"DOUBTFUL SOUND" Lake Manapouri Travelogue by kiwi

Lake Manapouri Travel Guide: 6 reviews and 21 photos

Getting there.

Even when the car broke down and we were behind a tow wagon, the scenery was still exhilirating!

The untouched rocks bare their history with intriguing lines.

I know the photo is bad! but this is the chilled beer and wine supply arriving, seriously!

We drove from Queenstown and this is a view across Lake Wakatipu to Halfway Bay and the beautifully changing mountain colours.

The wake behind our taxi across Lake Manapouri.

New Zealand depends on hydro electricity and this power station is underground with only the lines on view. The altitude of the lake is considerably higher than sealevel so this factor is used to operate the huge turbines. There is a tunnel drilled from this lake down to Doubtful Sound for the water to travel, passing thru the turbines. In March 2001 another tunnel was 'broken thru' to increase the capability of the station. It had taken 2 or 3 years to bore.

Our private transport from the lake across Wilmot Pass to Doubtful Sound. This is one of the most expensive roads constructed in New Zealand. It was built as part of the hydro-electric project. Workers building the power station lived on a ship anchored in Doubtful Sound and had to travel over the hill to the construction site. Some equipment and supplies arrived via the sea because of the remote location.
This road does not join any others, so vehicles are brought in by boat. (And that doesn't happen very often). There are coaches here for the paying tourists.
The only difference is the different levels of seat comfort and our 4x4 had permanent airconditioning!
We also pray a lot more than those comfortable in their coach.

Crossing Wilmot Pass

Stopping at the top of the Wilmot Pass lets the Jeep cool off a bit and we get to view the glory of the Sound where we are heading. Imagine that a glacier once cut it's way thru here.
Here you look down on Doubtful Sound - our destination. This is on the Southwest coast of the South Island.

Kind of has a prehistoric feel about it down here. This is truly "away from civilisation!!".

These guys are notorious down in this part of the country. They are Keas. Mountain parrots. They love to collect things like cameras and boots. And they pull vehicles apart by tearing at them with their very strong beaks.
Doubtful Sound is in the Fiordland area which is a World Heritage Area and is home to endangered birds including the takahe, kakapo, yellowheart and kaka.

Untouched natural Beech forests are a feature of this part of the world. They exist below the snow line of the surrounding mountains. With no topsoil on the walls of the cliffs, the trees lock their roots together. This means when one tree loses grip they all fall, causing a tree avalanche leaving scars in the fauna.
Tanins from the fauna leaches into the waters of the sound causing an interesting phenomenon. The top layer of water is freshwater from the torrential rainfall and this, with the tanins, creates a lens effect sitting on top of the saltwater of the sound. This lens blocks out the sunlight causing the saltwater underneath to seem like deep water, therefore various forms of sealife are present at a much more shallow depth than normal. One exciting effect of this is the presence of black coral at a closer depth. You can view this at the Underwater Observatory in Milford sound.

Page Updated Feb 25, 2007
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Reviews (5)

Comments (20)

pure1942 Sep 15, 2010 at 2:17 PM Report Abuse

Doubtful Sound was my favourite part of New Zealand. Unfortunately my camera was stolen in Chile and I lost all my memories of this wonderful place. At least I have access to pages like yours to jog my memory! Thanks for sharing. Brian
hivaoa1 Aug 25, 2008 at 2:24 PM Report Abuse

I miss NZ, what a wonderful place to be
hunterV Jul 22, 2008 at 1:03 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Pam! Thanx for your nice pages! Good luck! <::>
angiebabe Jan 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM Report Abuse

Done the power station twice and up Doubtful sound - certainly one of the top beauty spots in NZ - thanks for your refresher tips!susan has www.startrekcharters.co.nz if you into fishing the Coromandel or catching up on interests in common?!
victorwkf Dec 6, 2007 at 10:46 PM Report Abuse

I will make it a point to visit beautiful Doubtful Sound if I were to go back to New Zealand in the future!
Darby2 Feb 25, 2007 at 2:59 PM Report Abuse

This place so reminds me of Chilko Lake in BC. The majesty of it all.
SanguiniA May 26, 2006 at 10:39 AM Report Abuse

Keas :-))) Mischievous birds caught in a mischievous pose. Nice little page Pam :-)
Wild_Orchid May 26, 2005 at 7:41 PM Report Abuse

thanks for sharing. first time I've heard of this place. : )
iandsmith Apr 26, 2005 at 3:03 AM Report Abuse

Been there, didn't do the fishing though. That would be an awesome place to cast a line.
JLBG Jul 3, 2004 at 12:33 AM Report Abuse

Fishing in Doubtful Sound ! I have to do that one day ! Thank you for sharing !