macblog: Day 15 and 16 - Doubtful Sounds cruise

Started off fairly early - we stayed overnight in Manapouri - to get to our overnight cruise we had to first catch a boat across Manapouri lake - bus and that then connected us with our ship the Fiordland Navigator.
The first part of the trip was a fast boat the Fiordland flyer - pleasant enough trip in itself

Sam & Hud relaxing

stopped during the bus trip to admire this river - we were told that in this neck of the woods - rain is common for at least 300+ daya a year and 5 dyas without rain seems like a drought . . . almost felt like I was back in Scotland . . .

Shown to our cabin aboard the good ship Fiordland Navigator . . I was warned No Snoaring - I was hit much later with a pillow - can't think why???

Seals on various islands at the mouth of Doubtful sound - we are almost in the sea here. We saw a penguin and were also lucky enough to see a whole pod of young dolphins late afternoon going out to feed. The ship has to slow right down for the pod - so I think the dolphins found us boring - and did not approach - have some photo's but they are from a distance and I decided they are not good enough to feature.

Sam and I went for a short spin late afternoon - to take a close look at the shore-line - and she didn't trust me in a canoe - last time I wa sin one I waited until I was in the middle of the lake and capsized it - I did have my mobile phone in my pocket but damned if the thing didn't work - luckily they were watching from shore and they came out with a speedbaot and rescued me (this was in South Africa - Sedgefield) . . So Sam heaved a sigh of relief and secrelty she may have wanted to go on the canoe herself - not sure . .

I think that is Hud in the red canoe extreme left top . . . as you can see canoeing was a popular choice . . . kinda like at a restaurant now - where you see something somebody else ordered - it looks better than what you have - I was looking at the canoes thinking damn I should have done that . . .

The Fiordland Navigator and home for the night

younger members on speed boat - are given a chance to steer the boat . . .

Hud jumping into the Fiord

PLACE Holder - I went for a swim as well - Sam has the picture - will place it here
The catering and the way the staff on board the ship looked after us was second to none - I would thoroughly recommend this experience to anyone down this way. The boat can cater for about 76 people what could added to our experience was that we were less than 40 people on board. Full marks to real journeys - they made it a five star experience.

After dinner we had a short talk with slides give by one of the crew members - the person who skippered our little speed boat excursion. Then yours truly was on the malt whisky in the bar. I( slept well. Picture below is the gps positioning of where we over-nighted (is that a word??)

I was awoken - during the night (a few times by someone who kept hitting me with their piloow - for no apparent reason??) by the ships engines early morning - and this first photograph is the ship underway

The photos try to capture some of the serenity / unspoilt / natural beauty - it is just so beautiful - tried to capture the reflection in the water - sometimes it can be quite dis-orientating . . .