Doubtful Sound

Our next adventure is off to Doubtfall Sound. This is reached by crossing Lake Manapouri to West Arm where there is a Underground Power Station (Hydro Electric). We get to go and have a look. It is 200m under the rocks and access by driving down a 2km spiralling tunnel. The plant is used to generate electricity for the Aluminium plant in Bluff. After our tour we get in a bus and travel 20km over Wilmot Pass and down to Deep Cove. Here we get on another boat and start our journey on Doubtfall Sound, travelling out to the entrance where it joins the Tasman Sea. Here there are some large rocky outcrops where there is a New Zealand Fur Seal coloney. It has started to rain which is a shame as the mountains are shrouded in mist, but what it does mean is the waterfalls are incredible and there is water pouring down everywhere. But the sounds can get in excess of 5m of rainfall a year. The highest recording at the weather station at the top of Wilmot Pass was 16m of rain!!