How To Get To Doubtful Sound From Queenstown or Te Anau
Doubtful Sound is one of the most breathtaking natural spectacles in New Zealand, and that’s saying something! And while it is one of the most popular destinations on the South Island, it isn’t necessarily the easiest to get to. Located on the western coast of Fiordland National Park, a protected region in New Zealand, Doubtful Sound can only be accessed by a day trip (unless you have a special permit to hike there). But worry not! We’re here to answer all of your questions about how to get to Doubtful Sound from Queenstown, Te Anau, or Manapouri below.
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All cruises for Doubtful Sound depart from a very small town called Manapouri, which is located near Fiordland in the southwest of the South Island. With a local population of less than ~ 400 people, Manapouri is quite remote.
While you can book a stay directly in Manapouri itself, due to its size it is more common to visit Doubtful Sound from either Queenstown or Te Anau.
Tip: If you have access to your own car while visiting New Zealand, we’d recommend driving down to Te Anau for a few nights to serve as your base while visiting the Milford and Doubtful Sounds. If you do not have a car, it is likely easier to just stay in Queenstown and arrange a tour to Doubtful Sound from there to take of transportation, etc.
From Te Anau
From Queenstown
Doubtful Sound From Queenstown
To get to Doubtful Sound from Queenstown, you’ll actually need to make your way to the town of Manapouri. This drive from Queenstown takes about two hours by car or bus, following state highways 6, 97, then 94.
The town of Manapouri will be as far as you can go to Doubtful Sound on your own without special permits for Fiordland National Park, as the next leg of the journey involves making your way across Lake Manapouri by water (not accessible by road). For this reason, we recommend booking a tour to get to Doubtful Sound – as you will need to hire a service once you get to Manapouri either way.
Once across the lake, a tour bus will meet you on the other side of the water to take you another hour or so by road through Wilmot Pass. This drive is super scenic, and will drop you at the departure docks for day cruises through Doubtful Sound.
In total, it takes about four hours to get to Doubtful Sound from Queenstown in one direction. The breakdown of the journey is a two hour drive from Queenstown to Manapouri, an hour boat ride across Lake Manapouri, then an hour’s drive through Wilmot Pass.
Keeping in mind that this four hour trip will only get you to the cruise’s starting point, be sure to plan for a long day & bring snacks!
Given how many different legs to the journey there are between Queenstown and Doubtful Sound, the most popular method of getting to the fiord tends to be booking a tour. Not only is it less of a hassle to navigate, you can also catch a little extra sleep on the early day trip on the tour bus, and learn about New Zealand from your guide along the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you do Doubtful Sound in a day from Queenstown? While it is a long day to go the four hours to Doubtful Sound, enjoy the cruise through the fiord, then journey four hours back to Queenstown – yes, the trip to Doubtful Sound can be done in a day. Given it’s relative complexity & duration, it is easiest to participate in a group tour to Doubtful Sound if trying to leave from Queenstown.
- Is it safe to drive to Doubtful Sound? Yes, the drive from Queenstown to Manapouri is frequented daily and well established. In general, New Zealand’s main roads are driveable and easy to follow. Keep in mind that the general public is not typically able to drive directly to Doubtful Sound, but instead can make their way to Manapouri (where they will need to board a ferry to cross the lake).
Doubtful Sound From Te Anau
The journey to Doubtful Sound from Te Anau is very similar to the trip from Queenstown, except it is a much shorter drive! To get to Manapouri from Te Anau it is only a 17 minute drive down the coast, as they are neighboring towns.
From Manapouri, you will need to take an hour boat ride across Lake Manapouri and an hour bus ride across Wilmot Pass. In total, the journey from Te Anau to Doubtful Sound takes 2.5 hours each way.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can you drive from Te Anau to Doubtful Sound? No, while you can easily drive from Te Anau to Manapouri, you cannot drive directly to Doubtful Sound since it is in Fiordland National Park. (This is not a limitation of staying in Te Anau, rather just you cannot drive to Doubtful Sound’s entrance from anywhere.)
- Can you leave your car in Te Anau Downs? Yes, Te Anau is a fully equipped town with tons of places to stay, park, and explore. If needed, you can leave your car in Te Anau while going on your day cruise.
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About the Author: Hi, I’m Jill! I am a biomedical & mechanical engineer who loves traveling during my free time. My hope is to help make it easier for others to plan their dream trips by providing firsthand experience from the places I’ve been! Read More.
