Full-Day Doubtful Sound Flight and Cruise from Queenstown

Highlights

Start the day with 9am pickup at your accommodations in Queenstown, then make your way to the airport for the first 35-minute flight of the day, across a remarkable landscape of glacier-carved fjords and lakes. Touch down by Lake Manapouri, part of Fjordland National Park, and cross the scenic lake on a 1-hour ferry ride with views of mountains that come right to the water's edge. Transfer to a coach for the 1-hour trip across Wilmot Pass, which divides Doubtful Sound from Lake Manapouri. Upon arrival at Doubtful Sound, board a boat for a 3-hour wilderness cruise through the stunning fjord, and watch for the fur seals and penguins that can often be spotted on the fjord’s many islets. You'll see waterfalls streaming from high cliffs, and a crowd-free, untouched landscape that's been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. A picnic lunch, tea, and coffee will be served aboard the cruise. When you return to shore, begin the return trip to Queenstown by coach, boat, and airplane. The landscape of Fjordland National Park changes with the passing light, so you’ll see Wilmot Pass and Lake Manapouri transformed as you travel through the afternoon. After touching back down at the Queenstown airport, meet a driver for drop-off at your hotel, where this 9-hour tour concludes.

Summary

Start the day with 9am pickup at your accommodations in Queenstown, then make your way to the airport for the first 35-minute flight of the day, across a remarkable landscape of glacier-carved fjords and lakes. Touch down by Lake Manapouri, part of Fjordland National Park, and cross the scenic lake on a 1-hour ferry ride with views of mountains that come right to the water's edge. Transfer to a coach for the 1-hour trip across Wilmot Pass, which divides Doubtful Sound from Lake Manapouri. Upon arrival at Doubtful Sound, board a boat for a 3-hour wilderness cruise through the stunning fjord, and watch for the fur seals and penguins that can often be spotted on the fjord’s many islets. You'll see waterfalls streaming from high cliffs, and a crowd-free, untouched landscape that's been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Centre. A picnic lunch, tea, and coffee will be served aboard the cruise. When you return to shore, begin the return trip to Queenstown by coach, boat, and airplane. The landscape of Fjordland National Park changes with the passing light, so you’ll see Wilmot Pass and Lake Manapouri transformed as you travel through the afternoon. After touching back down at the Queenstown airport, meet a driver for drop-off at your hotel, where this 9-hour tour concludes.

Tour info

Duration

9 hours

Why take this tour?

Doubtful Sound flights with Air Milford take you to a more remote area of the South Island’s rugged West Coast. Feel humbled, yet uplifted by the atmosphere of powerful solitude in the presence of superb physical grandeur of New Zealand’s remote Doubtful Sound. Sometimes called “the Sound of Silence” there is a cloistered serenity within Doubtful Sound that is a contrast with its near neighbor, Milford Sound.

What’s included?

Live Air Milford pilot commentary on board
Complimentary Tea and Coffee aboard Cruise
Picnic Lunch aboard the Cruise
Hotel pickup and drop-off (centrally located hotels)
Entry/Admission - Lake Manapouri
Entry/Admission - Doubtful Sound
Alcoholic drinks (available to purchase)

Things to know

Before you book

Duration: 9h
Mobile tickets accepted

Covid Policy

Regularly sanitized high-traffic areas
Guides required to regularly wash hands

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

Operator Website

Operated by:

Air Milford

About operator:

Air Milford is a family owned and operated business based in Queenstown, New Zealand that has a 100% safety record and has top reviews. The Air Milford team have an intimate knowledge of the scenic wonders of Fiordland, Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound, Mount Cook and the Queenstown region. We provide Scenic Flights to Milford Sound, covering:- - Milford Sound Flights - Milford Fly/Cruise/Fly - Milford Coach/Cruise/Fly - Milford Fly/Land/Fly and - Milford Track Fly Back options We also offer stunning scenic flights over Queenstown, to Doubtful Sound, Mt Cook and charters are also available. Our modern Cessna aircrafts are meticulously maintained and we are proud to have achieved one of the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) highest audit ratings for operations and safety and take extra special measure to sanitize the planes between our trips. We are proud to be completely Kiwi Owner Operated and look forward to providing you with a trip you will remember for a lifetime!