You’ll never forget the beauty of remote Doubtful Sound reached by a launch ride across Lake Manapouri and coach over Wilmot Pass. It’s a unique 24 hour excursion, staying overnight in an en suite cabin and exploring the Sound’s many arms. Two nights in Queenstown, visiting Arrowtown and Wanaka in autumn, Haast Pass, Franz Josef Glacier and Arthur’s Pass, conclude this adventure.

Twenty hours cruising the empty, bushclad arms of Doubtful Sound stays with you forever. Leaving the world behind at Manapouri, crossing the lake, coaching over Wilmot Pass it's an adventure. Back at Mossburn Aileen and Ian host our farmhouse lunch and there's beauty in the Haast and Franz Josef.
7 Day / 6 Night Tour departing Auckland, visiting Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef Glacier and an unforgettable overnight cruise on Doubtful Sound
Day 1: Auckland - Arrowtown - Queenstown
Your included flight departs Auckland mid-morning. On arrival in Queenstown we drive to Arrowtown to lunch at Provisions Cafe and 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.
In the afternoon there's time to check out Queenstown's boutique shops and wander the lakefront before boarding 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.
- We lunch in leafy Arrowtown and browse the shops
- Cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw to dinner at Walter Peak
Day 2: Queenstown - Glenorchy - Kinloch - Queenstown
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, one a sawyer's cottage, for lunch above the lake. We return to Queenstown in the late afternoon and dine in the Novotel Hotel this evening.
- Catch the Queenstown gondola to stunning lake and mountain views
- Lunch at historic Kinloch Lodge, around the lake from Glenorchy
Day 3: Queenstown - Lake Manapouri - Doubtful Sound
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.
- Stay overnight on Doubtful Sound on the 38 metre "Fiordland Navigator"
- Take in views of wild mountain scenery, rivers and cascading waterfalls as we travel over the Wilmot Pass
Day 4: Doubtful Sound - Manapouri - Crown Range - Wanaka
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.
- Meet the locals and relax over a private lunch at Dunrobin Farm
- We stay the night at the Cardrona Hotel built in 1863
Day 5: Wanaka sightseeing
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 in the beautiful Wanaka area.
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.
- Home hosted lunch with friendly locals
- Visit Puzzling World
Day 6: Wanaka - Haast Pass - Franz Josef Glacier
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 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.
- Drive through the Haast Pass and visit the Haast DOC centre
- View the extraordinary Fox Glacier and Franz Josef Glacier
Day 7: Franz Josef Glacier - Hokitika - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch - Auckland
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.
- Take in Hokitika’s artisan craft galleries
- Drive the dramatic Otira Gorge highway to Arthur’s Pass, see kea and towering mountains