THESE FABULOUS FIORDS ARE CALLING YOU
With 1.2 million hectares of UNESCO World Heritage-listed National Park to be explored – including waterfalls, crystal-clear lakes and of course remarkable fiords – there’s no better way to experience the dramatic beauty and teeming wildlife of Fiordland National Park than on the purpose-built boutique catamaran, Fiordland Jewel. Designed and built by owner and skipper Rob Swale, the nine-cabin Fiordland Jewel features climate-controlled cabins with sea views so you’ll never miss a moment of your extraordinary journey, a top-deck hot tub to relax while you stargaze, and beautiful meals prepared by the onboard chef. Swale has spent his life in the area and has a deep connection to the place. “It is our honour to be her custodians, our pleasure to love her and our duty to protect her,” says Swale. “I treasure the sight of every blue penguin; I am still, after all these years, in deep awe at the sight of the whales migrating. The whistles of the dolphins can take me out of the deepest blues and hearing a kiwi in the morning – well, that’s a special kind of a treat I wish we all could have more of!”
Preserving the region’s natural and cultural heritage through sustainability initiatives is a prime concern for the team at Fiordland Discovery and that means optimising their resource use, neutralising their carbon footprint and collaborating with local suppliers with the same principles. Carved by glaciers over 100,000 years ago, and nestled in the rugged terrain of the southwest of New Zealand’s South Island, Fiordland National Park features 14 breathtaking fiords; however Milford Sound/Piopiotahi is the only one accessible by road, which is another reason why the region is best explored by boat. Fiordland Discovery’s 6- and 9-night cruises include helicopter transfers, as well as kayaking and tender boat excursions so you can experience the pristine wilderness up close. The 6-night small group expeditions explore Doubtful, Breaksea and Dusky Sounds and the 9-night Grand Tour visits all 14 fiords, as well as inlets, basins, beaches and islands along the way. fiordlanddiscovery.co.nz