As with all trips to Doubtful Sound, you will start at Pearl Harbour in Manapouri and travel by boat across Lake Manapouri to West Arm. From here a bus will take you over Wilmot Pass from where you will glimpse Doubtful Sound for the first time, before arriving at Deep Cove where the Southern Secret awaits.

Set over three levels, the Southern Secret has cabin space for 12 people and 3 crew below decks, and on the mid-deck, the kitchen, galley and living area are where guests can dine or relax, always with views out over Doubtful Sound. The fly bridge deck on the top level of the boat gives 360 degree views and is perfect for activities such as fishing and wildlife watching.

During the cruise you will have the chance to encounter various marine wildlife including dolphins, penguins and fur seals, and you will hear many bird calls from the surrounding densely forested mountains.

The cruise gives you privileged access to spectacular views of the wilderness, the deep valleys and numerous waterfalls, and allows you to explore the many arms and coves of the Sound.

All meals are provided including a picnic lunch and a hearty dinner and breakfast. Fresh Fiordland crayfish (lobster) is often on the menu for dinner as well as anything you can catch in the afternoon when the rods are over the side.

Our Client Jenny Agutter was kind enough to share a photo of her trip on MV Southern Secret, her trip made the front cover of   Telegraph Travel.   “Doubtful Sound, my next stop, was not accessible by road, so we were taken by boat and four-wheel-drive across the waterways and dirt tracks that led to our departure point for an overnight cruise aboard MV Southern Secret. Greeted by hosts Gill, Clint and the crew, we sailed down the fjord. The mists were constantly shifting, and the light played with vertical forests and steep valleys, which looked like they had plunged into the water. We were in awe at the drama and extraordinary beauty of the place.   I kayaked with Jason, our enthusiastic guide, while the rest of the party fished off the boat. Gliding along close to the shore, waterfalls cascading into the Sound, I learned about how if one looked carefully, one could spot the semi-precious stones, garnets, in the rock faces of the mossy cliffs that towered 2,000ft above.    Kristen, our multi-talented concert pianist-turned-chef, served up scallops and blue cod caught only moments before, and played sonatas by Chopin, Beethoven and some delightful modern pieces from Einaudi’s Divenire. Listening to the music surrounded by Doubtful Sound was a truly special experience.”   You can read the full Telegraph Travel article here.