Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey takes me from Te Anau to the nearby Lake Manapouri, where I catch a boat across the lake deep into the heart of Fiordland. I cross the rugged Wilmot Pass into Doubtful Sound and cruise along its length to the Tasman Sea before heading back and exploring some of the fiords.
Today's Journey
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Heading a little south of Te Anau, we cruise across the dark waters of Lake Manapouri in the early morning with the golden sun brightly illuminating the mountaintops. |
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Reaching the Manapouri Power Station at the end of the lake where the lake's water falls 193 metres into a huge underground power station. |
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Crossing Wilmot Pass heading towards Doubtful Sound. This is the southernmost road crossing of the Southern Alps. |
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Cruising along Doubtful Sound through the spectacular glacially carved hanging valleys with walls towering a kilometre high on either side. |
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The cloud closes in over the towering mountaintops as we pass Crooked Arm. |
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Approaching the entrance of Doubtful Sound as rain begins falling. We head out of the entrance into the Tasman Sea at the point where New Zealand is closest to Australia. |
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Returning into Doubtful Sound, we head up Crooked Arm under the looming peaks as the rain clears and waterfalls plunge off the sides of the dark mountains. |
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Heading into Hall Arm near the top of Doubful Sound passing Mount Commander under its kilometre high vertical cliff. |
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Heading back over towards Lake Manapouri, we stop at the top of Wilmot Pass to look back over Doubtful Sound. |
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Crossing Lake Manapouri to the Manapouri Village before driving back up to our base at Te Anau. |
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