New Zealand Sounds
Despite not actually being a port of call, a lot of cruises include New Zealand’s Fiordland as part of the cruise itinerary for its iconic beauty and world-class fame. With a beauty that rivals the fjords of Norway and Alaska, even described by renowned novelist Rudyard Kipling as the “eighth natural wonder of the world,” New Zealand Sounds are a spectacular part of every cruising experience. Typically from Dunedin, you’ll sail on to Dusky Sound, and then Doubtful Sound and the most popular Milford Sound.
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Dusky is a wildlife paradise, where you’ll spot dolphins and seals frolicking in the waters, and birds like kakas, mottled petrels and keas flying overhead. It’s also the largest and most complex of the country’s fjords, complete with vast waterfall-carved cliff faces.
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Doubtful is best for penguin-spotting, home to blue penguins and fiordland crested penguins, as well as boasting a unique freshwater and saltwater ecosystem due to the freshwater from the mountains.
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Milford is a small yet the most famous among the fifteen fjords in New Zealand. The scale of the surrounding mountains puts you and your ship in perspective. It’s also part of the Te Wahipounamu World Heritage Site, a natural haven for wildlife, many hidden in the rainforest that sits on the majestic Mitre Peak mountain-centrepiece.
