Set sail on this 9-day exploration of the Southern Fiords over the Easter break from Doubtful Sound to Preservation Inlet aboard Heritage Explorer. Spend two days experiencing the most spectacular scenery in Fiordland: Doubtful Sound. Photographic opportunities abound, and your time spent here could include ship cruising in Blanket Bay, the Shelter Islands, the Pandora River, Deas Cove, and Open Bay. Then sail to the waters of scenic Breaksea Sound and navigate through Acheron Passage, an iconic scenic waterway that is an area where bottlenose dolphins are often spotted. Spend two days exploring Dusky Sound and visiting some of the most significant historical and conservation sites in New Zealand. Lastly, explore Preservation Inlet's rich history before your journey concludes.
Highlights
Discover the picturesque Wilmot Pass, part of the Manapouri hydro scheme
Explore Doubtful Sound's breathtaking wilderness and wildlife
Sail through Acheron Passage and spot Bottlenose Dolphins
See endangered bird species & endemic Te Kakahu Skink on Chalky Island
Involves minimal physical effort and is typically associated with leisurely activities. Activities are low-intensity or last less than a few hours each day.
Make your way to the designated meeting point in Te Anau then transfer to Doubtful Sound, via the picturesque Wilmot Pass, the road constructed as part of the Manapouri hydro scheme, to join Heritage Explorer (times and meeting points are confirmed with your voyage documents). The Captain and Expedition Leader are waiting to welcome you aboard and the explorations of Deep Cove, home to several waterfalls including Helena and Lady Alice Falls, begin.
You have dedicated two days to experience some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Fiordland – Doubtful Sound, or the ‘sound of silence’ as it’s also known. Spanning some staggering 40 kilometers and holding the title as New Zealand’s deepest fiord, Doubtful Sound with its cloud-scraping wilderness-cloaked mountains, sheer stone cliffs, waterfalls, inlets, quiet coves, and wildlife presents nature on a scale so grand its off the chart. Photographic opportunities abound and your time spent here could include ship cruising Blanket Bay, the Shelter Islands, Pandora River, Deas Cove, and Open Bay.
The extensive sheltered waters of scenic Breaksea Sound, initially scouted for sheep farming suitability by early settlers in the 1850s is also the location of Breaksea Island, an iconic site in New Zealand conservation history as one of the first large islands declared rat-free in 1988. Navigation through Acheron Passage this afternoon, which separates Resolution Island from the mainland, is sure to be one of the highlights of the time in Fiordland. This iconic scenic waterway is an area where Bottlenose Dolphins are often spotted. The explorations here may include venturing into Wet Jacket Arm where the crew of Cook’s Resolution ended up with wet jackets during their survey work. It is also the site where moose were released, and last seen, in New Zealand.
The two-day exploration of Dusky Sound visits some of the most significant historical and conservation sites in New Zealand while you marvel at the majestic scenery sailing deep into the heart of Fiordland. Predator-free Anchor Island is home to half of the world’s population of Kakapo and Little Spotted Kiwi and is also the location of historic Luncheon Cove and a number of New Zealand firsts including New Zealand’s first sealing gang, the building of New Zealand’s first European homestead and first European designed ship, the 16-meter Providence built here and launched in 1795. On nearby Pigeon Island learn the history of Richard Henry and his pioneering live transfer of birds to island refuges – an international first in wildlife conservation. While his attempts were unsuccessful due to stoats swimming over to the island, it is heartening to learn the island is now pest free and a sanctuary for native birdlife, with Henry’s vision fulfilled.
The entrance to Chalky Inlet is guarded by the impressive limestone cliffs of Chalky Island, the inspiration behind Captain Cook’s naming of the fiord. One of several important predator-free islands in the inlet including Great Island and Passage Islands, Chalky Island is home to some of New Zealand’s most critically endangered bird species including the Little Spotted Kiwi and Kakapo, and endemic Te Kakahu Skink, discovered in 2002. The protected harbors at North and South Port offer much to explore as the centers of human history in the inlet with North Port the final resting place of the rusting hulk of purposely grounded GSS Stella while South Port reveals an industrial past with the remnants of once prolific sawmilling activity. Sailing to the head of the fiord the surrounding mountains envelop you with their majesty.
Today is dedicated to exploring Preservation Inlet, rich in history you delve into the gold mining and forestry attempts that once made this now quiet waterway a bustling hub of activity. The area’s natural bounty saw more than 2,500 gold miners and saw millers flock to the region in the late 1890s, this early settler history at mining towns Cromarty and Te Oneroa, now reclaimed by nature, can still be observed, none more spectacularly than at the failed Tarawera Mine and Smelter, where the ruins of the smelter’s historic three-story chimney were restored in 2015. Among the activity, Preservation Inlet can also lay claim to having New Zealand’s first whaling station at Cuttle Cove and the location of one of the country’s most remote lighthouses at Puysegur Point, which began operation in 1879 perched some 40 feet above the South Island’s south-westernmost point. Here a great coastal walk, formerly a telegraph track built to connect the lighthouse, leads to the old landing shed at Otago Retreat. Tonight you celebrate your unforgettable adventure with a farewell dinner.
Day 9: Preservation Inlet | Te Anau | Disembark
1 Breakfast
After a final breakfast in the grandeur of Fiordland’s Preservation Inlet, say your farewells and take in the grand views and awe-inspiring scenery on a spectacular helicopter transfer to Te Anau. In case of unexpected delays, you are asked not to book any onward travel from Te Anau until after 3 pm this afternoon.
Apologies for the inconvenience. Prices for not yet published. Below per person rate based on previous season. Contact us to confirm upcoming season pricing.
Prices for are estimated based on inflation. Contact us to confirm pricing and availability for your desired departure date.
$5,295
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Buller's
Located on the Lower Deck, the Buller's cabin features one bunk (one upper and one lower berth), ample storage with wardrobe and drawers, TV, PABX satellite telephone, private en suite and a porthole.
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Salvin's
Located on the Lower Deck, Salvin’s Double cabins feature a double bed, ample storage with wardrobe and drawers, TV, PABX satellite telephone, private en suite and a picture porthole.
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Wandering
Located on the Lower Deck, Wandering cabins feature one lower single berth, ample storage with wardrobe and drawers, TV, PABX satellite telephone, private en suite and a porthole.
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Royal
Located on the Bridge Deck, our Master Suite features a spacious bedroom with a queen-sized bed, ample storage with wardrobe and drawers, mirror and washbasin, private en suite, personal climate control, TV, PABX satellite telephone, window and French doors opening out on to the covered Bridge Deck.
Notes
- Single clients are matched with a sharer of the same sex in a twin-share cabin. Payment of a single supplement guarantees a single cabin. The single supplement is 1.8 times the price of the voyage with the exception of the suites which are double the single rate.
-Emergency medical evacuation coverage for a minimum of US$100,000 per person required. Contact us for details on arranging travel insurance.
Initial deposit is 25%, and most travelers will call our office and pay the deposit with a credit card.
Final payment is due 130 days prior to departure by Bank transfer, check or credit card. All final payments by credit card may be subject to a surcharge and maximum of $20,000 charge
Everything was amazing! The planning with Adventure Life went smoothly. The actual trip was fantastic! One of the best trips I have experienced. The cruise staff members were knowledgeable and attentive. I will be writing more about this on the blog!
Justin Chappelle
TrustScore 4.8 | 174 reviews
TrustScore 4.8 of 5
Based on 174 reviews on
8 hours ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
1 day ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
