Abel Tasman kayak/Routeburn track-Milford vs. Doubtful Sound itinerary help

Hi all,

My fiance and I are heading to the South Island for our honeymoon in late February/early March for 2 weeks and were hoping to get some feedback about our proposed itinerary.

We are planning on starting the trip hiking the Routeburn track and would like to then spend a day/night kayaking in Milford Sound or possibly venture down to Doubtful Sound for a day or two. It seems like it would be logistically much easier to visit Milford Sound, but if Milford Sound is overrun with tour boats/etc. then we would consider taking the time and cost to visit Doubtful Sound.

Can anyone comment on how busy Milford Sound is and how it compares to Doubtful Sound, and also how much time it would take for us to get to Doubtful Sound from the end of the Routeburn track (the Divide)?

For the second leg of the trip we are planning on kayaking Abel Tasman, bringing our camping/cooking gear and staying in either campsites or the huts. We are wondering if people have recommendations regarding:
(1) Length of trip (3 days/2nights vs. 3 nights)
(2) Which areas to explore (the Northern section of the park w/ Golden Bays kayak or starting at the Southern end)
(3) Any favorite campsites

Thanks very much for everyone's time.

remember that Kiwi-crowded is not the same as for the rest of the world. Milford Sound is big and is not overrun. The top tip is to take a morning or later afternoon boat, not the big ones that take the big buses from Queenstown. No need to book ahead.

You can only get to Doubtful Sound on a tour which means being in Manapouri about 8am. 2hours drive from the Divide is fine.

Te Anau is an excellent base for all this and there are a couple of very good hostels.

thanks very much, neverwinter. i think what we probably will due is finish Routeburn and take an afternoon bus/shuttle to Milford lodge, spend the night and then due an early morning kayak the length of the Sound. Do you think it's possible to get back to Queenstown the same day after a morning kayak in Milford Sound? We won't have our own transportation. Thanks again.

Dou btful Sound is absolutely magical. If you want a special experience on your honeymoon that's what I would choose.

should be possible to get back to Queenstown that day - there are lots of tour buses and trampers shuttles going. Five hour trip though.

and you won't be kayaking the whole length of the sound in a morning! There are trips that take you out to the mouth of the sound and then you paddle back, but looks like you need the afternoon breeze.

check that the Milford Hostel still does evening meals, and leave yourself some provisions if not.

That's great. Thanks to you both.

Can anybody comment on the weather in early March both in Fiordland and on the northern coast (Abel Tasman)? I understand that it is described as early Fall/Autumn and thus is cooler with more days of rain but are those small, subtle changes or major differences from early February? Also, are there really significantly fewer people in March than February or again small differences.

Thanks for your time.

Sorry don't know.

Any preferences for campgrounds on the Abel Tasman track? Our plan is to kayak from Marahau on day 1 and then depositing our kayaks at Onetahuti the following day. Ultimately, we'll return by water taxi from Totaranui on the third day. Thus, we'll need two nights to camp (mid-March).

Open to other suggestions as well. Thanks!

Does anybody have recommendations for an accommodation in the Marlborough Sounds region? We are hoping to stay at one location and do some day hikes/kayaking. Even pointing us in a specific area would be helpful. Thanks much.

Hopewell deserves all the great reviews it gets.