Big day today last night we took the chance re weather and booked the cruise out to the Doubtful Sound. Leaving at 10.30am arriving back at 5.30pm. Way too tired by then to get my blog away last night after cooking dinner hence leaving it until the morning. We certainly made the right decision the weather was almost perfect just needed a little more sun. Even though we were told the chances out there with no rain is unusual. Everyone says always raining in the Fiords. Well we struck it lucky. We did have clouds but no rain. First of all we had an hours boat trip across Manapori Lake. Sun was shining. Then transferred to a bus. There were three big buses to take everyone to the next boat.another hour on the bus driving through the Fiordland National Park which is the largest of the 13 National Parks in New Zealand. Unsealed road but very well maintained. A nice smooth ride. A few twists, steep climb to the top then descending down to the Patea Bay where we picked up our next boat in the Fiords. Then our trip started on our adventure in the Fiords. The Captain drove more or less straight out to the ocean giving us time to sit inside and enjoy our lunch. A few little Islands out there with seals, penguins and birds. The boat went very close to these islands to see the wildlife up close. We spent about half an hour just idling close to the rocks. The swells hit us as we got more into the open sea which was fun with the boat bouncing up and down. A few squeals outside on the forward deck where I was standing most of the trip. Very windy had to hang on. PT stayed inside upstairs sitting behind the captain so he had a good view forward and stayed warm. Not me I had to feel the real thing. After that half hour out in the ocean we headed back darting in and out of a few of the Arms. And again the Captain got right up close to the sides of the mountains. We zig zagged more on the way back taking more time to get into and up close. Arrived back to catch our bus driving through the National Park again taking another hour back to the first boat waiting for us on Lake Manapori to take us back to the other side of the lake were were started our day.. Arriving back at 5.30pm. Huge day but so enjoyable so glad we did it and the sun shined over us more on the trip back in the Fiords. So lucky with the weather. The scenery seems a lot brighter when you are actually there.
Left Te Anau at 9.00am driving over to Lake Manapori to catch the 10.30am boat to do the Fiordland Cruise.
Arrive at Lake Manapouri looking over the lake.
We are about to board this boat to take us over to the Fiordland National Park to catch our bus. Forty five mins by boat.
Take a look at the wash behind us. Can you see the man’s face? Amazing.
Beautiful weather over the Lake.
Looking out front beside the captain. Next four photos crossing Lake Manapouri
Our Captain, Stuart.
Just arriving across the other side pulling in beside the power station to disembark. This is all we saw of the power station as it is all underground. PT would have loved to have had a tour but they stopped those tours ten years ago.
Disembarking onto the Fiordland National Park to catch our bus to drive for one hour over the park to get to Patea where we catch our next boat to go through the Fiords out to the ocean.
We had the front seat in the bus looking along the well maintained roads. Very smooth for being out in the middle of nowhere.
Now going over the top of the range. Long way down to sea level.
Looking down to Patea where we catch our next boat.
On the boat and now on our way up through the fiords out to the ocean. I am taking this photo standing up on the bow. Couldn’t stand back enough to get the whole boat in the picture.
Looking back going out to the ocean more or less straight while we have lunch on board. More time to site see on the way back. Didn’t post photos on the way out as they came out almost black and white as no sun and high hills must have taken all the light away. But fortunately it was much brighter coming back partly cloudy.
Hanging on tight going straight into the wind. Very hard moving around without falling over.
Now out in the ocean a few islands at the mouth of the fiords. Captain took us very close to this small rocky Island to spot the seals. There were a colony of them further down the rock but this big fellow was up the top looking down on us as though he was protecting all the others.
Out in the Ocean looking along the West Coast.
Same area as above.
When we were heading out to the ocean the swell was getting up hitting the front of the boat giving everyone on the bow a thrill including myself.
One off the small Islands at the mouth of the fiord.
The captain went right up close to this island to spit the bird life. We hovered around there for about half an hour.
We have now turned round heading back to Patea. Cloud now lifting a bit with the sun peeping through making it brighter.
Pictures from here and below are self explanatory as we drive back through the fiord.
This is an over night cruise and fishing boat. Built in 1937.
The end of a fantastic day and so lucky re the weather. As I’ve mentioned earlier, the locals tell us that it’s nearly always raining in the Fiordland’s. Hence the lack of rain over the last couple of days the waterfalls were flowing just a trickle. But I would rather have the sun and lack of rain. It was a lot of fun. Big day that’s why I didn’t get this blog away last night too exhausted hanging on the railings of the boat in the head on winds trying to take photos. We just relaxed today went out for coffee in Te Anau and back to the motel to write my blog. I haven’t posted photos of Te Anau yet will do that in tomorrows post . We leave Te Anau tomorrow after our three nights here. Didn’t get up to Milford Sound just too tired today for that long drive. But fortunately we did that some years ago. 😎
One night in Bluff tomorrow before we catch the 8am ferry to Stewart Island for 3 nights. 🤞🤞
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