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Cruising Fiordland National Park


Deiorhys
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When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first

and then cruise down the coast.

 

29fiordland_zpsc6a1044a.jpg

 

Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger

on board giving a commentary ,

and this is the usual prescribed route

the cruise ships are permitted to follow .

 

Milford Sound.

You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way.

Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound,

sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound.

More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound.

You enter and exit via Dusky Sound.

 

If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia

the cruise is done in reverse order.

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We have been in there a few times and on each occasion, it has been different.

 

Generally, it will be cold and most often windy so rug up when outside. If it has been raining recently, there will be lots of waterfalls. Seals and the occasional dolphin can be found in there as well.

 

Large snow capped peaks as well line the sound.

 

The entry into Milford sound is quite spectacular so make sure you are out on deck for that.

 

If it is too windy, the captain may abort going in. It hasn't happened to us but it does happen.

 

To me, Milford sound is one of those special places in the world...breathtaking.

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  • 2 weeks later...
When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first

and then cruise down the coast.

 

29fiordland_zpsc6a1044a.jpg

 

Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger

on board giving a commentary ,

and this is the usual prescribed route

the cruise ships are permitted to follow .

 

Milford Sound.

You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way.

Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound,

sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound.

More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound.

You enter and exit via Dusky Sound.

 

If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia

the cruise is done in reverse order.

 

That's great info, thanks!

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When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first

and then cruise down the coast.

 

29fiordland_zpsc6a1044a.jpg

 

Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger

on board giving a commentary ,

and this is the usual prescribed route

the cruise ships are permitted to follow .

 

Milford Sound.

You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way.

Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound,

sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound.

More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound.

You enter and exit via Dusky Sound.

 

If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia

the cruise is done in reverse order.

 

Not necessarily, we will be cruising Australia to NZ via Radiance and the order is completely opposite, we will be calling 8 ports of call first starting with Bay of Islands and will do the Fjords last. We will enter Dusky Sound first, then do Doubtful, and Milford last before heading back to Sydney.

 

Will be doing this Feb so I hope the weather will cooperate.

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Not necessarily, we will be cruising Australia to NZ via Radiance and the order is completely opposite, we will be calling 8 ports of call first starting with Bay of Islands and will do the Fjords last. We will enter Dusky Sound first, then do Doubtful, and Milford last before heading back to Sydney.

 

Will be doing this Feb so I hope the weather will cooperate.

 

 

That is correct, you will do it as you sail from NZ back to Australia

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When cruising from Australia to NZ , you enter Milford Sound first

and then cruise down the coast.

 

29fiordland_zpsc6a1044a.jpg

 

Being a National Park , you usually have a Park Ranger

on board giving a commentary ,

and this is the usual prescribed route

the cruise ships are permitted to follow .

 

Milford Sound.

You sail into the sound , turn around and come back out the same way.

Sail down the coast to Thompson Sound,

sail through and exit via Doubtful Sound.

More coastal cruising to Breaksea Sound.

You enter and exit via Dusky Sound.

 

If you are doing the cruise from NZ to Australia

the cruise is done in reverse order.

 

Thanks for the map and info.

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  • 1 month later...

we were glad that we had our warm jackets and scarves with us when we were out on deck on this day at the fiordland.

we were so fortunate to have a beautiful sunny day when we were in this area. we even saw a pod of dolphins!

a truly magical place.

the highlight of our trip around NZ.

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Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound are the most beautiful places I have ever been.

 

I don't know if this is even offered but... if there is a private tour offered where you will be taken by coach and then go in by boat, I would jump on it.

 

http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/en/experiences/cruises/

 

When Jim and I did our DIY tour of New Zealand we went to both Milford Sound and Doubtful Sound. Absolutely breathtaking.

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It's surprising how many Kiwis have not been to this special part of our country.

It is so easy to take things for granted on your back door. We have travelled a lot in the USA and have visited the majority of National Parks. Speaking to fellow cruisers from the States they have told us that we have seen more of their country than they have.

NZ had a slogan in the 1980's, I think it was.......A word of advice to all New Zealanders "don't leave town till you've seen the country."

We'll be in Milford on the Dawn Princess in about 10 days

 

Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone!:)

 

Paul

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  • 3 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

It is a beautiful place and visiting the Fjordlands in a cruise ship was really comfortable!

 

View of Milford Sounds from our aft balcony as the Voyager of the Seas was leaving the Sounds.

[YOUTUBE]hfnzUcMudfg[/YOUTUBE]

 

Another cruise ship sailing past, as we were in one of the Sounds.

[YOUTUBE]tn7K-wvhqtY[/YOUTUBE]

 

You can find many more pictures on my blog post here.

http://guitar123foodandtravel.blogspot.sg/2013/09/voyager-of-seas-new-zealand-sounds-part.html

 

I would advise you to wake up early to watch the approach into Milford Sound (assuming your ship is going into Milford first). Magical.

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  • 1 year later...

If it's a one-way trip from Sydney to Auckland you will probably go through Fiordland first then up the east coast of Australia and, in that case, the best side would be port.

 

If it's a Sydney return cruise it will depend on the order of ports. If you go to the North Island first (Auckland etc) and Fiordland last then choose the starboard side, otherwise choose the port side.

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I know this is an old thread but we are cruising from Sydney to Auckland and trying to decide which side of the ship to book, port or starboard since we will have a balcony. Any insight? It looks like port maybe best?

 

Probably port but i would be up on deck or somewhere i can get a 180 deg view so both sides of the passage can be seen.

You will travel a short distance at sea close to the coast between fiords/bays.

 

You will mostly cruise at night between ports up the eastern NZ coast.

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Probably port but i would be up on deck or somewhere i can get a 180 deg view so both sides of the passage can be seen.

You will travel a short distance at sea close to the coast between fiords/bays.

 

You will mostly cruise at night between ports up the eastern NZ coast.

 

Yes, up on deck is the best for Fiordland, especially in Milford Sound where you will most probably see seals basking on a rock on the port side going into the sound, and there is a resident pod of dophins there so a good chance of seeing them as well.

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