Doubtful Sound

Your included flight departs Auckland mid-morning. From Queenstown we drive to Arrowtown where the autumn colours are beginning to tint the leaves on the pretty, tree lined streets. We visit the Chinese miners’ settlement at the end of the town – we explore the history of Arrowtown where harsh conditions were endured by the miners in their search for gold.

We enjoy a lunch at The Stables in Arrowtown before driving into Queenstown. In the afternoon there's time to check out the boutique shops of this alpine resort town and wander the lakefront before dining in this evening.

This morning we ride the Gondola up Bob's Peak to the Skyline to enjoy views over Lake Wakatipu to The Remarkables Range. We drive beside the lake to Glenorchy and on to historic Kinloch Lodge for lunch. This evening we board the steamship TSS "Earnslaw" and, with the pianist playing old favourites, cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station for dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead.

Packing for "Fiordland Navigator" cruise on Doubtful Sound: Luggage is limited to one overnight bag each. Include a waterproof jacket, walking shoes, woollen sweater, a change of clothing, camera, sunglasses and insect repellent.

Leaving Queenstown we drive alongside the lake and through undulating farmlands to Manapouri where we board a launch to cruise to the head of the lake. We travel through the beech forests over the Wilmot Pass by coach to Doubtful Sound where our small ship,  “Fiordland Navigator” awaits.

We cruise the sheltered arms of this beautiful fiord out to the Tasman Sea. The ship's nature guide keeps a lookout for marine and bird life. Seals bask on the islands at the entrance to the Sound. In the evening the ship anchors in a peaceful cove and there's the chance to get even closer to the shoreline travelling on an inflatable craft with your nature guide.

Wake up to the perfect stillness and mirror reflections of this remote wilderness. As breakfast is served the ship cruises the inner arms of the sound and returns to Deep Cove where we disembark at 10am. We retrace our steps, returning over Wilmot Pass and across the lake to Manapouri.

At Manapouri we rejoin our coach and stop for lunch at Dunrobin Farm hosted by Ian and Aileen Grant. Then we head tor the tussock-covered land of the dramatic Crown Range. Descending into the valley we stop at the quaint and historic Cardrona Hotel where we dine and stay the evening.

We breakfast at the Cardrona Hotel with a history that goes back to goldmining days. We drive into Wanaka to visit the town and later lunch with locals Gilly and Hamish Taylor in their contemporary Wanaka home with views out to the lake and mountains.

This afternoon we sightsee in and around Wanaka including Stuart Landsborough's quirky Puzzling World where we experience a range of illusion rooms and puzzles. Tonight we dine at the Edgewater Hotel beside Lake Wanaka.

We drive beside Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka and through the superb mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass. We walk to the Blue Pools where trout lurk and waterfalls and the Haast Department of Conservation Centre gives us an insight into the colourful history, flora and fauna of the Coast. We stop at Ship's Creek to take a short walk along the wild beach and through swampland rainforest.

We continue through lush rainforest to Fox Glacier, stopping to view the Glacier and then drive over the hill to Franz Josef to check into our accommodation at Punga Grove and Westwood Lodge.

The Coast scenery is stunning - we pass mirror lakes, boulder-laden rivers and catch glimpses of the Southern Alps as we drive north to visit Hokitika’s artisan craft galleries. We continue up the coast and turn eastwards to drive up the Otira Gorge on a spectacular cantilevered highway to the alpine village of Arthur's Pass where we stop for lunch.

We continue through a magnificent alpine landscape to Porters Pass and across the Canterbury Plains. Your flight departs from Christchurch in the late afternoon.