You can never get sick of seeing peaks like these covered in trees and rising sharply from the water. We were the only boat on the water for most of the journey and the views started out strong and didn’t relent. I’d already been to Milford Sound a few times before so I knew what to expect (they are similar), but I had no idea just how incredible the scenery would be. It was straight off the bus and onto another boat for the three-hour Doubtful Sound cruise. The highlight is the viewpoint at the top of Wilmot Pass, where you can see right down to Doubtful Sound. The bus we travelled on (we went with Real Journeys) had big windows and it was a relaxing 30 minutes or so on the road. This road is used by tour buses and fishermen and passes below mountains and giant waterfalls. From there you’ll file onto a bus which will take you over a very scenic stretch of road to Doubtful Sound. The boat trip ends at West Arm, a small bay where you’ll see the Manapouri Power Station. The trip takes around 45 minutes and is the perfect entrée for what’s to come. Lake Manapouri is home to dozens of islands and with snow-capped mountains all around it was like cruising through a narrow fjord. That all changed when I got out on the water. I’ve heard Lake Manapouri described as New Zealand’s most beautiful lake, which I originally thought was wild exaggeration. It takes around two hours to drive to Manapouri from Queenstown – pickups are available from either Queenstown or Te Anau if you don’t have your own transport. The trip to Doubtful Sound starts in Manapouri, a small town close to Te Anau. It won’t cost you any extra and it helps maintain this website! Cruising Across Lake Manapouri If you click one and book a hotel or tour we’ll get a small cut. Keep reading for everything you need to know about the Doubtful Sound cruise (and everything else about the day trip). The views from every part of the trip are stunning and getting so far away from civilization like this is a great experience. To visit Doubtful Sound, you’ll need to go on a tour, which first takes you across Lake Manapouri and then over the Wilmot Pass. It’s similar to the far more popular Milford Sound (also not a sound) but the experience is very different. A stay in Retiro was a memorable one and we would not hesitate to return in our next trip to Nelson.Doubtful Sound (which is a fjord, not a sound) is possibly the most beautiful place in New Zealand. A good ambience of having simple breakfast in a garden conservatory (a small green house/hut) with Spanish songs was a great and different experience. Particularly surprisingly (rather impressively) Robert concerned about the status of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit of Thailand. We were served with in-house wine (winery by Victor) and homely-cook dinner, along with friendly chats & sharing. We were welcomed by Robert, a friendly and warmth host. Good WiFi signal in room though a distance off from the host unit. A balcony overviewing the farm and hearing the sound from the nature and animals, soothing & calming. A small kitchen serves well for a pot of tea or coffee. The vintage-designed room is spacious for 2, clean and nicely decorated. The room that we were staying in is a separate unit from the host unit. A farm of vineyard, olives, alpacas, llamas, hens and ducks has setting anyone as close to a simple farm live as possible. Surrounding by mountains and trees, the lodge is definitely a place for tranquility and serenity. Finding the way to Retiro was a picturesque journey via Queen Charlotte Drive from Picton.
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