7 day scenic expeditions that are designed for individuals, couples or small groups of family friends who wish to book a cabin or cabins ti join others to experience the extraordinary history and spectacular history of New Zealand's largest national park, which is also a major part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site.
The focus is primarily on exploring this remote wilderness and there are opportunities for kayaking, short walks, and weather permitting, some fishing, depending on people's wishes.
All 9 luxury cabins have sea views and a private ensuite and are fully air-conditioned and heated.
PRE & POST ACCOMMODATION AND ADD-ON QUEENSTOWN TRANSFERS
It is recommended to stay in Te Anau or Manapouri the night before and after the charter, however if you wish to stay in Queenstown, we have the option to arrange a transfer in our two 11 seater vans to Te Anau/Manapouri at the additional charge of $200 per person, round trip
Departure is likely to be around 8.15am from Queenstown to Te Anau or 6.45am to Manapouri.
A maximum of 18 passengers.
All nine cabins have fiord and sea views and a private ensuite and are fully air-conditioned and heated.
Highlights
• Cruise to Doubtful Sound
• Enjoy Breaksea and Dusky Sounds
• Discover Preservation and Chalky Inlets
• Fall in love with the spectacular scenery of NZ's largest national park
• Enjoy Kayaking, short Walks & fishing (Weather depending)
Fly via helicopter from Te Anau and land directly onboard the Fiordland Jewel, which will be waiting in Preservation Inlet
Please note: the weather (of course) is central to any Fiordland experience, so the itinerary of your cruise may differ depending on the conditions of the day. This sample itinerary is from Preservation Inlet ending in Doubtful Sound, Doubtful Sound to Preservation Inlet is in reverse. For private charters we will tailor your itinerary according to the interests of your group.
We cruise around the inlets, and may do activities such as: View the rusting hulk of the wreck “Stella”, a steamship that purposely ran aground in the 1800s after damaging itself on a reef.
Walk on the beach at South Port Cove and visit McCallum’s sawmill boiler.
Walk up to Lake Cadman, via the falls in Lake Cove at the head of Edwardson Sound (20 minutes).Right beside Chalky Inlet is Preservation Inlet, separated by Broke-adrift Passage and Treble Mountain. In the 1890s, a gold rush occurred and mining towns sprang up at Cromarty and Te Oneroa, where tracks and old mining machinery can still be found.
Possible activities include:Land at Krisbee Bay to view an old sawmill boiler at Cromarty. The gold mine itself is many kilometres into the hills. Land at Te Oneroa Beach and walk 10 minutes inland to the old Morning Star battery boiler, where you may be able to see the mine drives and even the remains of an aerial cableway. On the other side of the inlet is the site of the first whaling station in the South Island.Preservation Inlet also has some spectacular land features and viewpoints, including:Puysegur Point, where we land at the old oil store (now a DOC hut) and walk to the most isolated lighthouse in New Zealand.
Spit Island, an island connected to the mainland by a beautiful sandspit at low tide. It was the site of two tragic Maori battles in the 1780s.
Cascade basin, a magnificent waterfall that plunges into Long Sound.
At some stage, depending on the weather, we leave Chalky Inlet to cruise up to In Dusky Sound where we’ll cruise amongst various islands, coves and passages, visiting many historically significant sites such as
Luncheon Cove, where we walk around predator-free Anchor Island (2.5 kilometres), a bird sanctuary near the mouth of the fiord. You may see the South Island saddleback and, occasionally, one of the 40 rare kakapo on the island. This track travels up to a small lake in the centre of the island.
Anchor Point, where Captain Cook anchored HMS Resolution in 1773. Also Pickersgill Harbour where Cook moored off Astronomer Point for five weeks.
Pigeon Island, where we walk up the DOC pathway to visit the site of the home of New Zealand’s first conservationist, Richard Henry, who tried to save the kakapo from extinction in the late 1800s. Here there is also an incredible viewpoint towards the entrance of Dusky Sound.
We then cruise through the narrow channels of the Little Harbour to The Basin where you can go kayaking or explore Resolution Island on foot.
There is also the possibility to launch the ROV to view black coral and marine life, giving you the unique opportunity to experience this remarkable place in a way that, until now, has been impossible
We’ll start to head back north through Breaksea and Doubtful Sounds.
At Doubtful Sound on Day 7, you’ll disembark and take a bus over Wilmot Pass, a boat over Lake Manapouri and return to Manapouri.
Includes (weather permitting) activities such as:
Kayaking
Tender boat excursions
Walking
Launching the ROV to view underwater marine life
Some fishing
Itineraries are subject to change
04 April, 2021 to 10 April, 2021 (reverse)
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18 April, 2021 to 24 April, 2021 (reverse)
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24 April, 2021 to 30 April, 2021
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02 May, 2021 to 08 May, 2021 (reverse)
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08 May, 2021 to 14 May, 2021
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16 May, 2021 to 22 May, 2021 (reverse)
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22 May, 2021 to 28 May, 2021
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05 June, 2021 to 11 June, 2021
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13 June, 2021 to 19 June, 2021 (reverse)
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Resolution Deluxe Quadruple
Limited Availability
Two cabins available. On the main deck with a sea view. Two sets of bunkbeds with an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. Sleeps up to four people.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
4 x single bunkbeds
Limited Availability
Four cabins are available. On the main deck with a sea view. Super-King Double bed and an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. Sleeps up to two people.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
1 x Super-King Double
Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.
Governor Suite Executive King
Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.
08 August, 2021 to 14 August, 2021 (reverse)
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Book now
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Resolution Deluxe Quadruple
Two cabins available. On the main deck with a sea view. Two sets of bunkbeds with an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. Sleeps up to four people.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
4 x single bunkbeds
Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.
Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.
Governor Suite Executive King
Please contact Wild Earth for alternative options or to waitlist.
05 September, 2021 to 11 September, 2021 (reverse)
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Sold Out
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11 September, 2021 to 17 September, 2021
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27 November, 2021 to 03 December, 2021
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Book now
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Resolution Deluxe Quadruple
Two cabins available. On the main deck with a sea view. Two sets of bunkbeds with an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. Sleeps up to four people.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
4 x single bunkbeds
Two cabins are available. On the main deck with a sea view. Two King-single beds and an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
2 x King Singles
Four cabins are available. On the main deck with a sea view. Super-King Double bed and an ensuite bathroom with toilet and shower. Sleeps up to two people.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
1 x Super-King Double
Governor Suite Executive King
The Governor's Cabin is at the top of the boat all by itself with its own full width forward window and large side windows. The bed is a Super-King Double bed and it has a bathroom, shower and toilet. It sleeps up to two people in their own private cabin, on the private top-deck.
Room rate is based on 2 pax and includes 3 course dinner and breakfast.
Bedding Configuration
1 x Super-King Double
Inclusions
• All meals prepared by our on board chef in our commercial kitchen - all dietary requirements are catered for
• Our crew dive for seafood/kaimoana
• Fishing
• Complimentary tea & coffee
• Use of our kayaks and top-deck hot tub (weather dependent)
• In each cabin: Toiletries, body wash & shampoo/conditioner (Evolu), hairdryer, linen and bath towels
• Helicopter Transfer at either the start or end of the cruise
Exclusions
• There is a licensed cash bar on board and alcohol is available to purchase. We have a selection of wine, beer & soft drinks (no spirits). Please note: Do not bring alcohol on board with you, as this will breach our liquor license.