We cruised through Doubtful Sound today and it went by so fast maybe 30 min and we were done. Very…read morepeaceful and serene but saw no wildlife in the ocean. Less majestic than Milford Sound but still gorgeous and green.

Um...wow. We visited Doubtful Sound at the very end of our trip, and I thought we'd seen it all and…read morewould be numb to the natural beauty of New Zealand by then. We were not. Doubtful Sound is the lesser-visited, even *harder* to get to sister of Milford Sound...and that's exactly why we chose it. In our research, we found that most people go to Milford Sound because it has the iconic view and waterfall, but that it is rather touristy and crowded. We read that Doubtful Sound, though it may not have that iconic photo op, still has amazing fjords and views, and there are less boats on the water - which means more potential wildlife sightings. The path to Doubtful is much longer - even though to Doubtful is too - and includes a bus, a ferry, and another bus: just one way! We figured if we're going to make the trek to one or the other, might as well go all in on Doubtful and the journey it involves. And that paid off tenfold. We boarded the bus, then got to a ferry of what we *thought* were stunning fjords - but we hadn't seen nothing yet. Then, another bus! Through some narrow and steep roads with a hilarious and incredible driver. Finally, we reached our *real* boat experience on the Doubtful Sound. It was a misty morning with fog and clouds hanging onto the fjords, and it was just perfection. The water was glass, the views were unreal, and the boat had glass wall and ceiling interiors to see from inside - but being out on the front of the boat was indescribable. We saw one, maybe two other boats our whole time out there - it felt like we were alone in the world. We pulled up to the most incredible double-waterfall and felt the mist on our faces. We stopped and the tour guide had everyone stay silent for a minute so we could hear the peace and the native birds call. We got to go out into the sea and find a colony of seals with tons of babies and amazing views! Just when we thought we had seen it all: a group of dolphins followed our boat and jumped in our wake, giving us the most epic finale. I could cry thinking about how beautiful Doubtful Sound is. I am certain Milford is absolutely stunning and magical, but for us, the wildlife and peace found at Doubtful was a highlight of our trip.

We stopped in this small town on our tour to Milford Sounds. I immediately ran to this lake to…read morecheck out its beauty. They appear to offer daily boat and helicopter rides around the lake and immediate areas. Around the area of the lake are a few hotels, restaurants and plenty of tour shops to accommodate your travel needs. There were a few benches for you to sit and enjoy the beauty of this lake. This is definitely a place I wish I had more time to enjoy and would return.

The town of Te Anau is a great place to stay and enjoy this BEAUTIFUL Lake with all its activities…read more Lake Te Anau is the largest of the southern glacial lakes. Most of the the Lake is within the boundaries of the Fiordland National Park and the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage site. This is a pristine wilderness area that should not be missed. It is also a great place to stay if you are planning to visit Milford or Doubtful Sounds or do walk/hikes in the Fiordland National Park. There are plenty of restaurants, stores and a great other activities from this location. I would also recommend checking out the Fiordland Cinema and Bar - worth seeing "Ata Whenua - Shadowlands" which is a short film of the Fiordland Wilderness - definitely worth seeing.

I was soooo glad we booked a kayak trip to Milford Sound rather than an impersonal coach ride/boat…read morecruise that seems to be the norm. We went with the "Day Safari" which included transport from our B&B in Te Anau (about two hours each way), about four hours on the water (the Sunriser Classic trip), and all the gear to stay warm and dry). It was actually quite a good value considering it was a full day activity (pricing was something like $189 pp in NZ dollars which is like $145 in US dollars). Due to the nature of the sport/tour, the group was small and personal (eight people/four kayaks plus the guide). This trek leaves super early due to weather typically being more favorable in the morning and fewer cruise ships on the sound. We were down at the end of the driveway for pick up at 5:45 and it was still completely dark out. At least we got to see some stars! We were the last ones on the van with our guide Abi driving. She offered a bit of commentary on the Te Anau/Fiordland National Park area, but mostly let us sleep (which was good, because van rides - on winding roads, no less - make me woozy). We had one foggy stop once we exited the tunnel and another once we got to Milford Lodge. At the main launch point for the kayaks, they have all the equipment in a big tent where you change into a striped thermal get-up, a fleece pullover, a yellow rain jacket, a life jacket and the thing that keeps you secure in the kayak. I was worried about not having the right apparel for the conditions, but was warm, comfortable, and mostly dry for our trip (and because only my hands/face were exposed, I wasn't bothered by the infamous sandflies TOO much, although I still recommend bug spray for your neck/hands and any other body part that may eventually be exposed). We also got a dry bag for our phones and snacks and there was room on the kayak to strap on our water bottles. From there we did a quick lesson on paddling/what to do in the event of a capsize (which is very rare, apparently) and then set out! We almost immediately saw a seal and it swam right by our kayak! Abi led us around the main part of Milford Sound - apparently it goes on for quite a ways out to sea. It started out a little cloudy in the morning, but the clouds slowly lifted revealing the spectacular scenery that Milford is known for. About midway through, we stopped at a beach and Dave and I switched kayak positions. We had perfect weather and a great seal-filled tour. After kayaking, we had about a half hour lunch break at the lodge. We brought our own lunch as we were unsure what to expect, but they do have a little cafe with espresso drinks, beer, pastries, and filled bread pockets. Our drive back was much longer as the conditions were more ideal for some Fiordland roadside sightseeing. Waterfalls at every turn and even a stream ideal for refilling your water bottle with cold, clear glacier water (the best ever after a long day outside, I might add). Abi was a great guide. Super knowledgeable and I could tell she was really passionate about her job and the area. We encountered some of the other guides as well and they all seemed young and super fun. The whole operation seemed well run and organized without being automatic and impersonal. Now that we're a bit more seasoned sea kayakers, I would definitely go for a longer trip next time so we can see a bit more of the sound. But the Day Safari was the perfect intro to kayaking and Fiordland for beginners, while still providing a fair amount of a workout and adventure. I'd highly recommend kayaking Milford Sound (over the AYCE buffet on a cruise boat with 100 other people) and booking it with Rosco's.

I think it's difficult to capture the full beauty and magnificence of Milford Sound whilst on a…read moreboat and highly suggest taking a guided kayak tour instead. Our guide Abby was phenomenal! We were picked up from our hotel in Ten Anau and we enjoyed a highly scenice 2 hour drive. Once we arrived at the Sound we were given warm clothes, waterproof jackets, hats, life vests, and kayak skirts for our journey. With four kayaks to one guide we paddled the sound, received educational tidbits, saw wildlife (seals, starfish), enjoyed the gorgeous views, and got a great core and arm workout. One tidbit, there are quite a bit of sandflies, if this bothers you, make sure you bring mosquito repellent. This is the best way to enjoy Milford Sound if you have several hours to spare!

The weather was unfortunately not in our favor but Ray made the tour so fun that we enjoyed every…read moreminute of it ! On our way to Milford Sound, we stopped at various places with unbelievable beautiful scenary/ backdrop of the Fiordland National Park. Despite of the gloomy day (as the storm was coming), my camera was in for a treat. What I love most about this tour is: - Small group (no more than 15!) that it almost felt like a private tour - Ray partnered with a small business owner who made delicious scones and lunches and that is a personal touch for me :) - Lovely stop-over for morning tea - Ray explained a lot about the town Te Anau, history of Fiordland/ Milford Sound - Ray never really rushed us , though some of us took a bit longer as we were busy clicking our cameras away I would highly recommend anyone to join Ray on his Milford Sound tour :)

This is one of the great Tracks in the world!…read more You can do a day hike or a 4-5 day hut to hut (make reservations). The hike is not too hard 3/5. The views are stunning The water is gorgeous. People really pleasant.

We only had a short time to visit the visitor center but the staff and track information inside…read morewere very helpful. In addition to the park information, a few exhibits covered the area's geology, animal life and history. A small gift shop was also on site. Outdoors was a walking path leading to Lake Te Anau Highly recommend visiting the center first when trying to figure out what to do in the NP. Fjordland was so much larger than I realized and will need to come back again to see more of this beautiful part of NZ.