RealNZ | Doubtful Sound Cruises

Had an amazing experience doing the overnight cruise on the Wanderer. From the initial boat trip to reach the bus that would take us to the Sound, the views were constantly changing and equally breathtaking. Every single staff met during the journey was smiling, engaging, and felt like they genuinely enjoyed being there. The weather was perfect for our journey; it has rained the previous day, so there were plenty of waterfalls, and the cloud coverage was very low, creating a mystical landscape. We were lucky to have two long (about 5-10 mins) dolphin sightings, as well as seeing some Fjordland penguins. The food was fantastic and there's a ton of social board games and books available on the boat. The beds were extremely comfortable (though very tight) and the showers and bathrooms were kept relatively clean throughout the entire journey. My only complaint is that there are no solo cabins or discounted rates for solo travelers (I'm not talking about a 50% discount, but even 10-15% could go a long way). As such, solo travelers have to pay the same price as two travelers, which makes this experience very expensive (I'm not sure I would recommend it to a solo traveller, unless money is of no concern). It would be nice if in future remodelings a twin room could be converted into two singles. Overall, fantastic experience. For couples, families, or friends, defintely do it!! For solo travelers, there's likely better uses of 1700 NZD.

From ticketing to the end of the day RealNZ were organised, engaging, and knowledgeable. We had a great experience on the water and the bus trip over Wilmot Pass was interesting and enjoyable with great commentary from the drivers. The boat skippers were extremely professional and also sharing current and historical information about Lake Manapouri and Doubtful Sound. There was plenty of wildlife to see on the day and an excellent quiet moment beneath a waterfall.

I had been to Doubtful Sound a number of times (overnight with a different company), but my husband had never been. So we decided, short notice no less, to take the half day trip on Christmas Day. I had no idea they were even running tours on that day but was pleasantly surprised and I think the cruise was almost full too. Most people, of course, were overseas tourists but there were a few kiwi's like us. They had Santa greet the passengers and hand out sweets (both in Manapouri and over on the other side at West Arm. Sadly, the visit to the Underground Power Station is no longer available (that used to be a special treat!). We were lucky with the weather as we had showers and between some fine spells. So all the Waterfalls were "working" but it was possible to take some nice photos as well. The bustrip over Wilmont Pass in both directions was fantastic way to get some more information on the region and its history as well as fauna and flora and the drivers were very knowledgeable. The cruise itself took about 2.5hrs and we went all the way out to the Tasman Sea to see the seal colony. All the waterfalls were in full flow and the skipper made a special "silent" stop in Crocked Arm. We also had the cheese platter (pre-ordered) and a few nice coffee's and again, the crew on board was very friendly, knowledgeable and professional. If you want a lesser-known and less-crowded Fiord Experience, this is the one to go for. Only "negative" thing here is the parking arrangement or better signage in Manapouri. There is a large Parking area above the visitor centre and one smaller one below. That one clearly states "Camervans only" but was full of cars of course (nobody wants to walk an extra 20m it seems). The problem is, that because of that, the campervans had nowhere to go as the upper car park clearly states "no campervans" and is to small for them anyway...Maybe, even more and better signage might help, or maybe a note on the booking confirmation as to where to park, but I doubt it.

I joined RealNZ’s Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise, and it was hands down one of the most underrated experiences in New Zealand. Compared to Milford Sound, Doubtful feels untouched and genuinely wild. The journey itself — boat across Lake Manapouri, bus over Wilmot Pass, then into the fiord — already sets the tone for something special. Doubtful Sound is much larger, quieter, and far less crowded than Milford. There were moments of complete silence where the engines were turned off, and all you could hear was waterfalls and birds — something you rarely get in Milford with constant boat traffic. The scale is immense, the water darker and moodier, and the scenery feels more dramatic and raw. RealNZ ran the cruise professionally with knowledgeable guides, smooth logistics, and plenty of space on board to enjoy the views. If you want a deeper, more peaceful fiordland experience, Doubtful Sound is absolutely better than Milford — just less hyped, which is exactly why it’s so special.

Greatly enjoyed our overnight cruise through Doubtful Sound. The crew and staff were wonderful. Highlights were kayaking in the sound, seeing dolphins and fur seals, and some spectacular sights of the falls and landscape. The food and accommodation were also pretty good—there was a buffet dinner and continental breakfast. Div (if I spelled that right) was a great nature and history guide, pointing out key rock formations, flora and fauna. We would’ve liked more of this while kayaking.

An absolute fantastic overnight cruise into doubtful sound. The „Navigator“ is a very nice ship with nice cabins (bath en suite), a nice dining room and two decks for enjoying the wonderful time. The food was very good (snacks on arrival, buffet for dinner, breakfast) and drinks were at normal price. Besides the cruise we enjoyed a kajak tour and the captain allowed us to enjoy a swim in the Tasman sea. The staff was really extraordinary and made this overnight cruise so special. And the Guide on board provided very interesting facts about almost everything in doubtful Sound, incl a 30min presentation. At night, stargazing was so impressive! Thanks to everyone, this was really a great experience.

Great experience on the Navigator, staff were friendly and helpful, food was good too! Great views of the fiords. Rooms are small but expected for the type of cruise. Journey to the boat takes about 2 hours, but is great fun as you drive over the mountain pass by boat.

I didn't enjoy realnz's tour of Milford but Doubtful Sound was an outstanding NZ experience. Peaceful, tranquil, stunning (don't cancel if it rains, even better with the tiny waterfalls falling everywhere!) the transitions were very well done, minimal wait time between Lake Manapouri, Wilmot's Pass and the actual cruise. My only word of caution is the sandflies are insane in this part of Fjordland so highly recommend you cover up to avoid getting bitten and bring some bug spray if possible