Chartering a boat for an extended expedition.

With over 20 years experience exploring Fiordland the team at Fiordland Expeditions are confident we can tailor a special cruise that meets your own specific needs.

Spend some time onboard the TUTOKO or TUTOKO II exploring the far reaches of Fiordland. Not many endeavor to go into these isolated areas but those who do are amazed by what they find.

The history in our fjords go back beyond the days of Cook and encompass some of New Zealand’s earliest history. The Lost Tribe Ngati Mamoe warred with the Otakou tribe and fled to Fiordland; they were subsequently found and defeated. They dispersed and became known as the Lost Tribe.

Capt. Cook spent 32 days recovering from their expedition into the sub Antarctic looking for the great southern continent. The belief at the time was there must be an equal landmass to Europe in order for the world to spin in equilibrium. Whilst in Fiordland he explored Dusky Bay and the inner fjords; naming places and charting as he went. He was the first to use the Harrisons chronometer to fix NZ’s position on world maps and in that instant New Zealand became the most accurately positioned landmass in history. He also brewed the first beer in New Zealand while here.

Cromarty (in Preservation Inlet) was a busy township with over two and a half thousand people in the early 1800’s with industries in whaling and sealing, timber milling, gold, silver and copper mining.

So the history in the Fiordland area is very rich. The first house built in NZ, the first ship built in NZ and the first shipwreck; also in the southern fjords.

On top of these the fishing industry bloomed as it does today currently with possibly NZ’s most productive lobster (koura) grounds. And then there’s the much sought after ‘blue cod’ (pākiriri), a delicacy rivaled only by the snapper of the north.

Then there’s the diving; Jacques Cousteau listed it in his top 10 and we’ve had many international visitors backing that claim. With crystal clear waters exposing some of the most prehistoric marine life forms; brachiopods, black & red corals, sea pens, and of course an abundance of fresh koura for the table. This is a divers paradise and it is right at our back door!

Combine all these with the amazing scenery and your multi-day Cruise is guaranteed to be full of excitement and relaxation with some of the freshest seafood providing gastronomic delights throughout the cruise. Add that to the comradery of fellow explorers and the experience will be one to remember for years to come.