Doubtful Sound Overnight Cruise, Queenstown, NZ – Just back from the spectacular Doubtful Sound. It wasn’t a hop off activity I had considered, but my Stray driver recommended it as a top must do in the South Island. So I decided to hop off in Te Anau to do the overnight cruise. The lovely Mozzie booked me in, with a whopping Stray discount I might add, and I was all set.
In a place that gets over 7 metres of rain a year, we were very lucky to have a clear and sunny two days for our cruise. And I have to say, this has to be the best value trip in NZ! For the price of a skydive, I went got to see the quieter Doubtful Sound, had an hour sea kayak tour, went swimming in the fjord, saw hundreds of dolphins playing next to our boat, spotted sea lions, albatross and the little blue penguins. Throw in a nights accommodation in your better than average dorm and a delicious all you can eat buffet dinner and breakfast and warm muffin snacks. My travel companion Swedish David had his eyes bulging out several times!
But what made it extra special, were the people I travelled with. Unbeknownst to me, a couple of Stray travellers from a previous bus had also booked the trip. We ran into each other at the boat terminal. Like old whanua (family) we spent the whole time catching up on what adventures we’d had since our last encounter and making new ones together. That’s what I love about Stray. You may arrive in an unknown place on your own, but it’s never long before you see a familiar face again.
