Doubtful Sound & West Coast Odyssey
6 Nights/7 Days: Queenstown – Arrowtown – Manapouri – Doubtful Sound – Wanaka – Haast Pass – Franz Josef Glacier – Arthurs Pass – Christchurch
Doubtful Sound & West Coast Odyssey
The untouched beauty and remoteness of Doubtful Sound makes it a magical place to take an overnight cruise. Stay in Queenstown and Wanaka and tour up the West Coast to Franz Josef.experiences included in your tour price
- All transport by comfortable, air conditioned coach (maximum of 16 travellers).
- Services of your experienced MoaTrek driver/guide.
- Quality, en suite accommodation.
- All breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
- All sightseeing and exploring in the regions.
- Special lunch in a private home in Wanaka.
- Cruise on vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw to dine at Walter Peak Station.
- Catch the Queenstown Gondola to the Skyline, Bob’s Peak.
- Doubtful Sound 24 hour excursion, overnighting on “Fiordland Navigator”.
- Visit the Westland World Heritage Park.
- Enjoy the beautiful scenery of Arthur's Pass.
Tour dates
- April 10 - April 16, 2012
- April 18 - April 24, 2012
- April 9 - April 15, 2013
- April 17 - April 23, 2013
Tour Price
$NZD3990 per person twin or double share accommodation$NZD4890 per person single room accommodation
Our travellers say...
We enjoyed the company and will have many memories of the new places; the colours were great in Queenstown/Arrowtown, and the accomodation right at the top. Must give top marks to our driver and tour escort - they certainly 'made' the trip and looked after us well. Doubtful Sound really was the highlight and we made the most of it - went out on the 'tender' before dinner and saw and heard the Sound at its most peaceful time. The crew were great and went out of their way to answer questions; the cabin was just our size, and very comfortable. We were very lucky to have had the best of what the Sounds can give.
Howard and Rae Erson - New Zealand, Doubtful Sound & West Coast Odyssey April 2010
Tour dates
- April 10 - April 16, 2012
- April 18 - April 24, 2012
- April 9 - April 15, 2013
- April 17 - April 23, 2013
Day 1: Queenstown (L, D)
From Queenstown we drive to Arrowtown. Lunch at The Stables where the Autumn Festival is in full swing and the bands are playing right next door on the Green. In the afternoon there's time to relax at your hotel – or perhaps check out the shops before dining in this evening.
Day 2: Queenstown - Glenorchy - Kinloch - Queenstown (B, L, D)
We take the Gondola ride to the Skyline for morning tea. Then we drive beside the lake to Glenorchy and on to historic Kinloch Lodge for lunch. This evening we board the coal fired steamship TSS Earnslaw and, with the pianist playing a few old favourites, cruise across to Walter Peak Station for dinner at the Colonel’s Homestead.
Day 3: Queenstown - Lake Manapouri - Doubtful Sound (B, L, D)
We drive to Manapouri to board the launch to cruise to the head of the lake. We travel over Wilmot Pass by coach to Doubtful Sound where “Fiordland Navigator” awaits. Cruise the sheltered arms of this beautiful fiord out to the Tasman Sea where seals bask on the islands. In the evening the ship anchors in a peaceful cove.
Packing for Fiordland Navigator: Luggage is limited to one overnight bag each. Include a waterproof jacket, walking shoes, woollen sweater, a change of clothing, camera, sunglasses and insect repellent.
Day 4: Doubtful Sound - Manapouri - Crown Range - Wanaka (B, L, D)
Wake up to the perfect stillness and mirror reflections of this remote wilderness. We disembark at Deep Cove at 10am. Return over Wilmot Pass and across the lake to Manapouri. Retracing our steps towards Queenstown and over the tussock-land of the Crown Range. We visit the historic Cardrona Hotel.
Day 5: Wanaka sightseeing (B, L, D)
We lunch with locals Jan and Peter Anderson in their contemporary Wanaka home on Mt Barker with views out to the lake and mountains. This afternoon we sightsee in and around Wanaka.
Day 6: Wanaka - Haast Pass - Franz Josef Glacier (B, L, D)
We drive through the superb mountain and river scenery of the Haast Pass and visit the Haast DOC centre for an insight into the colourful history, flora and fauna of the Coast. Continuing through lush rainforest to Fox Glacier, we stop to view the Glacier then drive on to Franz Josef to enjoy Punga Grove and Westwood Lodge.
Day 7: Franz Josef Glacier - Hokitika - Arthur's Pass - Christchurch (B, L)
The Coast scenery is stunning – mirror lakes, boulder-laden rivers and glimpses of the Alps as we drive north to visit Hokitika’s artisan craft galleries and enjoy morning tea. Then we drive up the Otira gorge on the stunning cantilevered highway to the alpine village of Arthur's Pass where we stop for lunch. Continue through magnificent scenery to Porters Pass and across the Canterbury Plains before concluding your tour in Christchurch.
Punga Grove
Punga Grove’s four star plus luxury studios are in the heart of Franz Josef Glacier village in a beautiful rainforest setting feature, tucked away in native fernery at the rear of the property.
Novotel Queenstown Lakeside
This fresh, modern four star hotel offers spacious rooms close to the town and lakefront.
Distinction Hotel Te Anau
The hotel is recently refurbished and just across the road from beautiful Lake Te Anau. The hotel’s lakeview rooms are premium accommodation.
Fiordland Navigator
This overnight cruise explores hidden arms of Doubtful Sound. Travel close to the shoreline by tender craft with your nature guide. See seals and dolphins. Comfortable en suite cabins.
Edgewater Resort
Four star plus spacious self contained one bedroom suites all have views of the lake and alps with either a balcony or patio to give you direct access to the rolling lawns leading to the lake edge.
Westwood Lodge
Set in a beautiful bush garden, this four star plus Lodge offers well-appointed bed and breakfast accommodation with views of the West Coast’s rainforests and mountains.
Booking enquiries
To make an enquiry or booking with MoaTrek fill in the form below and use the submit button - this will generate an email to MoaTrek New Zealand Ltd. We'll answer your query promptly.
Contact details
Booking conditions
- A payment of 10% of your tour cost to your travel agent or MoaTrek New Zealand Ltd (MoaTrek) confirms your booking and acknowledges your agreement to our terms and conditions.
- The balance of your fare is due 40 days before your tour departs.
- Tour reservations can of course, be made within 40 days provided full payment is made at time of booking.
- All prices are in $NZ and include New Zealand Goods & Services tax (GST) of 12.5%.
Cancellations and amendments
Cancellation fees depend on when we receive written notification of a cancellation.
- Bookings cancelled more than 40 days before departure incur loss of deposit.
- Between 40 days & 14 days 25% of tour cost.
- Within 14 days of departure 50% of tour cost.
- Bookings cancelled within seven days of the departure date are subject to 100% of tour cost.
- No refunds will be made after travel has commenced.
Booking Conditions, the fine print.
Many Chinese immigrated to this area in the gold rush era of the late 1860s and helped grow a thriving mining community. Visit the recreated camp beside the Arrow River to get a glimpse into the harsh conditions they endured in their search for gold. Wander Arrowtown's picturesque main street where buildings date back to the gold mining era. 
Catch the Gondola to the Skyline Chalet. You'll be on top of the world surrounded by stunning views of lakes and mountains. Reputed to be the steepest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, the gondola carries visitors high above Queenstown to the Skyline complex on Bob's Peak. 
Take an early evening cruise from Queenstown to Walter Peak High Country station on board the vintage steamship TSS Earnslaw. Dine at the Colonel’s Homestead at Walter Peak and enjoy the tradition of a sing-along around the piano on the TSS Earnslaw’s return journey.
Cruise across Lake Manapouri to West Arm where a coach is waiting to take you over the Wimot Pass and down to Deep Cove on Doubtful Sound. Board the “Fiordland Navigator”, where your en suite cabin awaits, to cruise the sound with a nature guide with stories of the region’s history, flora and fauna. Enjoy views of waterfalls and mountains, seals and dolphins.
The Wilmot Pass Road was purpose built to aid in the construction of the Manapouri Power Station. A cantilevered wharf was built at Deep Cove, so that supplies could be shipped into Doubtful Sound and where necessary, trucked over the Main Divide. It took two years for the road to be carved out of mountain and bush (from 1963 to 1965), with a length of approx. 20 Km and the highest point of the Pass being 2100 feet. It is one of the few roads that traverses Fiordland National Park and offers magnificent views of river valleys, wild mountain scenery and cascading waterfalls. At the top of the Pass a grand view into beautiful and magical Doubtful Sound may be obtained. 
The area has captured hearts and imaginations since the first Maori came in search of pounamu (greenstone) and the giant Moa bird. More recently, gold miners, adventurers, filmmakers and wine enthusiasts have been drawn to this magical region and its alpine energy.
Nestled in the rolling hills of the Cardrona Valley, The Cardrona Hotel (Est. 1863) is one of New Zealand's oldest hotels. With breathtaking scenery, this tranquil rural setting boasts a hotel steeped in history from the gold rush era. 
Get a close up view of the glass blower’s art at the designer glass studio created by owners Barry and Judy Wilson and their two sons.
Arrowtown in Autumn 
Explore Doubtful Sound 
Cadrona Hotel 
Franz Josef Glacier 
Travel through Arthur's Pass