The journey to Doubtful Sound is itself quite beautiful. You travel across lake Manapouri and up Wilmont Pass. I happened to get an awesome day - blue skies and good temperatures. The rainfall in Lake Manapouri is 3 meters per year and in Doubtful Sound it is 5 meters per year so a clear day like we had was really rare.
The tour was an overnight tour with an option of kayaking or going out on the tender craft. I chose the kayak and kayaked along the massive granite walls and under waterfalls. It was really great.
Close to the entrance of the Tasman Sea we saw a rare Fiordland Crested Penguin on an island. Then a few of his friends swimming in the water. We were so lucky because it is the end of the chick raising season and most of the penguins have gone to sea. (No photo of this sorry - I would have needed a better zoom for you to be able to pick it out.) We were even luckier later during dinner when we came across what seemed like the entire Bottlenose Dolphin population having fun in the fiord. They were jumping into the air all around the boat. (I did get a couple of photos of them).
During the evening slide show I met some people from Burlington, VT and turns out we have a mutual friend. It is such a small world.
On day two there was almost no wind and the ride back was soo pretty.
Check out the photos here.
I head out to do the Milford Track in the AM and will not be in touch for several days. I will be back Dec 23 and should have internet access then.
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