What To Expect

What‘s Included

Reviews

• Doubtful Sound Cruise

  Bindy,,Jan 25, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  Very expensive & majority of time spent on a bus or 1st ferry . Virtually no wildlife or waterfalls scenery more of the same . Disappointing

• Loved It!

  Will and Patric... K,,Jan 24, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  We had a really beautiful sunny day and wonderful experience going to Doubtful Sound. It’s worth going further to have fewer people and boats. We felt like we had the sound to ourselves.

  

  

  

• Expensive and Repetitive

  George G,,Jan 23, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  2.00

  Quite an expensive trip due to all the travelling involved. From Te Anau, 20 minutes by bus to Manapouri, then 45 minutes by boat to West Arm, then 60 minutes by coach to Deep Cove, then a 2 and a half hour cruise by boat which travels down Doubtful Sound and returns a similar way to Deep Cove. Then you have the return journeys. A good trip for those wanting to see scenery and some seals. The best part was when they stopped the boats engines to listen to the silence. A long day with not a lot of variation. Don't expect to see an abundance of wildlife. Mainly scenery, which is closely repeated on the return journeys.

• Viator gave me the wrong start time

  Dan G,,Jan 22, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  1.00

  Viator email and voucher told me my tour was at 7:15. When I arrived at RealNZ, they said the actual time had been 6:15 and i had missed it. RealNZ was able book me on a tour two hours later than the one i had booked. You may not be so lucky if it happens to you.

• Lively doubtful sound tour

  Jessica W,,Jan 21, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Fantastic tour of Doubtful Sound! Incredible experience. Definitely get on the outside deck if you can!

• Getting to Doubtful Sound is quite an ordeal

  Jacqueline B,,Jan 17, 2026

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  4.00

  Overall, enjoyable day. The Doubtful Sound cruise was certainly worth the effort. I would not book through Trip Advisor again. We arrived 15 minutes early to the Te Anau departure point, as instructed. The woman at the counter was irritated and told us she had “been trying to call us”. We therefore boarded the bus immediately, concerned that we might have been holding people up. We then waited on the bus for 25 minutes. It departed when another couple (who actually were late) finally arrived. Every seat on the large bus was filled. The air conditioning was freezing. We were pleasantly surprised when the bus driver told us there is a cafe at the boat terminal, where we can buy coffee. My husband lined up for 15 minutes or so, to be told he could not order coffee when he finally got to the front of the queue. The boat cruise across the lake was very pleasant, and the boat wasn’t at all crowded. There was space for my son to play, and for everyone to spread out and be comfortable. The 45 minute bus ride at the other end was unnecessarily long because we kept stopping for “photo opportunities”. At each stop, 3 bus loads of people got off, queued up to take a generic snap of the view, then quickly got out of the way for everyone else to take an equally generic photo. It felt even longer because the bus driver kept telling unfunny jokes the whole way. The actual Doubtful Sound Cruise was amazing and worth every bit of the discomfort and irritation to get there. 10/10, would do again despite it all. The scenery! The dolphins! The informative, entertaining commentary! Loved it. Regarding the booking process: The confirmation email from Trip Advisor didn’t

• Nice, but no exceptonal

  gerard b,,Jan 14, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  3.00

  The expercience was oke, but not extraoridinary. People see, you must see. I say nice, but if not, no problem.

• Have [plenty of wet...

  Phillippa S,,Jan 12, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  Have [plenty of wet weather clothing. Very informative information given at various points. Lovely snacks on board

• Great tour whatever the weather.

  jeff c,,Jan 8, 2026

  - Review from Viator

  5.00

  This is a full day tour. Bus to mannapouri jetty 30 min-Boat across mannapouri lake 45 min-Bus to doubtful sound jetty 30 min-Boat on doubtful sound 2.5 hours approx, then return. There is toilet & cafe facilities at mannapouri jetty, toilets on both boats & cafe facilities on doubtful sound boat. Doubtful sound cruise commentary is in English & Abigail did a fantastic job sharing her knowledge. Snacks can be purchased at mannapouri cafe & on doubtful sound boat. Bus drivers & both boat crews do a very professional job, making you feel safe & secure with efficiency & humour. Go prepared with waterproofs & suncream.

  

  

  

  

  

  

• Excellent day trip to Doubtful Sound

  Petra H,,Dec 29, 2025

  - Review from Tripadvisor

  5.00

  RealNZ is a fantastic company. Very professional and with a family business vibe. We took a trip to Doubtful Sound from Queenstown and had a fabulous driver Ula. Then a trip across Lake Manipuri, another bus drive with Michelle, who did really great commentary and then finally the cruise along Doubtful Sound, which was peaceful and awe-inspiring

• Load more reviews