Fiordland National Park Cruises: Top 5 Tours & Sailing Reviews

So, you want to experience Fiordland National Park, that really amazing place in New Zealand? That’s pretty great! Taking a cruise or sailing tour seems like a very cool way to see it. It gets you right into the heart of all that jaw-dropping beauty. Very, very blue water, really high cliffs, it’s all a sight to see. But like, with so many choices, just a little research is a pretty good plan. We are gonna be checking out the top five cruises and sailing trips on offer to assist you so you can choose just the right thing.

Milford Sound Scenic Cruise

Let’s start with a must-do, very nearly everyone ends up checking it out, which is Milford Sound! A scenic cruise here is the popular route to take. Many tour providers, actually, give these types of tours. Often you can locate them leaving from Milford Sound Wharf. Just the cruise usually lasts about two or three hours, in that case there is very plenty of time to just kind of kick back, soak it all in, and get your snapshots.

Anyway, like, when you are onboard, anticipate moving past like, super steep cliffs, basically permanent waterfalls— because they seem to fall no matter the conditions– and very lush rainforests. Is that your camera at the ready? There is usually an opportunity for sightings of seals sunbathing on the rocks, a few penguins making their way across, and apparently even the occasional dolphin or whale; but in some respects don’t count on that so much!

Read our full review: Milford Sound Scenic Cruise Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Milford Sound Cruise)

Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise

So, Doubtful Sound is this lesser-visited area and therefore pretty special for avoiding all those crowds; it could be, that’s what you are looking for. A wilderness cruise here, well, tends to be a bigger commitment than the Milford Sound tour, actually it is just the remoteness and size of the fiord. Getting there very, very often means a boat trip across Lake Manapouri and also a bus ride over Wilmot Pass. This trip tends to be longer, with tours which can stretch up to 8 hours, as I was saying. You would get a view from several angles too.

Anyway, onboard, look for like, these untouched forests that cascade right to the edge, then just kind of disappear in the water. There are three arms branching in differing directions off the sound for extra sights too. A trip of this type makes the best opportunity to see local wildlife. The cruises very frequently try and maintain silence; in that case people can listen to all those natural noises surrounding the vessel. If you have the available time, is that worth looking into?

Read our full review: Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Doubtful Sound Cruise)

Overnight Cruises: Milford or Doubtful Sound

So, for that seriously immersive type of experience, overnight cruises in both Milford and Doubtful Sounds seem like a pretty top choice. Just spending the night literally in the fiord lets one encounter those sights and the sounds at all various times of day. It might sound amazing and it really could be. Sunset? Very pretty. Stargazing without any light pollution from anywhere else, could be out of this globe. Then there’s dawn; the natural light coming up from behind these huge mountain tops, now it all really seems stunning!

Often, a lot of overnight cruises also come with kayaking or just a little boat exploring options in the package too. Then you are able to see all those natural things that are easy to view, only very close up, too, right? These adventures always provide comfortable cabins, just great meals, and knowledgeable crew to make things easier, if they don’t that just kind of seems unlikely though. Is that what you might be searching for, at the end of the day?

Read our full review: Overnight Cruise Fiordland Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Fiordland Overnight)

Small Boat Sailing Tours

If just the idea of something very personable really interests you, consider like, a smaller sailing tour. Several little operators conduct tours on yachts or other various boats which can only handle a few people, at the end of the day. And honestly you probably feel very VIP with those options.

Anyway these tours very, very often give a uniquely customized experience; and so itineraries may adapt to the group’s interests, what could be so cool right? You probably are capable to get directly associated with hoisting the sails, is that pretty awesome? You get it if that is awesome. Or in some respects, simply relax and unwind although the skipper really finds you quiet, peaceful coves as your exploration areas; this feels pretty great.

Read our full review: Fiordland Sailing Tours Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Sailing Tours)

Specialty Wildlife Cruises

People with just an intense interest in just viewing New Zealand wildlife might be more interested to locate specialized cruises which place that sort of goal right at the very front. Several operators partner directly alongside like, marine biologists and various specialists to basically enrich their cruises, I mean it looks nice at least.

You will, typically, locate targeted tours developed to specifically discover some types of penguins in certain seasons. Now there are other excursions that concentrate on looking to the fiords only from one specific species only viewpoint. It would feel very specialized! Keep just a little eye out when arranging, and often a little of luck might lead you there!

Read our full review: Wildlife Cruise Fiordland Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Wildlife Cruises)