Doubtful Sound Kayak Day Tour

Take the opportunity to lose yourself in nature in one of the most spectacular places on earth!
Your adventure departs from Te Anau or Manapōuri, with departures daily from September to May. It takes you across the beautiful Lake Manapōuri by boat, over Wilmot Pass by bus, and into Deep Cove at the head of Doubtful Sound.
Kayakers can explore secluded coves and discover the hidden gems of Doubtful Sound that can only be accessed by small boat. As you venture further into this untouched paradise, you'll be struck by the sheer scale of the fiord, with towering cliffs that seem to touch the sky.

About Doubtful Sound Kayak

Kayaking in Doubtful Sound/Patea is an awe-inspiring and immersive experience that allows you to connect with the pristine natural beauty of this remote fiord. Doubtful Sound is a place of sheer natural wonder, characterized by towering, lush rainforest-clad cliffs that plunge dramatically into the dark waters below.

Whether you're an experienced kayaker or a novice, Doubtful Sound offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the majesty of New Zealand's wilderness from a unique and intimate perspective that will leave you with memories to cherish forever.

We are a local, family-owned company showing Doubtful Sound to just ten kayakers per adventure. This ensures each of our guests can enjoy a personalized tour, and the area can be experienced as it should - without the crowds.

Tour Information

Join us in Te Anau to meet fellow kayakers and collect your kayaking gear. We then travel by mini-coach to Lake Manapōuri to board our first boat across Lake Manapōuri to West Arm.

Arriving at West Arm, we change into kayaking attire and travel by bus over the Wilmot Pass into Deep Cove.

Upon arrival at Deep Cove, you notice the abundance of water and its effect on the landscape. Lush rainforest, towering peaks, and dark brooding waters are waiting for you to explore.

An experience like no other, our Kayak day tour is designed to maximise the time spent exploring the waters of Doubtful Sound. Your Kayak Adventure is the most extended kayaking day tour of Doubtful Sound. During your 3.5-hour paddle, you will journey up to 15km following Hall Arm, 'The Sound of Silence'.

Your return to Deep Cove is via Water Taxi Cruise, so you aren’t backtracking with your kayaking and allows you to cover more distance.

Key Points

Doubtful Sound Kayak offers a personalised kayaking experience, with a maximum of just 10 passengers on each tour.

The longest kayaking day tour of Doubtful Sound (3.5 hours paddling, up to 15 km)
Doubtful Sound Kayak travels into Hall Arm, the most spectacular Fiord in Doubtful Sound, which is famously referred to as “The Sound of Silence”
We kayak out into Doubtful Sound and return by water taxi, so you explore more
Wildlife, including dolphins, penguins, seals, and sea birds that make Doubtful Sound their home
Your kayaking guide is with you at all times
We cater for small numbers with a maximum of 10 kayakers in double kayaks
Courtesy coach from our office in Te Anau, or we can meet you in Manapōuri
Cruise on stunning Lake Manapōuri and courtesy coach over the spectacular Wilmot Alpine Pass
We are a small local family-owned company.