Kayaking & Paddling

Kayaking in Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound is one of the South Island's largest fiords, stretching 40 kilometres from Lake Manapouri out to the Tasman Sea, and kayaking is the only way to reach its quieter coves at water level. There's no road to the fiord itself, so every trip out here starts with a boat crossing and a coach ride before a paddle blade ever touches the water. Expect towering cliffs, waterfalls dropping straight into the sea, and a good chance of spotting dolphins, penguins or fur seals along the way.

Guided Doubtful Sound Kayak Tour from Te Anau
Fiordland Adventure runs the Guided Doubtful Sound Kayak Tour from Te Anau, a full day out that packs a lake cruise across Lake Manapouri, a scenic coach crossing of Wilmot Pass at 670 metres, and 3.5 hours of guided kayaking into a single itinerary. You paddle into coves below Commander Peak and Mount Danae, with waterfalls close enough to feel the spray. A wetsuit, life jacket, kayak, hot drinks and a picnic lunch stop are included, and the day wraps up with a water taxi back across the lake. Departures leave Te Anau Lakeview Holiday Park or Pearl Harbour in Manapouri around 6.30am and return by 5.30pm.

Getting to Doubtful Sound
Every kayak trip into Doubtful Sound follows the same route in: a cruise across Lake Manapouri, then a coach over Wilmot Pass, since there's no direct road to the fiord. Te Anau and Manapouri are the departure points for this page's kayak tour, with Manapouri sitting right on the lake where the crossing begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you get to Doubtful Sound to kayak?
There's no road into Doubtful Sound, so kayak tours depart from Te Anau or Manapouri and travel in by boat across Lake Manapouri, then by coach over Wilmot Pass, before reaching the water.
How long does a Doubtful Sound kayak tour take?
The Guided Doubtful Sound Kayak Tour from Te Anau runs as a full day out, around 11 hours door to door, with 3.5 hours of that spent kayaking on the fiord itself.
What's included on a guided Doubtful Sound kayak tour?
A wetsuit, life jacket, kayak, hot drinks and a picnic lunch stop are included, along with the lake cruise, coach transfer over Wilmot Pass and a water taxi back across Lake Manapouri at the end of the day.
When's the best time to kayak Doubtful Sound?
The Guided Doubtful Sound Kayak Tour from Te Anau runs Monday to Friday over the summer months, from November to April.