Historic Fiordland Charter

Rudyard Kipling visited Milford Sound in the 1890s and described it as ‘the eighth wonder of the world’. We wonder how he would have rated Fiordland if he experienced the rest of it?

And the earlier explorers such as the great Capt. Cook who spent 32 days exploring and charting Dusky Sound through to Breaksea; or Capt. John Grono who set up the first export industry in New Zealand gathering fur seal skins and the oil rendered from their blubber. He was originally based at the entrance to Doubtful Sound in what is now called Grono Bay at the foot of Mount Grono. He discovered and named Milford Haven (now Milford Sound) after his hometown in Wales when searching the more northern areas for seals.

And then there was gold, silver and copper mining all taking part in the southern fjords during New Zealand’s earliest European history; along with timber milling seal and whale hunting and of course the fishing industry has been there since the beginning.

With precipitous mountains rising from the sea floor to the peaks thousands of meters above; some in near vertical cliff form leaves one wondering how this vegetation can hang on to these very steep rock faces.

And the glacially created valleys go into the deep, sometimes hundreds of meters, and their fingers invade into the landmass for many kilometers. These long narrow waterways were created over millions of years and over many ice-ages and are still predominantly untouched by man.

The scenery and wildlife will leave you in awe and the relative isolation gives you the feeling of being completely away from the hustle and bustle of modern day living. (no cell phones or internet here)

A Fiordland Expeditions Multi-night live-aboard cruise will take you to the further reaches of Fiordland, places most visitors never get to see; only the discerning travelers get to explore these inner reaches of this amazing World Heritage area.

Based from Doubtful Sound our Fiordland Expeditions Multi-night cruises can travel to the south or north, exploring as few or as many as you have the time to spend.

Your Fiordland Expeditions multi-night cruise can include fishing, diving, kayaking and visiting the many historic sites of the early explorers.

So grab a group of friends and charter the Tutoko II for yourselves for one of our Multi-night Live-aboard excursions through the fjords of Fiordland. We’re sure you will go home with memories that last a lifetime.

All our cruises are fully catered (except alcohol) and provide all bedding, linen and towels and most equipment for activities.