Fabulous Fiordland including Milford and Doubtful Sound cruises. 7 days/6 nights.

FABULOUS FIORDLAND   7 days/6 nights (extendable)  

THE BASICS - Commence Queenstown DAILY year round. Semi Independent departures (minimum 2 passengers) 

Features: 2 nights Queenstown including Walter Peak "Earnslaw"* cruise and barbecue dinner, day tour to Milford Sound including cruise, 3 nights Te Anau, cruise across lake Manapouri, driver over Wilmot Pass, and cruise on Doubtful Sound with lunch, 1 night Queenstown. Early bookings are essential as we do not hold an allotment on the cruise. Travel from Queenstown to Milford Sound, Manapouri, and back to Queenstown is by 'big bus' operated by RealNZ who operate the cruises at Milford and Doubtful Sounds.

*"Earnslaw" is being surveyed May 19 - September 18, 2025  and cruise is by normal catamaran

 

THE ULTIMATE  - Commence Quenstown DAILY 01 September 2025 - 28 April, 2026

These tours connect from our MINI RAIL TOUR Auckland to Christchurch departing Auckland Mondays and Thursdays, and SOUTHERN ICONS coach tour Christchurch/Mt Cook/Queenstown which operates daily.

Itinerary 

Day 1.                                     ARRIVE QUEENSTOWN

 Arrive Queenstown and you will be transferred to your hotel. 

Day 2.                                     QUEENSTOWN                                                      (B- lunch or dinner)  

Free day with many options available - extra expense.

We include the cruise across Lake Wakatipu on the historic steamer "Earnslaw" and a barbecue lunch or dinner at the Colonel's Homestead. Lunch 11am - 2.30pm OR 1pm - 4.30pm . Dinner 5pm - 9pm OR  7pm - 11pm. Please specify which cruise and timing you prefer at time of your initial booking.

Day 3.                                QUEENSTOWN  - MILFORD SOUND - TE ANAU     (BL)

A day of fabulous scenery as we drive to Te Anau then visit the Mirror Lakes and continue through the Eglinton and Hollyford Valleys and through the Homer tunnel to magnificent  Milford Sound. Enjoy a cruise to the head of the Sound under majestic Mitre Peak with picnic lunch included and see the Bowen Waterfall before returning to Te Anau for accommodation at Luxmore Hotel.  

Day 4.                                                    TE ANAU                                            (B)

Free day to relax and explore Te Anau. Take a cruise across the lake to the Te Ana-au caves - $129, scenic float plane flight to appreciate the majesty and extent of Fiordland, enjoy the Fiordland movie, walk the start of the Milford Track , etc. All activities are extra expense.

Day 5.                                               TE ANAU - DOUBTFUL SOUND       (BD)   

BASICS TOUR.    Transfer to Manapouri and cruise across the bush clad lake to the West Arm. Drive across Wilmot Pass through the Beech forests to Doubtful Sound. Cruise to the entrance with the Tasman Sea and retrace our steps to our hotel in Te Anau. A picnic lunch is included.                          

ULTIMATE TOUR. Transfer to Manapouri and cruise across the bush clad Lake Manapouri to the West Arm. Drive across Wilmot Pass, and join our cruise ship  "Fiordland Navigator.  Sail mid afternoon. Doubtful Sound is much more extensive than Milford Sound. Explore the fiords and travel to the entrance with the Tasman Sea. See the seals and often dolphins and other wildlife are to be seen. Dinner included on board. Anchor overnight in a quiet bay. Optional evening exploring by kayak or ships tender to get up close and personal with the Fiords. 

Day 6.                                             DOUBTFUL SOUND - QUEENSTOWN   (B)  

BASICS TOUR - Transfer to Queenstown. 2 hour drive.

ULTIMATE TOUR - Disembark after breakfast and we retrace our steps to Manapouri and return to Queenstown arriving mid afternoon. 

Day 7.                                       QUEENSTOWN DEPART         (B)

You will be transferred to the airport for departure.  

You are welcome to stayover in Queenstown and explore further if you wish to Dunedin, Invercargill, Stewart Island, Catlins, or West Coast

 

Tour cost per person. 

BASICS TOUR:

01 June - 30 September, 2025............2 per room $2,390..... Single room $3,200

01 October - 20 December, 2025...... 2 per room $2,590..... Single room $3,500

21 December 2025 - 31 March 2026.. 2 per room $2,790.... Single room.$3,700

 

ULTIMATE TOUR:

01 - 30 September, 2025 .................. 2 per room $2,590... Single room $3,460

01 October -30 November, 2025 ..... 2 per room $2,790... Single room $3,660

01 December - 31 March, 2026 ....... 2 per room $2,990... Single room $3,990  

 

 

Tour cost includes: 

** Return transfers from Queenstown airport to your hotel.         

** 5 nights accommodation and breakfast at hotels. 3 nights in Queenstown, 2 nights in Te Anau

**  Full day tour to Milford Sound including cruise, and picnic lunch.   

** 1 night aboard  Fiordland Navigator including 1 dinner and  1 breakfast.

 

DEEP SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND - Dunedin - Catlins - Invercargill - Stewart island options. See our DEEP SOUTH AND STEWART ISLAND TOUR commencing Queenstown and Invercargill every monday (Eastbound) and Dunedin every monday Westbound). Read more

 

DISCOVER STEWART ISLAND

Travel on our FABULOUS FIORDLAND tour and on returning to Manapouri transfer to Invercargill via the scenic route via Tuatapere and Riverton for one night.  Owing to a great shortage of accommodation on Stewart Island it is often necessary to stay in Invercargill and take a day tour by ferry or air  

The ending is flexible. Stay longer on Stewart Island, fly back from Invercargill, or join our 3 day/2 night tour departing Queenstown wednesdays for 1 night at Franz Josef Glacier, 1 night at Hokitika, then on to Punakaiki finishing in Christchurch friday afternoon.

 

Overnight cruises operate on both Doubtful and Milford Sounds and provide a great experience. Cabins are small but have their own shower and toilet. Dinner and breakfast are served on board and tea and coffee are available at all times. The ships anchor in a quiet cove overnight and you have the oppoprtunity (weather permitting) to kayak or cruise in the ships tender to get up close to cliffs and forest. Enjoy the Sounds of silence as the engines are switched off. Overnight cruises are very popular but cancellations do occur frequently. Let us know your availability and we will try and assist. The overnight cruise can replace the day cruise or taken as a standalone. Tracknet (www.tracknet.nz) operate shuttles 3 times daily between Te Anau and Queenstown via Queenstown airport. Shuttles leave Queenstown at 6.55am, 10.25am, 4.30pm stopping about 10 minutes later at the airport. Shuttles depart Te Anau 7am, 11.30am, and 5pm. Journey takes 2.5 hours. Intercity departs Queenstown at 7.20 and 7.40am arriving Te Anau 9.45 and 10.05am.  Fares average $62 each way.  Intercity (ww.intercity.co.nz) departs Te Anau at 5.30pm and 5.45pm arriving Queenstown 7.45 and 8pm.  Fares average $71 each way.

 

 

 

 

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