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Fiord-by-fiord guide

Caswell Sound (Tai Te Timu)

Caswell Sound is likely named after Lieutenant William Caswell. Caswell was another neighbour of John Grono from the Tanilba station in New South Wales (Hall-Jones, 1979). The Maori name for Caswell Sound is Tai Te Timu, which means the ebb tide. There is evidence on the southern side of the fiord of an old marble works (Caswell Sound Marble Works) that ran between 1882 and 1887 (Department of Lands & Survey, 1986).

The fiord is 15.7 km long and has high steep sides reaching up to some spectacular peaks. The Shirley Falls drops 365 m from Lake Shirley on the fiord’s southern side. Caswell Sound hut is located at the head of the fiord where the Stillwater River enters the fiord. From the hut there is a scenic track along the Stillwater River that leads up to Lake Marchant.

Styles Island at the entrance to the fiord has an important breeding colony of Fiordland crested penguins (tawaki).

Anchorages

Radio communication is available on channel 66 for all the anchorages below.

Head of fiord

This is a fair-weather anchorage. Be aware of the mud banks in the south-east corner as they are not good for holding anchor.

Green Point

This is the best anchorage in strong winds in Caswell Sound. Some sea may be experienced coming into the anchorage in strong winds. Use of sternline is essential.

Navigation

There is a rock at the entrance to Caswell Sound on the northern side (see LINZ Chart 7623). In heavy weather (south-west roll), the swell can break off the fiord wall and back out seawards from the rock.

When travelling from Caswell Sound to Charles Sound – keep in water deeper than 45 m.

There are a number of rocks present in Juno Bay (shown on LINZ Chart 7624) at the entrance to Charles Sound from the north. These rocks can be just under the water and very hard to see at high water in calm weather. Do not attempt a passage from the north-west side of the bay to the open coast because of unmarked rocks.

Charles Sound (Taiporoporo)

Charles Sound was known to early sealers as Charley’s and is thought to be named after Charles McLaren who captained the sealing vessel Sydney Cove in 1810 (Hall-Jones, 1979). The Maori name for Charles Sound is Taiporoporo, which means sea plant.

The fiord is 13.9 km long and divides into two arms of equal length. Emelius Arm is fed by the Irene River and Gold Arm by the Windward River. When the tide is high it is possible to take a dinghy approximately 2–3 km up the Irene River from its mouth. There are a number of small well-forested islands around the southern arm of the fiord.

Charles Sound is often the next stopping point from George Sound as it has much better anchorages than those in Caswell Sound.

Anchorages

Radio communication is available on channel 66 for all the anchorages below.

Eleanor Island

Not suitable in strong north-to-west conditions; tie alongside the rope going from the northern to the southern end of the cove.

Catherine Island, Gold Arm

This is not suitable in strong easterly conditions; however, it is very good in strong westerly and northerly conditions. Tie alongside rope going from point to point as shown on map.

Emelius Arm

For use in south-westerly and south-easterly conditions. Not suitable in northerly and westerly conditions.

Helipad Anchorage

This is an all-weather anchorage. Tie to the sternlines provided and as long as anchor is well set, this will provide shelter even in bad conditions. The helipad must not be used as a mooring under any conditions. There is a floating water hose attached to the sternline, but this is not a reliable source of water.

Water hose in Gold Arm

There is a water hose on the eastern side of Gold Arm, halfway to Catherine Island as marked on the fiord map. It is, however, short and will likely require an additional length of hose to reach most vessels.

Navigation

On approaching the Gold Arm anchorages, be aware of the sunken rocks on the starboard side when entering the channel beside Fanny and Catherine Islands (see Catherine Island anchorage map).

When travelling from Charles Sound to Nancy Sound – keep in water deeper than 45 m.

Nancy Sound (Hine Nui)

This is another fiord named by the sealer John Grono, this time after one of his vessels, The Nancy (Hall-Jones, 1979). It is known to Maori as Hine Nui, which means big girl.

The fiord is 15.4 km long and probably the next steepest fiord after Milford Sound/Piopiotahi. The fiord is shaped very much like a leg, hence the names of many of the places (Foot Arm, Toe Cove, and Heel Cove). Anxiety Island and Entrance Island at the entrance to the fiord have colonies of New Zealand fur seal (kekeno) and are also home to the Fiordland skink.

The mouth of this fiord is perched on the edge of the continental shelf; consequently, there is only a small sand sill. The entrance to the fiord is narrow because of the nugget-like rocks across the entrance.

Anchorages

Toe Cove

This is an all-weather anchorage. However, during strong winds sea conditions may become uncomfortable and it is recommended that Charles Sound or Thompson Sound anchorages should be used.

Radio communication is available on Channel 66.

Navigation

When entering Nancy Sound from the northern side, give the rocks shown on LINZ Chart 7624 a wide berth, especially in heavy sea conditions.

When travelling from Nancy Sound to Thompson Sound – keep in water deeper than 40 m.

Doubtful Sound fiord complex

The Doubtful Sound fiord complex is made up of Thompson Sound, Bradshaw Sound and the main reach of Doubtful Sound/Patea which has three distinct arms – First Arm, Crooked Arm and Hall Arm. Captain Cook named this fiord Doubtful Harbour on his first voyage to Fiordland in 1770, because of the difficulty for ships to sail out of the fiord without an easterly wind (Hall-Jones, 1979). The Maori name for this fiord is Patea, the sound of silence.

The first groups of hardy trampers began traversing the 18 km walking track over the Wilmot Pass from West Arm to Deep Cove in 1891. The opening of the Wilmot Pass road in 1965 (as part of the Manapouri tail race hydro-scheme) further increased tourism visitor numbers. Doubtful Sound/Patea is now the second most visited fiord in Fiordland.

Sealer John Grono is responsible once again for naming Thompson Sound – after Andrew Thompson, the owner of Grono’s vessel the Governor Bligh (Hall-Jones, 1979). The Maori name for this fiord is Te Moeanu.

Bradshaw Sound was named by Captain Stokes after R Bradshaw who was the mate on the Acheron (Hall-Jones, 1979). The fiord is called Kai Kiekie by Maori which translates to eat kiekie, a native climbing plant.

Doubtful Sound/Patea, at 40.4 km, is the second longest fiord, and at 434 m it is the deepest of all the fiords. Like the Irene River in Charles Sound, the Camelot River in Bradshaw Sound can be negotiated by dinghy. It is possible to navigate about 4 km up the Camelot River at high water.

Access to Doubtful Sound/Patea other than by boat is via Lake Manapouri and over the Wilmot Pass. Vehicles travelling across the Wilmot Pass are required to obtain a permit from the Department of Conservation in advance, or there are concessioned operators that can tow boats across the pass. A commercial bus service operates on this route between the West Arm of Lake Manapouri and Deep Cove in Doubtful Sound/Patea. Several commercial passenger boats operate out of Deep Cove, and there is also a boat launching ramp. The Deep Cove Hostel Trust runs an education programme catering for more than 1,000 school children each year. The hostel also offers accommodation.

There are two Department of Conservation huts in the Doubtful/Thompson Sound complex: the Deas Cove hut (replaced in 2007), which sleeps 10 people, and The Gut hut which sleeps six people.

There is a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins present throughout the fiord complex. Research on the population has found it to be decreasing, and specific protection measures have been put in place. (See ‘Boating around marine mammals’ section and ‘Doubtful Sound bottlenose dolphin population’).

 

Anchorages

Neck Cove, Thompson Sound

This is a good anchorage for south-easterly winds. Keep to the north-eastern side when entering the cove to avoid the rocks on the south-western side of the bay, which are covered at high tide (see anchorage map below). Radio communication is available on Channel 66 with a good aerial.

Deas Cove, Thompson Sound

In strong northerly and westerly conditions, gusts of wind will come from the western shore. This is not a suitable anchorage in south-easterly conditions (refer to Neck Cove). There is a line coming from the shore, which is attached to a mooring in the water on the eastern side. Tie to the attached floating line. Radio communication is available on Channel 66 with a good aerial.

Head of Precipice Cove

This is an all-weather anchorage. Real Journeys has a mooring at the head of the cove that is used for overnight cruises. Radio communication is available on Channel 66.

Macdonnell Island, Precipice Cove

This is an all-weather anchorage. Tie alongside the line provided. However, with more than two vessels, use the line as a sternline as shown on the map. Radio communication is available on Channel 66 with a good aerial.

Gaer Arm

This is a good moderate-weather anchorage, and is probably one of the most scenic anchorages in all of the fiords. It is situated next to Camelot River and has fantastic views. Radio communication is available on Channel 66.

Deep Cove

Contact the Deep Cove Hostel before berthing to find out the best place to anchor/moor. Petrol, diesel and water are available here from the hostel manager. When heading into Deep Cove, VHF channel 10 should be used. Usually it is only possible to get radio communications with the Deep Cove Hostel (channel 10) east of Elizabeth Island. There are no repeater communications in Deep Cove.

Blanket Bay, Secretary Island

This is a good anchorage in westerly conditions, but is not suitable for strong north-easterly and south-easterly conditions. Note, there is a sunken rock as shown on the map. Use the sternline or the mooring as shown on the map. There is a water hose available at the wharf on Blanket Bay Island, off Secretary Island. Leave ropes and the water hose as you found them. The wharf should not be used for berthage. Radio communication is available on Channel 66.

Please note that Secretary Island is a predator-free island (see ‘Island biosecurity’ section). Please take care when travelling on and around this island and be aware of what you are taking ashore.

Haulashore Cove, Crooked Arm

This is a reasonable fair-weather anchorage. From the head of the arm a track leads to Dagg Sound (50-minute walk). Note that there are no radio repeater communications.

Snug Cove, First Arm

This is a good fair-weather anchorage at the head of the arm. It is not suitable in fresh to strong northerly conditions. Keep to the middle of the fiord to avoid the shallow areas on either side of the anchorage. Radio communication is available on Channel 66.

The Gut

This is only suitable in easterly and light southwesterly conditions. There is a mooring line (shown on map) for mooring while diving around Te Awaatu Channel (The Gut) Marine Reserve.

Navigation

Particular care is needed, especially by small craft, near the outlet for the Manapouri Power Scheme freshwater discharge. In this area around Deep Cove, the current may vary at any time.

Thompson Sound to Doubtful Sound/Patea – when steaming on the outer coast there is an area of shallow water between South West Point and Rocky Point off the coast of Secretary Island. In rough weather it is advisable to stay two nautical miles offshore, as many areas will break a long way from the coast.

When travelling from Doubtful Sound/Patea to Dagg Sound – keep in water deeper than 40 m.

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