Doubtful Sound and South Island tour, New Zealand

Planet

We are committed to operating environmentally sustainable tours. By nature small group touring using one vehicle to transport multiple clients is more environmentally friendly than usual modes of travel including rental car or campervan. We have monitoring systems in place to ensure our vehicles are serviced and driven in line with the manufacturer’s guidelines making the running of the fleet as efficient as possible.

We are a Qualmark Approved Visitor Service which means we have been independently reviewed and deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way. Wherever possible we select suppliers that are also Qualmark approved and therefore deemed to operate in an ethical, professional and environmentally sustainable way.

We pay an annual licence and have official accreditation to operate on Department of Conservation land which demonstrates our commitment to the environment and sustainability. Payment of the license fee funds the protection of New Zealand’s national parks.

Office: We work from several home offices saving on travel time and fossil fuel consumption. All printer cartridges and paper is recycled. Both home offices water supply is supplied by rain water.

People

This tour explores the beauty of remote Doubtful Sound and plethora of local birdlife and marine life. We cruise the sheltered arms of the beautiful Doubtful Sound out to the Tasman Sea. The ship's nature guide keeps a lookout for marine and bird life. Seals bask on the islands at the entrance to the Sound, and we enjoy wild mountain scenery, rivers and cascading waterfalls.

On this tour we also support the local history of the townships, and in Arrowtown visit the Chinese miners’ settlement at the end of the town. We explore the history of Arrowtown where harsh conditions were endured by the miners in their search for gold.

As well as supporting the local birdlife and marine life & history of the local townships, we also where possible visit local craftsmen, markets and restaurants further helping to support the local community. On this tour we visit we support a variety of local establishments such as the TSS “Earnslaw” and cruise across Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station for dinner at Colonel’s Homestead. We lunch at historic Kinloch Lodge, around the lake from Glenorchy, and meet the locals and relax over a private lunch at Dunrobin Farm.