Doubtful Sound: Breathtaking Fiordland, Part 1

They told us that we were extremely lucky, because it was an unusually calm and sunny day for Doubtful Sound, one of the most famous and breathtaking fiords in New Zealand. Normally it rains two out of three days here, with only about fifty days of sunshine per year.

What they didn't tell us, with typical New Zealand modesty, was that we were about to have our minds blown by some of the most astonishing views, scenery and geological formations Laura and I have ever seen.




Doubtful Sound is remote. So remote that you need to take three modes of transportation to get there: a car, a boat, a bus, and then another boat. You also need to dress warmly for this day-long journey: this area of New Zealand hosts a wide range of micro-climates (again, typical New Zealand modesty--they should really call them macro-climates).

It can get quite hot at various points of the day, but then you can also be miserably cold and wet once you reach the fiord itself, if the weather is typically rainy. We were lucky, it was just cold, with a stiff wind blowing all the time. If you ever have the privilege of seeing this place, wear lots of layers.

Ironically, when we prepared for the worst weather, we didn't expect the best weather. The one thing we didn't bring was sunscreen.

More to come on Doubtful Sound in Part 2....