Doubtful Sound
Sometimes called “The Sound of Silence”, Doubtful Sound (Patea) is the deepest of Fiordland’s 14 fiords and the second longest, with three distinct “arms”, numerous small islands and several outstanding waterfalls. It lies deep within the Fiordland National Park, about 50 kilometres from Manapōuri, the nearest inhabited town. It's the departure point for excursions to Doubtful Sound with a boat journey across Lake Manapōuri, followed by a bus trip on the gravel road across Wilmot Pass to the Sound, where tour boats berth at a small wharf in Deep Cove. As well as its spectacular scenery, the fiord is also home to a wide variety of fauna, including one of the southernmost populations of bottlenose dolphins.
