Cruising directions: Fly to Auckland, then to Queenstown. Drive to Te Anau. Bus to Manapouri.
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Take the first morning ferry to the hydroelectric station at West Arm.
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We are off just as the sun comes up.
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The lake was calm and the scenery was nice.
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At the hydro station, we caught another bus to Doubtful Sound. That is Doubtful in the distance. It gives a little insight in to how steep this road is.
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The boat launch at Doubtful Sound. No services, but plenty of electricity.
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Rafting up to get instructions from the guide.
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Off we go.
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Tasman Sea dead ahead.
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A nice place for a camp.
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Boats on the beach.
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We moved them into the bush to avoid the tides.
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We had to be watchful of the weka, a chicken sized flightless bird that will grab anything (like a tent peg) and run off into the woods to see if what it stole is edible. If you chase it, it won't drop what it picked up. Just saying.
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They came right down on the shore and had no fear of entering kayak cockpits.
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Doubtful Sound the next morning.
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It was strange to be in a temperate rain forest and not recognize a single weed, tree or even moss.
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The guide assured us that the steams were potable, in part because the sand fly larvae live in running water and eat all the nasty bacteria. I don't know it it is true, but I had no problems with the water.
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I did have some problems with sand flies. I got bitten a few times while swimming. Unlike mosquitoes, I didn't immediately get big itchy swollen spots.
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With sand flies, it took three days for the bites to develop. This is after taking an antihistamine.
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Oh no, some waves! On the third day, it rained and got windy. But the wind was at our backs and we were on our way out. Great trip.
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