Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

I like being busy, I like the hum of people working and laughing and enjoying life. I like tapping away at my computer and I love Instagram.

I also love getting into a place so beautiful and quiet with no wifi or work to distract me it’s hard to return to the real world. Real Journeys and their overnight trip to Doubtful Sound is one of those places. It’s silence and wildlife calls become embedded into your brain so much so, you crave it’s sounds when you’re lying in your bed listening to the milkman whistling in the street. Turn off the phone, pack your wooly hat and allow the #fjordlife to say hello for a couple of days.

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Lake Manapouri awaiting the first boat

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

All the blue!

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sunrise aboard the Navigator

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Good human Liz Carlson from Young Adventuress

Doubtful Sound is one of those destinations that you never forget, it gets into your bones and your memories just like that Christmas where Grandma gave you a ghetto blaster. You don’t realise it until you’re getting off the boat at the end of the two days kicking and screaming. “I demand some more silence. Don’t bring me back to wifi Real Journeys“.

Starting our adventure from Queenstown the epic human Liz Carlson from Young Adventuress and I boarded the coach and enjoyed a insightful and informative journey down to Lake Manapouri (you can also get there yourself). From there a boat ride to Wilmot Pass and a short ride through the rain forest (with photo opportunity stop) to Deep Cove where you board your vessel.

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Delicious platters

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Good grub!

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Cake yes!

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Eating together

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Along with 60 other excited passengers we were shown our beds (lovely twin room with shower and amazing views of the Sound) introduced to the games area (more on that later) and importantly when and where meals would be served. There’s an energy aboard that we’re about to witness something wonderful, beautiful and sacred but we’re not sure of what yet. The journey getting there itself is wonderful and we haven’t even sailed out yet. Before we know it we’re moving and a gentle sway of the water reminds you that you’re not on land anymore.

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

My scrabble game needs recharging!

We settled into a routine of sipping tea, eating muffins, playing scrabble and enjoying the changing landscape. Meals are held all together in the main room and the food is outstanding.

Birds, seals (apparently dolphins but I missed them!) and penguins dotted around the sounds. A wonderful moment on the second day where the boat engine is turned off, everyone is asked to not talk and you can sit in total silence for a time. It’s eerily beautiful. And I didn’t want it to end.

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Now does ‘dog’ or ‘man’ have a bigger score?

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Mountains twirl

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

All that green

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

Sailing around Doubtful Sound with Real Journeys

There are so many of you who’ve commented about your trip to Doubtful Sound and I won’t forget that time aboard The Navigator. A simple, beautiful time to see a place that you can’t get to by car. Go, experience and breathe again.

Who’s been to Doubtful Sound or Milford Sound? Which did you prefer?

Real Journeys 
Doubtful Sound

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I was guest aboard The Navigator with Real Journeys but, as always, my views are my own.