At a Glance
Cruise the best of Fiordland’s waterways on a 7-day ultimate Fiordland expedition. Uncover the pristine natural environment of the Dusky and Doubtful Sounds filled to the brim with breathtaking waterfalls and a myriad of thriving wildlife. Stay in luxury accommodation as you uncover the magic of this world class sightseeing destination.
You begin your journey in Te Anau, here you will take a scenic helicopter flight to land on your home for the next few days, the luxury Fiordland Jewel. Cruise the incredible waterways of Fiordland from Preservation Inlet to Doubtful Sound or reverse, exploring historic landing sites and shipwrecks, bird sanctuaries, pristine beaches, cascading waterfalls and more. Enjoy the opportunity to kayak the crisp waters or view the fascinating underwater marine habitat with the boats very own ROV. Disembark in ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- All meals - all dietary requirements are catered for. Complimentary tea & coffee
- Helicopter transfers from Te Anau (or reverse)
- Bus over Wilmot Pass
- Boat trip across Lake Manapouri
- Activities onboard the Fiordland Jewel
- 6 nights accommodation onboard the Fiordland Jewel in a Deluxe King/Twin Cabin, on twin share basis
- Linen, bath towels, hairdryer, toiletries (body wash, shampoo, condition), complimentary tea and coffee onboard the Fiordland Jewel
- Kayaks, fishing rods and use of the Top-deck hot tub (weather dependent) whilst onboard the Fiordland Jewel
Itinerary
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Please note there are variations and activities are subject to the weather. This sample itinerary has helicopter flight to Te Anau. The reverse route is operated on some departures. Fly via helicopter from Te Anau and land directly onboard the Fiordland Jewel which will be waiting in Preservation Inlet or Dusky Sound. Beginning in Preservation Inlet, land at the old oil store and walk to the most isolated lighthouse in New Zealand at Puysegur Point. Visit the site of two tragi Maori battles in the 1780’s on Spit Island, connecting the mainland by a sandspit at low tide. See the cascading waterfall falling into Long Sound of Cascade basin. As you cruise the inlets, you may do activities such as visit the historic steamship wreck of the ‘Stella’ which had run aground in the 1800’s. Walk on the beach of South Port Cove and visit McCallum’s sawmill boiler and walk the 20-minute trail up to Lake Cadman via the falls in Lake Cove. Beside Preservation Inlet lies Chalky Inlet, separated by Broke-adrift Passage and the Treble Mountain where you may land at Krisbee Bay to site an old sawmill boiler, where the remnant gold mine of the areas 1890 gold rush lies many kilometers in the hills. Discover Te Oneroa beach and take a 20-minute walk inland to the old Morning Star battery boiler where you can see the mine drives and remains of an aerial cableway or visit the south side, the site of the first whaling station on the South Island of New Zealand. |
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Moving on, head to Dusky Sound where you will cruise among various islands, coves and passages, some including possible stops at Lucheon Cove to walk amid the bird sanctuary on Anchor Island. Visit the historic sites of Anchor Point and Pickersgill Harbour where Captain Cook had once visited. Discover Pigeon island and walk the DOC pathway to an incredible view of the entrance of the Dusky Sound and the home to New Zealand’s first conservationist, Richard Henry in the 1800’s. Next cruise through Little Harbour among its narrow channels to The Basin where you can go kayaking or explore Resolution island by foot. There is also the possibility to launch the ROV and see the impressive black coral and marine life from a whole new perspective underwater. |
Fiordland Jewel
Dinner |
Cruise through Breaksea, Dusky Sounds, and Preservation and Chalky Inlets. We may do activities such as: |
Fiordland JewelBreakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
We'll start to head back north through Breaksea and Doubtful Sounds. At Doubtful Sound on Day 7, you'll disembark after breakfast and take a coach over the Wilmot Pass, a boat over Lake Manapouri to return to Manapouri. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
NoneBreakfast, Lunch (Day 6), Dinner (Day 6)Accommodation
Dates & Prices
The price is for a King/Twin cabins with private ensuite, based on twin share. Upgrade to a Governor King Cabin is available at an additional cost. Please contact us for private charter or group bookings.
More Info
- The departure point is Queenstown, NZ
- The finish point is Te Anau, NZ
- Major commercial flights provide convenient access to Queenstown
In New Zealand, January and February are the warmest months of the year (summer), and July is the coldest (winter). Fiordland in the south is generally colder than the north, but weather varies throughout the region can change rapidly within a day.
Summer in Fiordland offers the warmest days (e.g. between 10 - 18°C. Winter temperatures (between May and November) can be between 1 - 9°C (example from July), however cold weather can occur at any time of year.
Each person’s weight is required to provide to the helicopter company for their manifest. Total weight per helicopter and its capacity is calculated on per person weight, their bag and equipment - average is 100kg per person per craft.
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 60 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 60 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 60 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 60 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The walks take place in very special wilderness settings. The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a walk with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the walk has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any walk up to 60 days prior to departure if a minimum of 4 walkers are unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the walk or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
