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Southern Fiordland Cruise

Southern Fiordland Cruise

SOUIE
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Description

These are incredible voyages through the New Zealand Fiordland National Park. With like-minded travellers, we share a world class scenery seldom visited that will often take your breath away. All the while enjoying fine gourmet dinners under the stars, the discovery of stunning beauty while paddling a kayak on the fiords, wander unexplored foreshores or simply relax on deck enjoying cocktails as you take in these outstanding world heritage site surroundings inside Fiordland.

Trip Name
Southern Fiordland Cruise
Days
10
Overview
Vessel Type: Yacht Length: 53.5 metres Passenger Capacity: 32 Built: 2020/2021 At Island Escape Cruises we are passionate about preserving the beautiful water in which we are travelling. We have built a yacht which goes above and beyond the future global standards for emission, but we want to go further. The elimination of single use plastic is our goal. Onboard each guest receives a reusable water bottle which can be refilled around the yacht and taken with you as a souvenir. We have installed an advanced wastewater treatment system onboard enabling us to have zero impact in sensitive areas. Our new yacht complies with SOLAS and is fitted with state-of-the-art stabilisers, fuel-efficient diesel-electric propulsion, and catalytic invertors that reduce NOX emissions to air up to 90%. With this innovative technology and our 15 years of experience, Island Escape will set a new standard, making her one of safest, most environmentally friendly and comfortable yachts of her class. To further reduce energy consumption, we have installed a waste heat recovery system that uses waste heat from the engines to make hot water for your showers and the galley.  We want to leave any destinations we visit in the same or even better condition than we found it to make sure future generations will have the chance to experience it as we did. Therefore, we have fitted our yacht with a dynamic positioning system, which allows us to be stationary in areas where the use of anchors would damage the seabed. The Art Of Dining Relaxation, exceptional food and carefully selected wines are an essential part of your vacation. Fresh sea air not only clears your mind, it also makes you hungry. Our chefs are dedicated, ensuring that every meal is magnificent. Local seafood, maybe even some that you caught yourself, is featured daily. You´ll enjoy locally sustainable specialities and even an opportunity for the chefs to prepare some of your own fresh catch. All Inclusive We strive to give you a relaxing lifelong memorable experience on-board our yacht. All food, drinks, activities, unlimited Wi-Fi and services are included in your fare. Our Suites With only 32 guests on-board our yacht is spacious, yet intimate enough to give you a truly exclusive private yacht atmosphere. All seventeen suites are designed by Tillberg Design of Sweden and come with ocean views. Our premium Owners suite and six Horizon suites are located on the upper deck and have floor to ceiling panoramic doors to your balcony. The spacious Ocean Suites are available in king, twin or single configurations.

Itinerary



Day 1 - Day 1 Queenstown
Arrival in Queenstown is always spectacular, especially by air. Your comfortable room and a warm welcome awaits at the Heritage Hotel. We recommend you plan in enough time to explore this world-class alpine destination and enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants beside the lake. It’s a beautiful location, and you’ll find numerous options to tempt you.
Day 2 - Day 2 Doubtful Sound
Soon after breakfast, we’ll have you out in the big scenery on a private coach trip to Lake Te Anau. You’ll have time to explore Te Anau township before boarding the helicopters for a 20-minute scenic flight to the ship. The helicopter flight is an experience-of-a-lifetime, a chance to take in the panoramic grandeur of Fiordland, before descending into the wild solitude of Doubtful Sound – and the helipad on Island Escape. Once bags have been dropped bags in your cabin, we will ask you to gather on deck so our crew can acquaint you with the ship layout and run through the safety systems. Your cruise begins – we make-way out towards the Tasman Sea along Doubtful Sound then down the coast to anchor for the evening in Dagg Sound. Chef has prepared a welcome dinner that is served alfresco.
Day 3 - Day 3 Pickersgill Harbour
Our journey start to delve into the early history and exploration of Fiordland. We depart Dagg Sound after breakfast heading south. Whales frequent the waters near the fiord entrance and a great place to spot them is from the bridge deck. As we enjoy lunch in Dusky Sounds, the Captain will give an orientationbe of the history of the area and on the life of Captain James Cook and his visits to this part of New Zealand. After lunch we head ashore in Pickersgill to explore the area Captain Cook beached his ship Resolution here in 1773 to repair her hull. Nearby is Astronomers Point, the site of a temporary observatory set up during Cook’s stay. Back onboard, feel free to relax and take in the view from the jacuzzi on Island Escape‘s top deck. On clear evenings this is the perfect place for some stargazing into a pure dark sky.
Day 4 - Day 4 Dusky Sound
Wake to the smells of a hearty breakfast, following which, we head inland to the head of Dusky Sound and Supper Cove. This cove is the western trailhead for one of New Zealand’s greatest wilderness hikes – the Dusky Track. Further we visit Cascade Cove, Cook Channel, Fanny Bay and Nine Fathom Passage. The Captain continue his talk over lunch where you will be acquainted with the long-running Moose story. In the afternoon we take the Zodiac´s ashore to visit the Seaforth Hut and perhaps explore the Seaforth River by Zodiac or on foot.
Day 5 - Day 5 Wet Jacket Arm
After breakfast we proceed to peaceful Sportsman’s Cove for morning tea and more history from the Captain. The focus remains on Cook and his journeys of exploration – and the ongoing Fiordland Moose story. Lunch served underway, and with a renewed taste for adventure, we take the Acheron Passage north and head up Wet Jacket Arm to Herrick Creek. There have been Moose sightings reported in this area – have your cameras ready. We anchor off Oke Island for the night.
Day 6 - Day 6 Breaksea Sound
We follow the inland Acheron Passage heading for Disappointment Cove at the mouth of Breaksea Sound. Look out for seals close to shore and dolphins approaching the ship. Today’s lunchtime talk focuses on conservation – the history and efforts to mitigate the impact of introduced fauna to Fiordland. We stop at Sunday Cove for afternoon tea and an introduction to the local venison industry. We stay overnight further up Breaksea Sound in Third Cove, below Mount Kellard at the mouth of Vancouver Arm.
Day 7 - Day 7 Vancouver Sound
We explore Vancouver and Broughton Arms today. For those who like to fish, the one of the Officers is available for fishing trips throughout the day, hopefully, to restock our dinner supplies with fresh crayfish and blue cod. Non-fishers can go ashore to explore the intertidal shoreline and bush at a SW corner of Broughton Arm. Fresh fish for dinner is virtually guaranteed.
Day 8 - Day 8 Dagg Sound
We sail out into the Tasman Sea for the short northbound passage to Dagg Sound. Captain William Dagg, an early sealer, named this amazing fiord. As we cruise deeper into the interior, we anchor where Dagg is almost connected with Doubtful Sound, via Narrow Neck. This evening, we celebrate your Fiordland adventure with a fabulous farewell dinner hosted by the captain and crew in the heart of Fiordland. We can almost guarantee there are no other human beings within 20 kilometres so we can make some party noise.
Day 9 - Day 9 Queenstown
We return to Doubtful Sound, having breakfast underway, to rendezvous with the helicopters to take you back to Te Anau. Enjoy another spectacular airborne transfer with views of Mount Irene and Mount Lyall. You will be back at the Heritage Hotel by mid-afternoon, with time to explore Queenstown a little more. You are free to try eating at a local vineyard or perhaps taking the historic TSS Earnslaw across the lake to Walter Peak sheep station for dinner and a glimpse of rural life in the high country.
Day 10 - Day 10 Queenstown
Your itinerary concludes after breakfast. We wish you safe travels, taking home with you memories of adventure, great food, good company and vast unspoilt New Zealand.
Day 11 - Please Note:
Itineraries are subject to change.

Trip Dates

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Inclusions

    • We invite you to explore New Zealand wonderland with us – we know this better than most – this is our home. With 15,000 kilometres of fabulous coastline and more than 25 marine reserves, ocean scented scenery is a large part of the New Zealand way of life. You will discover the captivating local culture, drop into museums and galleries so be prepared to fall in love with this amazingly beautiful country.
    • The helicopter flight is an experience-of-a-lifetime, a chance to take in the panoramic grandeur of Fiordland.

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