If there's one trip you must do, then this could be it - a Doubtful Sound overnight cruise. Though not as well known, or popular - yet, as Milford Sound - this trip is fabulous. Only about 110 miles from Queenstown to the base at Manapouri, the trip starts at about 12:30pm with return at 12:00 the next day. From Manapouri (shown here), you travel on water taxis for about 50 minutes to West Arm, where a coach takes you over Wilmott Pass hills to the start of Doubtful Sound at Deep Cove.

The coach ride over an unsealed road takes about 45 minutes, and on a clear day from the top of Wilmott Pass, this splendid view of the Sound is visible. Though strictly they are Fiords, since they are formed in the way fjords are made.

Doubtful Sound truly has some amazing scenery, which is just as spectacular when it's windy and raining. This being due to the rainfall cascading down swollen waterfalls into the sound.

Don't forget - it's always worth looking to see where you have just come from.

Of course, the best sight is that of dolphins playing and jumping in their natural habitat.

They haven't been trained to do this - they just like showing off.

At the Tasmin Sea end of Doubtful Sound, is a large seal colony, where they just seem to like basking in the late afternoon sunshine.

Seems like a nice spot for an evening sailing.

Peaceful tranquility.