REAL NZ – Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise
From $329

Experience the spectacular, remote wilderness of Doubtful Sound on an expertly guided day trip with REAL NZ.

Get ready to uncover the ultimate hidden gem in Fiordland National Park – Doubtful Sound is the name on everyone’s minds! This fiord is not your average spot; it’s three times longer than the famed Milford Sound and flaunts a surface area ten times larger, complete with its own set of curves and bends. Brace yourself for tall peaks, lush rainforests, and secret inlets that will have you lost for words.

Now, here’s the inside scoop – there’s no VIP road access to this fiord fiesta. The only way to roll is with a cruise across the Insta-worthy Lake Manapouri, followed by a bus trip over Wilmot Pass – hands down, New Zealand’s most expensive and majestic road. Picture this: pit stops in the dense Fiordland rainforest and panoramic views of Doubtful Sound below. This is the kind of isolation that makes Doubtful Sound one of those locations that you really need to go to for the in person experience.

Once you touchdown, hop aboard the boat for a roughly 3-hour cruise on Doubtful Sound – the pinnacle of pristine fiord experiences. Our savvy skipper or nature guide, armed with all the deets, will spill the beans on their passion for the region. Get ready for Q&A sessions, landmark pointing, and the 411 on the wild crew you might spot – dolphins, fur seals, and the VIP Fiordland crested penguin. Doubtful Sound is not just a fiord; it’s a vibe, a spectacle, and your golden ticket to a rad adventure!

Trip Intinerary

Important Information

This tour will take 11-12 hours from Queenstown and a minimum of 7 Hours from Manapouri.

Itinerary

Duration: 7 hours
Start with a cruise across Lake Manapouri, followed by a coach trip over the epic Wilmot Pass through Fiordland’s rainforest and into the Sound
A 3-hour cruise through the waterways of Doubtful Sound
Cruise onboard the Patea Explorer (Southern Express, Fiordland Navigator, Mariner or M.V. Sinbad may substitute)
Commentary by our knowledgeable Skipper and Nature Guide
Wildlife viewing, including dolphins, fur seals and even occasionally penguins
Picnic lunches available for pre purchase up to 8pm the day before your cruise
Snacks and drinks available for purchase onboard

Inclusions & Extras

Included

  • Hotel pick ups from central Queenstown and Te Anau
  • A breathtaking 3 hour fiord cruise in Milford Sound
  • Fascinating commentary by your driver guide
  • Bus transfers through native New Zealand rainforest in Wilmot’s Pass

Not Included

  • Photos and videos
  • Picnic lunch

Tour Type & Availability

Tour Inclusions Price

Doubtful Sound WIlderness Cruise

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

$379.00

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise Ex Queenstown

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise Ex Queenstown

$479.00

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise Ex Te Anau

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise Ex Te Anau

$429.00

What to bring

  • Closed footwear
  • Windbreaker or rain jacket
  • Money to buy food and refreshments along the way
  • Camera
  • Powerbank or phone charger

Pick Ups & Departures

The Milford Sound Day Tour departs Queenstown daily at 6:40am am and returns around 7:30pm. Complimentary pick-ups from most hotels

Supplier Terms & Conditions

Real NZ Terms & Conditions

Standard terms and conditions:
Your acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined are required to process your reservation.

Prepayment by credit card and subsequent confirmation by RealNZ Ltd is accepted as confirmation of your booking.

All transactions are conducted in New Zealand Dollars (NZD). Due to exchange rate fluctuations, at times there may be some variance in the amounts refunded compared to the amount initially charged. RealNZ Ltd (and associated companies) does not accept any liability for these variances or any subsequent credit card/bank charges relating to these transfers to customers’ accounts.

RealNZ (and associated companies) reserve the right to amend timetables, cancel departures, substitute plant and equipment, amend specials or offers and alter ticket prices at any time.

All agreements and contracts shall be subject solely to New Zealand law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts. In the event of a cancellation or amendment to your booking, the notification period is in NZ time (NZST).

We strongly recommend travel insurance for all our experiences, especially for those that require longer notification periods for cancellation (see below).

By making a booking and consenting to our terms & conditions, you are agreeing to receive emails from us. These emails are only for internal improvement purposes and will never be passed to third parties for any mailing lists. Please ensure you have read and understand our Privacy Policy.

The majority of our vessels and all coaches are smoke-free zones, no smoking will be permitted onboard. Smoking is only allowed in the designated area on our overnight and multi-day cruises.

Cancellations:

In the event of a cancellation or amendment to your booking, refunds will only be granted when RealNZ receives notification at least 24 hours prior (NZ time) to departure date EXCEPT:

Milford Sound Overnight Cruises: 14 days prior to departure
Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruises: 14 days prior to departure
Stewart Island Lodge: 14 days prior to arrival date.
Selected Special Events: Refer below *
CLICK HERE for our COVID-19 Cancellation terms.

Please note the different and additional bookings terms and conditions detailed below for Landsborough Wilderness Experience, Discovery Expeditions, Locals’ Specials and promo code promotions.

Landsborough Wilderness Experience – Terms and Conditions:
Cancellation policy:

30 days before departure – full refund less your deposit of $200
Between 14 and 30 days before departure – 50% refund
and less than two weeks – No refund
Discovery Expeditions – Terms and Conditions:
Age: If you are over 70 years, please consult your doctor to check your physical fitness.

Cancellations: All cancellations must be received in writing. Cancellation fees are not negotiable – we recommend travel insurance.

Web bookings require full payment at the time of booking.

Phone and all other booking methods require a non-refundable deposit at the time of booking and full payment 120 days prior to departure.

Cancellation fees are charged on the following basis for all bookings:

Outside 90 days prior to departure: NZ$100.00 per person + 20% of your ticket price
89 – 60 days prior to departure: NZ$200.00 per person + 20% of your ticket price
Within 59 days prior to departure: 100% of your ticket price
Once the expedition has departed, no portion of the package payment is refundable in the event of the individual or group being unable to proceed.

A $50 fee is charged for amendments to a confirmed reservation. Please note we cannot accept any amendments within 59 days prior to travel.

Promo Code promotions – Terms and Conditions:
Standard terms and conditions apply, plus any relevant additional terms as mentioned above:
– Bookings made on the RealNZ website will require the promo code to be entered in the “promo code” field during the booking process – then the discount will be applied.
– The promo code is case-sensitive and must be exact
– Full payment must be made at the time of booking
– Offer cannot be transferred to another product nor redeemable for cash
– This offer is valid for the specified travel dates only and cannot be used in conjunction with any other special offer or discount
– Bookings must be made direct with RealNZ and are subject to availability
– RealNZ has the right to amend timetables, cancel departures, amend specials or offers, alter ticket prices and substitute plant at any time.

$250 RealNZ Gift Card Giveaway T&Cs
ENTRY ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Entering the RealNZ $250 Giveaway (“the Competition”) is considered to be accepting the below terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”).

PROMOTER: The Promoter is RealNZ, Level 2 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown, Otago 9300.
ELIGIBILITY: Open only those 18 years or over, who sign up with their email address to become part of the RealNZ email database. Employees of Promoter, its agencies or any entity involved in the development, production or administration of the promotion are not eligible to enter or win the prize. Void where prohibited by law.
HOW TO WIN: An individual can enter the Competition by providing their first name and email address on the Competition page https://www.realnz.com/en/lp/subscribe-for-realnz-emails/ , or website pop-up entry form during the “Competition Period”. A fully completed response including “First name” alongside submitting an email address to sign up for the RealNZ email marketing database is considered an “Entry”. Competition is open to new sign ups only. Promoter reserves the right to verify all Entries. If a dispute arises regarding the identity of an entrant, the authorized subscriber of the email account used at the time of entry will be considered the entrant. “Authorized account subscriber” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization which is responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any mechanical reproductions or automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such automated devices will cause disqualification. By entering this Competition you consent to Promoter, its promotional agencies and Competition judges storing and using the personal information you submitted with your entry for competition and advertising purposes.
COMPETITION PERIOD: The Contest begins on 00:01 New Zealand Time 1st December 2023 and ends on 23:59 31st December 2023 (“Promotion Period”). Promoter’s computer is the official clock for this Contest. Winner will be contacted within 5 working days of the Competition end date, and has 14 workings to confirm acceptance of prize, or a new winner will be selected.
NUMBER OF ENTRIES: An individual can only enter once during the competition period.
NOTIFICATION: The winner will be informed via email, using the email address they provided when entering.
PRIZES: The winner of the competition will receive:
1 x $250 voucher for RealNZ, including a discount code for online use. This prize is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash in part or full. The prize must be used to book an experience which takes place before 01/12/2024. Not applicable on all experiences. Any change to the prize will be updated in the competition terms and conditions on the Promoter website.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: By participating in the competition, each entrant hereby agrees to participate in any publicity related to the competition. Entrants and winners in the competition agree that their identity may be disclosed in winner announcements and promotional material. Winners also agree to have their image used for publicity purposes without any additional payment being made.
CONTRACT LAW: All agreements and contracts shall be subject solely to New Zealand law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
CHANGES TO COMPETITION: Promoter reserves the right to change the prizes or Terms and Conditions throughout the competition. Any change to the prize will be updated in the competition terms and conditions and on the Promoter website/s.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and email address, will be processed and signed up RealNZ email databases, shared, and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Competition and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules or the Promoter’s Privacy Policy.
Milford Sound Survey Giveaway – Terms and Conditions
ENTRY ACCEPTANCE OF THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

Entering the RealNZ $250 Giveaway (“the Competition”) is considered to be accepting the below terms and conditions (“Terms and Conditions”).

PROMOTER: The Promoter is RealNZ, Level 2 74 Shotover Street, Queenstown, Otago 9300.
ELIGIBILITY: Open only those 18 years or over, who fully complete the survey titled: Milford Overnight (Link: https://delighted.com/t/2WVNgyrM). Employees of Promoter, its agencies or any entity involved in the development, production or administration of the promotion are not eligible to enter or win the prize. Void where prohibited by law.
HOW TO WIN: An individual can enter the Competition by providing their first name and email address on the Competition page on the last question of the Milford Overnight Survey (Link: https://delighted.com/t/2WVNgyrM). A fully completed response including “First name” alongside submitting an email address is considered an “Entry”. Promoter reserves the right to verify all Entries. If a dispute arises regarding the identity of an entrant, the authorized subscriber of the email account used at the time of entry will be considered the entrant. “Authorized account subscriber” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider or other organization which is responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any mechanical reproductions or automated entries are prohibited, and any use of such automated devices will cause disqualification. By entering this Competition you consent to Promoter, its promotional agencies and Competition judges storing and using the personal information you submitted with your entry for competition and advertising purposes.
COMPETITION PERIOD: The Contest begins on 00:01 New Zealand Time 1st October 2023 and ends on 23:59 30th October 2023 (“Promotion Period”). Promoter’s computer is the official clock for this Contest. Winner will be contacted within 5 working days of the Competition end date, and has 14 workings to confirm acceptance of prize, or a new winner will be selected.
NUMBER OF ENTRIES: An individual can only enter once during the competition period.
NOTIFICATION: The winner will be informed via email, using the email address they provided when entering.
PRIZES: The winner of the competition will receive:1 x $250 voucher for RealNZ, including a discount code for online use. This prize is non-refundable and cannot be exchanged for cash in part or full. The prize must be used to book an experience which takes place before 01/09/2024. Not applicable on all experiences. Any change to the prize will be updated in the competition terms and conditions on the Promoter website.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: By participating in the competition, each entrant hereby agrees to participate in any publicity related to the competition. Entrants and winners in the competition agree that their identity may be disclosed in winner announcements and promotional material. Winners also agree to have their image used for publicity purposes without any additional payment being made.
CONTRACT LAW: All agreements and contracts shall be subject solely to New Zealand law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the New Zealand courts.
CHANGES TO COMPETITION: Promoter reserves the right to change the prizes or Terms and Conditions throughout the competition. Any change to the prize will be updated in the competition terms and conditions and on the Promoter website/s.
PERSONAL INFORMATION: Entrants agree that personal data, especially name and email address, will be processed and signed up RealNZ email databases, shared, and otherwise used for the purposes and within the context of the Competition and any other purposes outlined in these Official Rules or the Promoter’s Privacy Policy.

Frequently asked questions

What do I do if I need help with my tour booking?

If you need help with an existing booking please email us at [email protected] if your enquiry is urgent please follow up your email with a quick call on +61 2 5633 1149 so we can help you.

Do you offer payment plans?

Absolutely, we understand that paying off a big trip in one go isn’t always that easy. We offer flexible payment plans to suit all types of travellers with zero interest or fee’s (minimum $100NZD deposit required).

Do I need travel insurance?

We endorse the recommendation that all travellers take out travel insurance. If you already have Travel Insurance please understand that it is your responsibility to ensure that your Travel Insurance covers you for all of the adventure style travel you have booked with us.

Can I book a package but travel in the reverse direction?

Absolutely, just let us know your preferred start and finish location and we’ll make it work.

What is the best way to travel New Zealand?

There is definitely no wrong way to travel New Zealand. Depending on what type of traveller you are, you might enjoy a Campervan road trip over the Hop On Hop Off Bus Packages. We recommend booking a free consultation with one our friendly team and they can tailor their recommendation to your personality and  travel plans.

What if something comes up and I can't make my tour?

We get it. Life is all about the unexpected, especially when you are travelling. If you are unable to make your pre-arranged tour you will need to reach out to our [email protected] so we can give you a helping hand. In all cases we strongly recommend having a valid travel insurance policy which covers you for unexpected cancellations.

Can I add additional tours or make changes to this package?

Yes. All of our packages are customisable so if you would like to make any changes please contact our team under [email protected] or our WhatsApp (+64) 3409 0617

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Real NZ – Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

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REAL NZ offers the only day trip to Doubtful Sound. Explore one of New Zealand's largest fiords.

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