Kayaking Doubtful Sound is the kind of experience you'll dine out on for the rest of your life. It's a bold statement, sure but ask anyone who's ever been on one - they'll back us up!
Doubtful Sound is commonly referred to as the sound of silence. Embark on an adventure like no other, immerse yourself and experience the serenity. Your past kayaking experiences won’t even come close to what you’re about to witness. With Go Orange you get the real, the sweeping, unrivalled experience that will give you the ultimate bragging rights amongst your friends.
Enjoy a full day on the water with our experienced guides and small group of kayakers as we explore Deep Cove, Rolla Island and Olphert Cove. We will take you further into the unknown discovering Doubtful Sounds dramatic landscapes.
You will begin with a cruise across Lake Manapouri, then travel by coach over the Wilmot Pass and down the other side to Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound.
If kayaking is not possible due to the weather we may substitute for a 3 hour inner fiord cruise experience.
Please phone by 5pm the day prior to your departure to reconfirm all details.
When driving to Manapouri please allow at least 3 hours from Queenstown and around 30 minutes from Te Anau. You will need to meet at the Go Orange Visitor centre for check in 20 minutes prior to departure.
Please wear a swimsuit or kayak underwear layer beneath warm clothes and a waterproof jacket to the base, this way it is quicker for us to gear you up. Bring your clothes, snacks and other goods to the launch point in a backpack.
Sea kayaking has inherent risks and can be dangerous. In Fiordland, they are characterised by: remoteness, rapidly changing and sometimes extreme weather and water conditions, cold water and limited kayaking landing sites.
Sea kayaking has inherent risks and can be dangerous. In Fiordland, they are characterised by: remoteness, rapidly changing and sometimes extreme weather and water conditions, cold water and limited kayaking landing sites.
Detailed risk management and strict safety procedures are observed, however, there still remains an element of risk. Go Orange cannot absolutely guarantee participants safety. Go Orange accepts its legal responsibilities but cannot be held responsible for personal injury or for loss, theft or damage of/to your equipment outside legal responsibilities. Participants will be required to sign a liability form to this effect before starting a tour.
Changing conditions can mean that tours have to be modified. No two tours are the same. It is very rare but weather could delay your scheduled return by up to 24 hours e.g. road closures or weather conditions preventing kayaking. Clients on guided tours must listen carefully to and follow guides' instructions and adhere to safety requirements. Our reputation depends on your safety – we give it top priority and take it seriously.
The tour was awesome.
The first things worth seeing are accompanied by interesting information from the captain during the boat trip.
Afterwards we continue in the bus where the bus driver tells a lot about the doubtfully sound, answers questions and slows down at cool places to get a good view.
After a good briefing we will start kayaking. Already at the beginning you will have breathtaking views and at the same time a lot of fun while kayaking. Also the guide has a lot of very interesting information ready and takes care that everybody has a lot of fun on the tour.
If you are lucky and your guide is Dillon, ask him about the 3 most important rules of kayaking.
We've enjoyed a fantastic Kayak Tour with our guide Lydia. She was not only telling a lot about Doubtful Sound and it's spectacular landscape but also was a very friendly and cool person. Was disappointed though not been taught the "eskimo roll" ;-)
Had a great day trip kayaking in doubtful sounds with go orange. Both our guides were a wealth of information (really improved our weather system knowledge) which made the trip more interesting. Unforgettable experience kayaking for 3 hours in a serene peaceful setting getting close to some waterfalls and the incredible scenery. We felt very safe with our guide - especially as the weather changes dramatically in the short time we were there. Our only regret was that we were not there kayaking longer ! (We also experienced snow in spring!)
We went Kayaking with Go Orange in March of 2018 on our trip to NZ. It was a wonderful experience beginning early in the morning and we were looked after competently and superbly by Orange (who also were able to return wet gear that I left behind when packing up). We had a blissful time kayaking in the Sound which is a tranquil and beautiful place. Robbie was a mine of information and a super guide. Highly recommended. Helen and Jane (Ireland)
Years ago I did a boat cruise through Milford Sounds which was fantastic, but lots of people kept telling me that Doubtful Sounds was so much better and a lot quieter. On my second trip back to New Zealand I decided to kayak Doubtful to make it a little more exciting. The i-site recommend Go Orange as a great company to go with.
After a lot of debating I decided to just go for the one day option rather than the overnight stay, purely because I was only in New Zealand for two weeks so was very limited on my time.
The instructors picked me up from my hostel promptly. Whilst it takes a long time to get to the sounds (car, ferry, bus) it flies by because the instructors are really friendly and easy to talk to and we had a guide on the bus describing features as we drove along.
In the kayaks I shared a boat with the instructor and there were two couples in two other kayaks, which was a really nice group size. We didn't see any other people so it was so lovely and peaceful. Our instructor was very knowledgeable and pointed out lots of exciting things like a penguin!
I had such a brilliant time and would highly recommend them.
We had a wonderful time on this expedition with a knowledgeable, fun, and experienced guide. I was especially grateful for the team’s outstanding customer service in locating and shipping back my lost jacket from NZ to the US. All above and beyond expectation. We would definitely use Go Orange again. Thanks for a wonderful trip!
How long will it take to get to Manapouri?
It will take around 30 minutes to get to Manapouri from Te Anau. If you’re coming from Queenstown, allow around two and a half hours by car.
Do you pick up from accommodation in Te Anau?
Unfortunately we do not for this experience.
Can we park at Manapouri?
Yes, car parking is free at Manapouri. Make your way to the visitor centre and park there. If the car park is full there is additional parking on View Street.
Do we kayak from Manapouri?
No. You will take the one-hour boat over Manapouri then a 45-minute bus ride over the Wilmot Pass down to Deep Cove. This is where the kayaking starts.
How long do we kayak Doubtful Sound for?
On the day trip you will kayak for 3 hours. On our multi night trips the kayaking each day will vary but will be around 3-5 hours a day depending on the next location and weather conditions.
What should I bring with me?
Generally, we need you to wear comfortable clothes and shoes. Bring wet weather gear and also food for the lunch stop. If you have booked one of our kayak trips, then you will receive a kayak itinerary detailing what to bring with you. If you have any extra questions, please contact the team at one of our stores or email [email protected]
Where do we go after the kayaking has finished?
You will return to Deep Cove then take the trip back over the Wilmott Pass before getting the boat back to Manapouri.
Are we on the same kayak trip as the overnight people?
No, all our experiences are separate.
What if the experience is cancelled due to weather?
Our team will do their best to accommodate you on another of our experiences, if not you will receive a refund, or a date transfer will be available.
Can we visit the Power Station at Manapouri?
Unfortunately, due to health and safety reasons we can’t take you into the power station. However, you get a great view from the boat as we pull into West Arm.
What is the difference between Milford and Doubtful?
You will find both Milford and Doubtful Sound deep down in the South Island of New Zealand in the Fiordland National Park.
Milford Sound is around 13kms long and famous for its dramatic mountain peaks waterfalls. Home to Mitre Peak, it’s easy to see why people flock here.
Doubtful Sound is three times longer than Milford Sound, home to three arms named Hall, Crooked and First arm. Commonly known as the sound of silence and famous for Wildlife sightings, Doubtful is a real adventure experience.
What kind of weather will we experience in Fiordland?
Bring your raincoats as sometimes we experience all four seasons in one day. Rainfall is what makes Fiordland so unique, a land of rivers, waterfalls, luscious forest and fiords. You should be prepared to experience some rainfall during your visit, after all it rains approximately 200 days of the year. Please bring sensible clothing for cool and wet weather.
What is the difference between a sound and a fiord?
A fiord is a valley created from Glacial movement. Typically, narrow and steep sided, flooded by the sea after glacial retreat. A sound is a river valley that has been flooded by the sea, from and movement or rising sea levels. Throughout Fiordland our fiords are officially mapped as sounds, however we should call them fiords.
Is it worth visiting Milford Sound or Doubtful Sound on a wet day?
Yes, yes and yes. We say you haven’t experienced the real Fiordland unless it rains. The landscape is dramatic, rock faces are covered in waterfalls and the resident waterfalls are way more powerful. From the comfort of our boats you can experience the spectacular landscape.
Will I see any of the local wildlife?
The awesome thing about our local residents is that they are totally wild. Although we can’t 100 percent guarantee a sighting, Dolphins and Seals are spotted on the regular. If you’re really lucky you may see a Fiordland Crested Penguin or a whale!
Will we still kayak if it rains?
It may rain during your experience down in Fiordland, but that’s okay. We will still go ahead with your kayak experience if it rains. We base our weather decisions on the marine weather forecast and will only cancel if there was a threat to our safety.
What about the Sandflies?
When out in the water Sandflies are not a problem, however they do make an appearance on land. We suggest you bring strong insect repellent and wear clothes that cover your skin. For guided overnight trips we provide insect shelters, great for cooking, relaxing and keeping the little pests away.
How safe is kayaking?
We have awesome, experienced and knowledgeable guides that accompany you on every trip. We will provide you with a full safety briefing before each trip and ongoing instructions throughout the day.
Am I fit enough to kayak? Do I need any experience?
No previous experience is required to kayak with us on our 1 day experiences. We do ask that you are water confident and a moderate fitness level is required. You will be kayaking for at least 4 hours a day. Our overnight experience would therefore have 8 hours total of kayaking with an overnight camp.
Is this a guided kayak tour or can we rent kayaks from you?
Our tours are guided yes, ideal for those without experience. The guides make all the decisions and give paddling instructions throughout the day. They add the local flavour and have a heap of local history and facts for you along the way.
We do not offer kayak rentals.
What is the minimum and maximum age for a kayak tour?
The minimum age for all our kayaking experiences is 16 years old. There is no maximum age, we just ask that you are physically fit.
Can I fish from the kayak?
There is absolutely no fishing from our boats or kayaks in Fiordland due to our fragile eco system and Marine Reserve status.
Am I going to get wet?
Unless you opt for a swim it is unlikely you will get wet, from the ocean that is. If it rains, yes you will. We do provide you with a waterproof spray jacket and skirt to keep you dry should the heavens open.
Do you provide the kayak?
Yes. All our kayaks are double seated sea kayaks. They comfortably seat two, with enough space to store a few valuables in the hole or strapped to the front on the ropes.
How many people will go on the kayak experience?
Along with your guide then the minimum people on your trip will be two. There is a maximum of eight people per guide so if we have more people, we will provide more guides
Will I return on time from the kayak experience?
Yes, it is very rare that the weather will delay us. However, we have experienced it in the past, so we suggest you leave plenty of time after your experience for your onward journey.
Is there cell phone reception?
Where you are going, no. But that’s okay, lets disconnect from that world and connect with our natural world.
Are the guides first aid trained?
Yes, all guides are fully first aid trained. Our guides have received extensive training and will be competent in tackling any situation should one arise.
Where do I get changed for the kayak experience?
We have a small base at Deep Cove where you will initially get ready, this is where you will get your thermals, spray jacket, life vest and spray skirt. We will conduct a safety briefing here and get you out on the Sound in your kayak.
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