Cruise Description

9 Night Cruise sailing from Milford Sound to Preservation Inlet aboard Heritage Explorer.

Note: Includes pre-cruise coach transfer from Te Anau to Milford Sound and post-cruise helicopter flight from Preservation Inlet to Te Anau.

Cruise Overview:
Heritage Expeditions, pioneers in authentic small ship expedition cruising, invites you to join us on the ultimate 10-day exploration of New Zealand's remote ice-carved mountains, verdant forests and winding fiords of Fiordland.

This treasured natural wonderland, its wildlife, conservation and history inspired our dream for responsible travel with its endless possibilities exploring remote shores, coves inlets and waterways.

Established in 1952, Fiordland National Park is now over 1.2 million hectares in size and rightly famous for its epic, grand scale scenery, untamed wilderness and unique wildlife including Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals. However, Fiordland is also rich in natural history, geology and the location of some historical firsts and important restoration and conservation projects.

Maori legend describes how demi-god Tu-te-raki-whanoa carved out the region's fiords with his adze, Te Hamo, from rock walls to create the fiords we know today. Captain Cook and his crew were the first Europeans to visit, landing here aboard HMS Resolution in 1773 and subsequently spending five weeks in Dusky Sound. Cook's records of his discovery and maps would attract sealers and whalers not long after, who would go on to form the first European settlements of New Zealand, historically this region is very important and shaped the future of the country.

The majority of Fiordland's sounds are only accessible by sea, making them among the most remote areas of New Zealand's mainland. Waterfalls, streams, rivers and fiords are enveloped with misty veils that come and go, revealing steep gradients of mountain peaks and sheltered valleys. The isolation of these fiords has been beneficial in ensuring their epic beauty remains unspoiled and historic sites undisturbed.

Join us as we sail the calm waters of Fiordland in solitude exploring some of the most unique and wild parts of Fiordland on this unforgettable adventure.