ship anchored and offered water activities. Rick and Caroline kayaked, and Kara and Caitlin joined the nature tour on small boat ride. Later, Rick and Caroline jumped off the boat to swim, but very cold water left them to only jumping and no swimming- and then racing for hot showers! 

The food on the boat was delicious, and the bunk cabins were a fun and unique experience for all of us. In the evening, there was a very informative nature talk ("Listen up! School is in session, girls!").

The second day was rainier than the first. Rain in the fiodlands means more waterfalls, so it's hard to complain. They were literally everywhere we looked. But we did end up pretty wet if we spent too much time outside on the upper deck. Still, we braved it for the "Sound of Silence" when the boat cut her engines and everyone was silent for 10 minutes, listening to the birds and taking in the stillness of the huge, majestic sound. 

And yes, there is only one way in- and out, so our return journey requried the same boat-bus-boat-bus trip in reverse. We saw an amazing rainbow on the final leg across the lake (just in time for St. Patty's Day)!