Cruising directions: Fly to Auckland, then to Queenstown. Drive to Te Anau. Bus to Manapouri.

Take the first morning ferry to the hydroelectric station at West Arm.

We are off just as the sun comes up.

The lake was calm and the scenery was nice.

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.

The boat launch at Doubtful Sound. No services, but plenty of electricity.

Rafting up to get instructions from the guide.

Off we go.

Tasman Sea dead ahead.

A nice place for a camp.

Boats on the beach.

We moved them into the bush to avoid the tides.

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.

They came right down on the shore and had no fear of entering kayak cockpits.

Doubtful Sound the next morning.

It was strange to be in a temperate rain forest and not recognize a single weed, tree or even moss.

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.

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.

With sand flies, it took three days for the bites to develop. This is after taking an antihistamine.

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.