Sea-kayaking on Doubtful Sound

This was a 2 day organised trip costing about 100 quid. I was one of 8 customers accompanied by a guide.

The first day started early - leaving Te Anau at 6am! 20 minutes to Manapouri then a 45 minute journey across Lake Manapouri to the power station. Then another 45 minute journey over the Wilmot Pass in a knackered land-rover. And then finally we could start sea-kayaking!

 

  First 4 photos are of the boat trip over Lake Manapouri.

 

 
And 2 more. Left hand one is my favourite one of these - it was a moody sky and this one does it most justice. Right hand one shows the power station on the left and the boat we travelled on on the right.

 

  Left photo - of a pair of young kea playing near where we'd landed. Not quite as good as my photo on the right from 3 years ago!

 

  At the top of the Wilmott Pass (700m high). Two views looking down on Doubtful Sound.

 
Two photos sea-kayaking. First from the 1st day when I went in the back - and To' usually appeared as seen on this photo (i.e. not doing a lot of paddling!). The waterfall in the distance is about 600metres high! Second photo is from the 2nd day when I was in the front. Again, a normal view - the other kayaks are all well ahead!

 

  Left photo of one of the other kayaks. Right photo is of our communal quarters at our campsite - this was where the 9 of us cooked and ate. Tarpaulin was for the rain whilst the netting is to keep the zillions of sandflies at bay!

 

  Two views from close to where we camped.

 

 

  Left - another of the huge waterfalls flowing into Doubtful Sound. Right and the two photos below - the next morning's sunrise all the way back in Te Anau. Note the snow on the mountain tops - this was very unusual for this time of year - made for a good sunrise though!