Most people visit Patea Doubtful Sound on an overnight cruise through the fiord’s 25 miles to reach the Tasman Sea in the southwestern part of New Zealand (NZ). I wanted to experience the Sound, see the Tasman Sea, and wake up in the middle of this remote fiord with my family for my birthday.
I’ve never felt as remote as I did at the end of Patea Doubtful Sound—the longest of NZ 14 fiords, all of which are deep inlets between steep cliffs, formed by valleys that once were home to glaciers and now are full of water.
Is being that remote a good idea to do with a toddler? Is a cruise generally a good idea with a toddler? Will it be family-friendly? As a new parent with a 15-month-old, I had many questions about the Patea Doubtful Sound overnight cruise.
After you’ve read our blog about all of the cruise trip details, here are the things you want to consider before booking this tour with your young child:
The Doubtful Sound, known by the Maori as Patea, is on the stolen and occupied lands of the Maori.
Everything you need to know about going on the Patea Doubtful Sound Cruise
Challenges with bringing a toddler on the Patea Doubtful Sound overnight cruise
1. Mealtimes are not flexible
Dinner was served at 7:30 pm. This may fluctuate depending on the time of year.
Our toddler’s bedtime was around this time, so I opted to forgo the buffet dinner and take care of our kiddo while my partner had dinner and brought food down to our room for me to eat.
The group seating made this a little challenging for us, but the staff provided our toddler with a little food before bedtime and were very accommodating.
I recommend bringing a lot of snacks for your kids just in case mealtimes and meals don’t work for your family.
2. Cruise excursions on the fiord are not designed for families with young children
Unless you have someone to watch your child for you, it is difficult for both parents to attend the kayak excursion.
Although they allowed kids on the kayaks with an adult and had smaller life vests, there was a short window for kayaking and by the time we got diapers changed, covered ourselves in bug spray, and got in line for the trip, there was not enough time to get out on the water.
This is both a challenge with the tour and a challenge with doing anything with a toddler.
3. The bugs are relentless
Up to this point on our trip, we had not encountered the infamous sand fly. Those tiny, biting flies were everywhere at Patea Doubtful Sound!
Bring bug spray!!
While the boat is moving, the sand flies are blown away and unable to reach you. When the boat stops, or while folks kayak, the sand flies are able to fully attack. Many other passengers were covered in bites as well!
Benefits of Bringing a Toddler on the Overnight Patea Doubtful Sound Cruise
1. The cruise staff are super kid-friendly
The staff was very flexible, helpful, and accommodating.
- They brought us food at her regular mealtime, even though it was before the scheduled dinner time.
- They provided a free travel crib in our room.
- They were always kind and made us feel very welcome, even though we were the only crazy passengers with a toddler on the trip.
2. An adorable kid is a novelty
Since we were the only family with a little adorable toddler on the trip, we were kind of celebrities.
The majority of the passengers were either young adults without kids or retirees who looked at us as reminders of their grandkids at home. This meant that many of them forgave our loud baby and enjoyed her adorableness on the boat almost as much as we did!
We made lots of friends with these grandparents-at-sea, many of whom were eyeing my TushBaby carrier as a potential gift for their adult children.
3. The experience for your family is memorable at any age
All travel experiences with a toddler can have their challenges. I’ve learned over the years that despite the challenges, the benefits always seem to outweigh the stress.
Here are the memories we made from this trip that I wouldn’t trade for the world:
- Watching my daughter laugh with glee as the boat bumped up and down with the waves at the Tasman Sea
- Pointing out penguins and sea lions
- Snuggling her as the wind blew my hair all over us
- Nursing her from the deck of the boat, surrounded by steep, green, lush mountains and far from the rush of the world
The Maori named this fiord Patea which means “place of silence.” There was a moment when the captain asked all passengers to stand in silence and listen to the peaceful quiet of the sound for just a few minutes. He cut off the engine, and we waited. Being very quiet, we could hear only nature—echoing birdsongs, waterfalls, water lapping against the sides of the boats—then suddenly my daughter gave out a loud scream.
I was mortified! She had interrupted a magical moment for no reason / for the fun of it / whatever the reason. But the rest of the passengers turned and smiled and chuckled. That single moment really summed up the whole trip!
So, is the Patea Doubtful Sound overnight cruise family-friendly? I’d say, yes! Is it a little stressful to take a young child on a trip like this? I’d also say, hell yes!
I hope this guide helps you consider your options, but in the end that you still decide to go on the trip! Please share your decision in the comments, I’d love to know what you think!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting the South Island of NZ with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
You might also enjoy
Smooth Sailing: A Guide to Taking your Toddler on the Doubtful Sound Cruise in New Zealand
South Island, New Zealand: A Memorable 2-Week Itinerary with a Toddler in Tow
Wonderful Wānaka: A Kid-Friendly Trip to New Zealand’s Adventure Playground
Te Anau Treasures: A Perfect Day with Your Toddler in New Zealand’s Gateway to Fiordland
Exploring Picton Waitohi, New Zealand: 4 Kid-Friendly Activities for Unforgettable Family Adventures
I will be taking my 4 and 8 year old children on a day trip to Doubtful Sound. I’m very nervous, because they get bored very fast. Especially my 4 year old. I also think they won’t fully appreciate the scenery but at the same time, I’m looking forward to making the memories!
Your article was helpful. Thanks.
Thanks for your comment! I agree, they won’t fully appreciate the scenery, but you will! And you will remember the magic with them there. Your two children are a great age to go kayaking. You could also do some research to share wildlife they may see or create a scavenger hunt to keep them interested. Kids can be tricky while traveling, but I know you’ll still create memories in this sacred place. Enjoy!