Doubtful Sound Tours and Tickets

There are plenty of ways to experience Doubtful Sound. Looking at ratings and reviews previously given by customers, these are the best tours available right now:

• Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Te Anau

• Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise

• Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown

• Doubtful And Dusky Sound Helicopter Scenic Flight from Te Anau

• 3-Day Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise and Glowworm Tour from Queenstown

To reach Doubtful Sound, you'll need to take a boat tour, which start at US$227 and generally feature activities such as wildlife-watching cruises and kayaking to highlight the region’s pristine nature. Some tours stay overnight in the scenic fjord, too. Overnight trips start at US$456—a chance to sleep amid its dark skies, towering waterfalls, and wildlife.

Yes, Doubtful Sound is worth visiting. Not only does it have spectacular scenery and wildlife, but its remote location also means fewer travelers than famed places like Milford Sound. Just getting there is an adventure, whether you're following the summit-wrapped overland route—that includes a boat trip across Lake Manapouri—or making the scenic flight from Te Anau or Queenstown.

Per one customer who booked the Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise, "A wonderful experience. The scenery was magical and don't be put off if rain is forecast as you will see a lot more waterfalls. The accommodation and food were really good and the boat never felt overcrowded."

Doubtful Sound is New Zealand’s deepest fjord, known for its magnificent natural landscapes, including immense cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. Located in Fiordland National Park along the remote southwestern coast of the South Island, it’s about 100 miles (170 kilometers) southwest of Queenstown and just south of Milford Sound.

Doubtful Sound can’t be reached by road, so you’ll need to drive or take the bus to Manapouri—about a 2-hour journey from Queenstown or 20 minutes from Te Anau. From there, cross Lake Manapouri by boat, then drive over the Wilmot Pass to Deep Cove, where fjord cruises depart.

Why not try both? Most kayaking tours explore part of the fjord by kayak before returning by boat, affording the best of both worlds. While kayaking does let you get closer to the shore and wildlife, you will need a suitable fitness level and may get wet!

Yes—in fact, the only way to visit the remote Doubtful Sound is by guided tour. Land tours include a boat ride across Lake Manapouri to reach the Sound, after which you’ll explore the fjord by boat or kayak. Alternatively, scenic flights and helicopter tours afford magnificent aerial views of the fjord.

The striking scenery isn’t the only highlight of Doubtful Sound—it’s also a popular destination for wildlife watching. Look out for bottlenose dolphins, New Zealand fur seals, and penguins, including the rare Fiordland crested penguin. If you’re lucky, you might also see southern right whales or minke whales.

Yes, there are four hiking trails near Doubtful Sound, which range from the easy Brassell Point Nature Walk (1-hour return) to the challenging Old Doubtful Sound Track (3-hour return). All trails leave from Deep Cove at the edge of the fjord, so you’ll still need to travel across Lake Manapouri and Wilmot Pass.

There are tons of fun things to do when you're done visiting Doubtful Sound. According to travelers, these are some of the top attractions in the South Island:

• Milford Sound

• Fiordland National Park

• Mirror Lakes

• Tasman Glacier

• Mitre Peak

View Viator's guide to all the best attractions in the South Island.