Doubtful Sound / Patea is a fiord in Fiordland, in the far south west of New Zealand. It is located in the same region as the smaller but more famous and accessible Milford Sound / Piopiotahi. It took second place after Milford Sound as New Zealand’s most famous tourism destination.

Thereof How long is the Doubtful Sound cruise? Discover ‘the sound of silence’ and explore the dramatic scenery on a three-hour cruise.

How was Doubtful Sound formed? Like Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound is actually a fiord; formed by glacial activity (a sound is a river river valley that has been flooded by the sea, whilst a fiord is a glacial valley). … At 421 metres deep, Doubtful Sound is the deepest of all the fiords.

Similarly, Can you hike to Doubtful Sound?

Hiking. Immerse yourself in the luscious forest with a short day hike. There are four walking tracks that you can take in Doubtful Sound, all leaving from Deep Cove.

Where does Doubtful Sound cruise leave from?

Day cruises and overnight cruises to Patea / Doubtful Sound depart from Manapouri, just a 20-minute drive from Te Anau. Prepare to be blown away by lush rainforest, immense waterfalls and local populations of kekeno, the New Zealand Fur Seals and tawaki,the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin.

Can you drive Wilmot Pass? This means there is no road which you can drive yourself. So how do you get there? The first drive is to the Manapouri visitor centre, you then board a boat crossing Lake Manapouri to West Arm, then a bus ride over the Wilmot Pass down into Deep Cove. Deep Cove is the harbour where all boats depart and return.

How long is the Wilmot Pass?

The 21 km unsealed road was constructed between 1963 and 1965 to accommodate heavy equipment transporters moving equipment loads of up to 97 tonnes from ships off-loading at Doubtful Sound for the construction on the Manapouri Underground Powerstation.

Can you drive to Deep Cove? To get to Deep Cove, you must travel by boat across Lake Manapouri and then by vehicle by road over the Wilmot Pass.

How many days a year does it rain in Doubtful Sound?

Thanks to the amount of rain here the Fiordland area has amazing waterfalls and forest for you to enjoy. An average of about 7 metres of rain falls per year, over an average of about 200 rain-days per year.

Can you launch a boat in Milford Sound? Boat access

To access parts of Fiordland by sea, boat launching is available at Milford Sound, Doubtful Sound and on the southern coast including the port of Bluff near Invercargill.

How long is Wilmot Pass? The Wilmot Pass is a 671 m (2,201 ft) high pass on the main divide of New Zealand’s South Island. It connects Doubtful Sound, a deep indentation in the coast of Fiordland, to the valley of the West Arm of Lake Manapouri. The pass is named after E. H.

Wilmot Pass
Coordinates 45°30′30″S 167°11′33″E

How was Fiordland formed? Around 100 million years ago, the slow and steady work of the glaciers began to shape a new landscape. As the glaciers carved their way towards the sea, they gouged out the lakes and steep fiords Fiordland is now famous for.

What is at Manapouri?

Situated at the edge of Fiordland National Park, the lakeside town of Manapouri provides a base for journeys into the glacier-carved wilderness. Lake Manapouri is the second deepest lake in New Zealand and has a large hydro power station at the end of its west arm.

How do you get a dusky track?

Getting there

To start from the north end (West Arm on Lake Manapouri), the Dusky Track can be reached by a daily boat service on Lake Manapouri. To start from the south (Lake Hauroko), a scheduled boat service on Lake Hauroko leads to the start of the track at the head of the lake.

Is there a road to Doubtful Sound? With no road to the fiord, the experience of getting to Doubtful Sound is an adventure in itself. Patea / Doubtful Sound is only accessible to visitors by a tour excursion departing from Manapouri.

Where is the highest rainfall in NZ? The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest area of New Zealand, whereas the area to the east of the mountains, just over 100 km away, is the driest. Most areas of New Zealand have between 600 and 1600 mm of rainfall, spread throughout the year with a dry period during the summer.

What is the rainiest place in the world?

According to Guinness World Records, the place with the highest average annual rainfall is the village of Mawsynram in northeastern India, which receives nearly 12,000mm of rain per year (Cardiff, in comparison, receives just 1,150mm).

What is the wettest place in New Zealand? Milford Sound is the wettest inhabited place in New Zealand, and one of the wettest places in the world! The mean annual rainfall in Milford Sound is 6,813mm, and it rains there on average 182 days a year.

Who owns Manapouri power station?

Manapouri Power Station

Manapōuri Power Station
Construction began February 1964
Opening date September 1971
Construction cost NZ$135.5 million (original station) NZ$200 million (second tailrace tunnel) NZ$100 million (half-life refurbishment)
Owner(s) Meridian Energy

Can you fish in Doubtful Sound? Some Doubtful Sound deep sea fishing charters provide all the needed fishing tackle as well as sometimes offering to clean, fillet and bag your catch for you. Soak in the sheer isolation and majestic beauty of Doubtful Sound as you fish in the breath-taking isolation of Fiordland National Park.

Can I fish in Milford Sound?

The inky depths of Milford Sound are home to a wide variety of fish. Tarakihi and hapuka (also known as grouper) can be found year-round, while you may also find kingfish, tuna and broadbill – depending on your equipment.

Does anyone live in Fiordland? History. Fiordland has never had any significant permanent population. Māori knew the area well but only visited seasonally, for hunting, fishing and to collect the precious stone pounamu (New Zealand jade) from Anita Bay at the mouth of Milford Sound / Piopiotahi.

What is the climate of Fiordland?

Fiordland weather is highly changeable, so when you visit prepare for all conditions. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. … Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year. It can be sunny too though!

Can you live in Fiordland? Fiordland National Park is New Zealand’s oldest and largest national park, covering about 8,000 square miles. But within it is an enclave of a few dozen people living off the land and off the grid.

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