3, 4 or 5 DAYS \\ REMOTE WILDERNESS KAYAKING

- like no other in New Zealand.

The more time you give to Doubtful Sound, the greater the rewards. By taking time as we do to explore the fiord's remote waterways and the land carved by Tuterakiwhanoa, you become a part of this raw and powerful place, more likely encountering its wildlife, extending your skills and being justified in celebrating a real sense of achievement as you and the group work through the challenges and rewards that such adventure brings.

We use our multi-day expedition designed fibreglass/kevlar double sea kayaks and so no paddling experience is required for the 3 and 4 day tours but is preferred for the 5 day tour (or at least confidence and experience in other water-based activities). For the 3, 4 and 5 day tours, moderate fitness and good stamina levels are essential as the terrain, range of weather and distances paddled (22km+ each day, weather permitting) are all a step up from the shorter 2 day trip.

Our 3, 4 and 5 day expedition style tours are designed to really enhance your understanding of wilderness and adventure. Contact us if you want to talk to us about it.

SCHEDULING and COSTS:
Depart November 2009 to April 2010 inclusive, as follows:
6.15am from Te Anau, 6.45am from Manapouri, returning on the second day approximately 5.30pm to Manapouri, 6.00pm to Te Anau.
For transport back to Queenstown after the kayaking, we can usually connect with a bus that leaves Te Anau for Queenstown approximately 7.00pm.

3 DAYS: $510 including return transport ex Te Anau or Manapouri
November *21-23, *27-29, 2009
December *3-5, *11-13, *18-20, 28-30, 2009
January 12-14, 18-20, 2010
February 9-11, 15-17, 27-1 March, 2010
March 5-7, 11-13, 17-19, 23-25, 29-31, 2010
April 3-5(Easter), *9-11, 2010

* ask us about our shoulder season prices during November, December and April.

4 DAYS: $610 including return transport ex Te Anau or Manapouri
January 24-27, 2010
February 20-23, 2010

5 DAYS: $750 including return transport ex Te Anau or Manapouri
January 4-8, 2010
February 1-5, 2010

Please note:
the EQUIPMENT section, for what we provide and what you need to bring.
Upon booking, we give you a detailed personal equipment list to assist you with your preparations.

Also we meet with the whole group for about an hour promptly at 5.00pm the day before at our base in Te Anau (see Te Anau map) to answer questions and work through details, e.g. food, equipment, etc.

A DESCRIPTION OF THE TOURS
The following tour descriptions summarise possible 3 to 5 day guided kayaking tours. (All begin and end with the same transport process as the 2 day tour.)
Note: Weather conditions, wildlife encounters determine the actual kayak route.

3 DAYS REMOTE WILDERNESS KAYAKING
Day 1: As for the 2 day tour we begin kayaking from Deep Cove, but instead of going into Hall Arm we paddle down the main reach, passing Elizabeth Island and Olphert Cove watching for seals and penguins, stopping near Crooked Arm for lunch - a long first stint. Afternoon paddling becomes more challenging in places - time to practise new skills. As we near the entrance to Crooked Arm, the weather will decide whether we cross into the Arm or camp in a river valley opposite its entrance. Our campsite in Crooked Arm is relatively close to the entrance, in a sheltered bay beside a waterfall.

Day 2: Stillness is normally the theme in the morning. The choice is to spend the day exploring Crooked Arm (30kms to its end and back to the campsite) or leaving the Arm and paddling to Hall Arm for the night (see 2 day tour). Crooked Arm is a long narrow arm with a definite turning point like an elbow and often the afternoon playground of the resident bottlenose dolphins - their presence can dictate our paddling timetable as can the weather! Time, energy and weather permitting we explore its length, stop for lunch, maybe a swim, sometimes put up the sails.

Day 3: Depart early from Crooked Arm to kayak down the southwest shoreline of Doubtful Sound having lunch on a beach opposite Elizabeth Island, possibly a look into Hall Arm - a challenging morning's paddle with the weather being a determing factor affecting shoreline choice, lunch place and route into Deep Cove. Normally the sails are put up for the final stage, ending the 3 days on an exhilerating note or an America's Cup Challenge, kayak style!

4 DAYS MORE REMOTE WILDERNESS KAYAKING
Day 1: kayak down Malaspina Reach, into Crooked Arm
Day 2: explore Crooked Arm
Day 3: kayak out of the Arm towards the ocean, maybe to Secretary Island, an island wildlife sanctuary or if the weather dictates, returning down the main reach to Hall Arm.
Day 4: either back down the main reach or exploring Hall Arm to Deep Cove.

5 DAYS - TIME TO REALLY VENTURE INTO THE WILDS!
The plan is as follows but no two tours are the same...

Day 1: Our destination for the first night is a small sheltered cove opposite the entrance to Crooked Arm or in favourable conditions a campsite at the junction of Doubtful, Thompson and Bradshaw Sounds.

Day 2: Depending on day 1, an early start continuing down Malaspina Reach, the fiord becoming steadily wider with glimpses of the open ocean in the distance. Secretary Island looms before us as we leave the Reach and cross one of the most exposed areas of the fiord - Pendulo Reach - a major junction of waterways. Large shingle beaches appear on our right - time for a hot drink maybe. From here we paddle into Bradshaw Sound - characterised by steep inaccessible sides. Another favourite playground of the dolphins. Lunch is close to the junction of Gaer Arm, McDonnell Island and Precipice Cove, one of the most beautiful areas of the fiord. After exploration we either camp here or in Gaer Arm at the mouth of the Camelot River.

Day 3: Hours can be spent in the graceful waterway of the Camelot, exploring a network of channels - images of the Amazon rainforest come to mind. Depending on conditions we may return down Bradshaw Sound paddling to the junction campsite or to the Gut Hut or on to Crooked Arm. Sailing the kayaks is an option whenever the conditons allow during the trip to give us a break from the paddling.

Day 4: A big day with an early start. The aim is to paddle out of Bradshaw Sound, around into Crooked Arm if we have not done that Day 3. Either way, we explore as much of Crooked Arm as time and weather allows. A comfortable campsite, the evening becomes a time for reflecting on the trip so far.

Day 5: Stillness is normally the theme as we leave the campsite anticipating the challenge of the morning's paddle down the southwest shoreline - a 3 hour paddle with no landing points. In marginal conditions we use the more sheltered northern shoreline. Lunch either in Olphert Cove or opposite Elizabeth Island and back into Deep Cove to return to Manapouri and Te Anau, hot showers, maybe a celebratory drink or meal out together? and comfortable beds!

Other possibilities:

UNIQUE COMBINATION:

Sea kayak Doubtful Sound and Milford Sound
- come with us to Milford Sound also, for a day's guided kayaking in this famous fiord and receive a repeat paddler discount, being free transport to and from Milford - worth $30.

>>Doubtful Sound 2 days
>>Doubtful Sound 3-5 days
>>Fun Combinations
>>Awesome Lakes
>>Southern Fiords