All the Fiords: The Ultimate Fiordland Experience

Today is dedicated to exploring Preservation Inlet, which is rich in history. Delve into the gold mining and forestry attempts that once made this now quiet waterway a bustling hub of activity. The area’s natural bounty saw more than 2,500 gold miners and saw millers flock to the region in the late 1890s. This early settler history at mining towns Cromarty and Te Oneroa, now reclaimed by nature, can still be observed, none more spectacularly than at the failed Tarawera Mine and Smelter, where the ruins of the smelter’s historic three-story chimney were restored in 2015.

Among the activity, Preservation Inlet can also lay claim to having New Zealand’s first whaling station at Cuttle Cove and the location of one of the country’s most remote lighthouses at Puysegur Point, which began operation in 1879, perched some 40 feet above the South Island’s southwestern-most point. Here a great coastal walk, formerly a telegraph track built to connect the lighthouse, leads to the old landing shed at Otago Retreat.

The entrance to Chalky Inlet is guarded by the impressive limestone cliffs of Chalky Island, the inspiration behind Captain Cook’s naming of the fiord. One of several important predator-free islands in the inlet, including Great Island and Passage Islands, Chalky Island is home to some of New Zealand’s most critically endangered bird species including the Little Spotted Kiwi and Kākāpō, and endemic Te Kakahu Skink, discovered in 2002. The protected harbors at North and South Port offer much to explore as the centers of human history in the inlet. North Port is the final resting place of the rusting hulk of purposely grounded GSS Stella, while South Port reveals an industrial past with the remnants of once prolific sawmilling activity. Sailing to the head of the fiord, the surrounding mountains envelop you with their majesty.

Your expedition cruise through Dusky Sound visits some of the most significant historical and conservation sites in New Zealand, as well as some of the most majestic scenery as you sail deep into the heart of Fiordland. Predator-free Anchor Island homes half of the world’s population of Kākāpō and Little Spotted Kiwi and is also the location of historic Luncheon Cove and several New Zealand firsts including New Zealand’s first sealing gang, the building of New Zealand’s first European homestead and first European-designed ship, the 52-foot (16m) Providence built here and launched in 1795. On nearby Pigeon Island, learn the history of Richard Henry and his pioneering live transfer of birds to island refuges–an international first in wildlife conservation. While his attempts were unsuccessful due to stoats swimming over to the island, it is heartening to learn the island is now pest-free and a sanctuary for native birdlife, with Henry’s vision fulfilled.

A navigation through Acheron Passage, which separates Resolution Island from the mainland, is sure to be one of the highlights of your time in Fiordland. This iconic scenic waterway is an area where bottlenose dolphins are often spotted. Explorations here may include venturing into Wet Jacket Arm where the crew of Cook’s HMS Resolution ended up with wet jackets during their survey work. It is also the sight where moose were released (and last seen) in New Zealand. The extensive sheltered waters of scenic Breaksea Sound, initially scouted for sheep farming suitability by early setters in the 1850s, is also the location of Breaksea Island, an iconic site in New Zealand conservation history as one of the first large islands declared rat-free in 1988.

Experience some of the most spectacular scenery in all of Fiordland–Doubtful Sound, or the sound of silence as it’s also known. Spanning some staggering 25 miles (40km) and holding the title as New Zealand’s deepest fiord, Doubtful Sound—with its cloud-scraping wilderness-cloaked mountains, sheer stone cliffs, waterfalls, inlets, quiet coves and wildlife—presents nature on a scale so grand it’s off the chart. Photographic opportunities abound and your time spent here could include ship cruising Blanket Bay, the Shelter Islands, Pandora River, Deas Cove and Open Bay.

One of the southern-most of the northern fiords, Charles Sound branches into Emelius and Gold Arms at its head. Gold Arm is home to one of the most extensive marine reserves in the inner fiords (Kahukura Marine Reserve), while other sections are included in the Taumoana Marine Reserve. Your captain and expedition leader will find a suitably sheltered anchorage where activities could include kayaking or joining your expedition guides in a coastal exploration by Zodiac. Another rarely explored fiord, Caswell Sound is home to the last physical remains of the 1949 New Zealand–American Fiordland scientific expedition, a primitive hut standing on the banks of the Stillwater River used while studying the Wapiti/elk herd introduced earlier in the century. Tiny Styles Island guards the fiord’s entrance to the Tasman Sea, while walks include a nature-filled stroll along Stillwater River towards Lake Marchant. Fishing here is good for those interested in securing tonight’s dinner.

Today, plan to navigate to the largest of the Northern Fiords, George Sound. Stretching 16 scenic miles (26km), George Sound is also the longest of the Northern Fiords. With several arms branching from the fiord, you have multiple options for exploration. However, the spectacular sight of Alice Falls flanked by dense forest and tumbling over boulders as it thunders out of Lake Alice at the head of the fiord is always a strong draw. It was at the head of George Sound that Wapiti/elk were introduced to New Zealand in 1905, part of the herd being gifted by US President Theodore Roosevelt.

Enter the magnificent Milford Sound this afternoon and enjoy a leisurely final cruise of this unforgettable location. Enjoy your final night aboard in the protected waters beneath the towering peaks of Milford Sound, and revel in the sensational scenery as you celebrate this unforgettable adventure with a farewell dinner.

After a final breakfast and farewells, head ashore for a transfer to Te Anau, via the historic Homer Tunnel and the lowland beech forests and golden tussocks of scenic Eglinton Valley.