Chapter 5: Doubtful Sound: Where Nature Stuns, Dolphins Dance and Adventurers’ Kayaks
Our seventh day was marked by a journey to Doubtful Sound. En route, we paused in Gore Town, the heart of Kiwi country music. In Manapouri Harbour, we embarked on a ferry, cruising through the glacially carved Manapouri Lake. The road to Doubtful Sound wound through emarald rainforests, Fiordland National Park unfurling its rugged beauty.
Deep Cove our gateway to final destination Doubtful Sound, was a paradise where we spent a night aboard the Fiordland Navigator. Our time was filled with exploration, cruising, kayaking, and even swimming in the fjords waters. The Doubtful Sound is surrounded by majestic and towering mountains and cascading waterfalls. The waterfalls turn into gigantic waterfalls during rainy season. The area gets approximately eight to nine meters of rain in a year. The evening brought a delightful dolphin display, a testament to the fjords rich wildlife. Doubtful Sound, aptly named, enveloped us in its tranquil embrace.
Chapter 6: Fiordland’s Embrace – Sunrise Serenade and Two Minutes of Magic
Doubtful Sound, a tranquil sanctuary, is known for its silent beauty. Here, nature reigns supreme, with towering waterfalls and serene landscapes. The morning on the 8th day of our journey, we rose early, eager to soak in the magic of the morning. As the sun rose, we embraced the beauty and tranquillity of this magical place. And to add the weather was perfect, dry & sunny. The captain, a man who understood the language of nature, stopped the engines and asked for two minutes of silence. Silence, absolute and profound, descended. It was an invitation to connect, to breathe in the essence of this untouched paradise. Two minutes of pure, unadulterated awe, a gift etched forever in our memories.
As we bid farewell to Doubtful Sound, the sun painted the fiord in farewell hues of gold and purple. We carried with us not just photographs, but memories etched in the emarald green of rolling hills, the sapphire blue glacial lakes, and the vibrant songs of a land unlike any other. New Zealand, you stole a piece of our hearts, and we left a piece of ourselves in your majestic embrace.
