Explore New Zealand's Fiordland National Park
Save up to 20% per person on select cruises when you book by 29 August 2025.*
Cruise into the rarely-visited heart of Fiordland with New Zealand's pioneering expedition cruise company, Heritage Expeditions. Experience the untamed, primordial majesty of this grand scale natural wonder aboard our 18-guest expedition yacht Heritage Explorer with sea kayaks or our luxurious 140-guest expedition ship Heritage Adventurer, and benefit from our 40 years of exploration of this region.
Discover tranquil waterways, sunken valleys and towering mountains of spectacular Fiordland National Park – Milford Sound, Dusky Sound, Doubtful Sound, Luncheon Cove, Acheron Passage and more – while enjoying new levels of bespoke comfort in expedition travel.
Marvel as misty clouds shroud jagged peaks of glacier-cleaved mountains streaked with waterfalls and enjoy unforgettable wildlife encounters as our expert expedition team brings your voyage to life through early New Zealand and conservation history.
Travel aboard Heritage Explorer – our 18-guest expedition yacht with 10 cabins – and enjoy a personalised, all-inclusive travel experience with gourmet fare, complimentary house wine, beer and soft drinks, Zodiac and hiking excursions and scenic helicopter flight. Hike, swim, paddle and spot wildlife from the Bridge Deck and Sun Deck.
Or, cruise aboard our flagship, Heritage Adventurer – our all-inclusive luxury expedition ship carrying a max of 140 guests – built for exploring regions like New Zealand’s intricate coastline, navigating through fiords, cruising up harbours, and allowing for Zodiac cruising to remote and isolated bays. Enjoy stylish and comfortable interiors, all-suite cabins with private facilities, an Observation Deck with 360-degree views, gourmet fare, complimentary house wine, beer and soft drinks, and a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensuring all guests maximise their expedition adventure.
Join us on a bucket list exploration of New Zealand's treasured natural wonderland.
New Zealand Fiordland Cruises
Aboard 18-Guest Heritage Explorer
Undiscovered Dusky Sound: Cruising Remote Fiordland
5 DAYS
2025
31 Jul
2026
3 Feb, 8 Mar
5 Aug SAVE 20%*
Te Anau, New Zealand and Return
Aboard Heritage Explorer
- Enjoy spectacular scenic helicopter flights at the start and completion of your voyage
- Discover the primordial majesty of Dusky Sound – only accessible by sea
- Breaksea Island, an iconic site in New Zealand conservation history
- Explore Zodiac, kayak and on foot
- Look for Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals
- Retrace the steps of Captain Cook along the shorelines of World Heritage Area Dusky Sound
- Explore the waterways, inlets and coves of Breaksea Sound and Acheron Passage
- Visit Luncheon Cove on predator-free Anchor Island and be amazed by the birdlife including South Island Saddleback, Robins, Yellowhead and Parakeets
- Join your chefs fishing for the evening's dinner
- Learn about pioneering conservationist Richard Henry on Pigeon Island
- Sail deep into the heart of Fiordland in Dusky Sound
- Astronomers Point, Wet Jacket Arm, Resolution Island and more
- Experience two of Fiordland’s most remote, hard to reach and spectacular destinations on one voyage
*T&Cs apply, new bookings only, July - September 2026 departures only when booked by 29 August 2025.
Southern Fiords Discovery: A Deep Exploration of Fiordland's Southern Fiords
7 DAYS
2025
10 Jul, 9 Aug, 3 Sep
2026
11 Feb, 16 Mar
4 Jul, 10 Jul SAVE 20%*
13 Aug, 19 Aug, 25 Aug SAVE 20%*
19 Sep, 25 Sep SAVE 20%*
Te Anau, New Zealand and Return
Aboard Heritage Explorer
- Enjoy a spectacular scenic helicopter flight at the start or completion of your voyage
- Discover the rich history and untamed beauty of Preservation Inlet
- Look for Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals
- Explore Fiordland’s Southern Fiords, only accessible by sea
- Two days expedition cruising through Dusky Sound
- Predator free Chalky, Anchor and Pigeon Islands
- Learn about the rich conservation history of the region including Richard Henry’s pioneering bird transfers
- Experience Fiordland’s most spectacular scenery in Doubtful Sound
- Follow in the footsteps of Captain Cook
- Acheron Passage, Cuttle Cove, Luncheon Cove, Blanket Bay, Deas Cove and more
- Island sanctuaries for Kakapo and Little Spotted Kiwi
*T&Cs apply, new bookings only, July - September 2026 departures only when booked by 29 August 2025.
Fiordland Explored: Cruising Fiordland's Iconic Doubtful & Dusky Sounds
5 DAYS
2025
27 Jul, 9 Sep, 13 Sep
2026
29 Jan, 7 Feb, 28 Feb, 12 Mar
1 Aug, 9 Aug SAVE 20%*
Te Anau, New Zealand and Return
Aboard Heritage Explorer
- Enjoy a spectacular scenic helicopter flight at the completion of your voyage
- Discover the primordial majesty of Doubtful and Dusky Sounds – only accessible by sea
- Look for Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals
- Retrace the steps of Captain Cook along the shorelines of World Heritage Area Dusky Sound
- Explore the waterways, inlets and coves of Breaksea Sound and Acheron Passage
- Visit Luncheon Cove on predator-free Anchor Island and be amazed by the birdlife including South Island Saddleback, Robins, Yellowhead and Parakeets
- Learn about pioneering conservationist Richard Henry on Pigeon Island
- Sail deep into the heart of Fiordland in Dusky Sound
- Explore New Zealand’s deepest fiord Doubtful Sound and its lush rainforests and towering waterfalls
- Astronomers Point, Wet Jacket Arm, Deep Cove and more
- Experience two of Fiordland’s most remote, hard to reach and spectacular destinations on one voyage
*T&Cs apply, new bookings only, July - September 2026 departures only when booked by 29 August 2025.
All of the Fiords: The Ultimate Fiordland Experience
10 DAYS
2025
13 Feb, 18 & 27 Mar
16 Jul, 15 Aug, 25 Aug
19 Sep
2026
17 Feb, 22 Mar, 1 Apr
16 Jul, 31 Aug, 10 Sep SAVE 20%*
Te Anau, New Zealand and Return
Aboard Heritage Explorer
- Discover Fiordland’s ice-carved mountains, verdant forests and winding fiords
- Enjoy a spectacular scenic helicopter flight to start your adventure
- Marvel at magnificent Milford Sound
- Witness Alice Falls thundering out of Lake Alice in George Sound
- Visit rarely explored fiords Charles and Caswell Sounds
- Experience the Sound of Silence – Doubtful Sound
- Look for Bottlenose Dolphins, Fiordland Crested Penguins and New Zealand Fur Seals
- Visit historic ruins from New Zealand’s early mining and milling at Preservation Inlet
- Learn about the rich conservation history of the region including Richard Henry’s pioneering bird transfers
- Kahukura and Taumoana Marine Reserves
- Acheron Passage, Breaksea Sound, Chalky Inlet and more
- Island sanctuaries for Kakapo and Little Spotted Kiwi
*T&Cs apply, new bookings only, July - September 2026 departures only when booked by 29 August 2025.
Heritage Explorer
Setting a new standard for discovery travel in New Zealand, Heritage Explorer combines the ultimate in comfort with unique itineraries and a personalised experience for a maximum of just 18 guests. Built by the renowned wooden boat building family Carey's Boatyard in Picton, it features a contemporary wood-finished interior, 10 well-appointed cabins across three decks, dining room with spectacular 180-degree panoramas and theatre capabilities; lounge and bar featuring a flight of inclusive regional New Zealand wines, beers and spirits; and a well-stocked local library. Outside, guests can enjoy plenty of covered space on the Bridge Deck, or ajourn to the Sun Deck for wildlife spotting. Kayaks and fishing equipment are available for use, and two tenders allow for deeper exploration and unforgettable wildlife encounters.
Technical Specs
Vessel Type: Expedition Yacht
Expedition Staff & Crew: 5
Guests: 18
Cabins: 10
Length: 30m
Cruising Speed: 10 knots
Tenders: 2
Fiordland Cruises
Aboard 140-Guest Heritage Adventurer
Unseen Fiordland & Stewart Island: Exploring New Zealand's Remote Backyard
6 DAYS
27 Dec 2025 SAVE 20%*
2 Jan 2027 SAVE 20%*
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
Oban, New Zealand to Bluff, New Zealand
- The time-forgot rawness of wildlife-rich Stewart Island
- A wealth of birding highlights on predator-free Ulva Island
- Discover the primordial majesty and unspoiled beauty of Fiordland, visiting Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and Acheron Passage, Astronomer’s Point and Pickersgill Harbour
- Experience the thundering spectacle of Stirling Falls
- Explore sea caves and observe wildlife in spectacular numbers
- Zodiac cruise glittering waterways between podocarp forests looking for penguins and dolphins
- Visit some of New Zealand's most remote and iconic locations, many only accessible by expedition ship
- Look for the Stewart Island Brown Kiwi often seen during the day
- Learn about the rich history and conservation efforts of these remote regions
*Book by 29 August 2025. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.
Beyond Fiordland: New Zealand's Wildest Islands
12 DAYS
21 Dec 2025 SAVE 15%*
27 Dec 2026 SAVE 20%*
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
Bluff, New Zealand and Return
- Visit remote World Heritage Sites: The Snares, Auckland Islands and Campbell Island, and explore Stewart and Ulva Islands, Fiordland (Doubtful Sound, Dusky Sound and Acheron Passage, Astronomer’s Point and Pickersgill Harbour)
- Dec 2024 voyage includes the option to join a sea kayaking excursion
- Discover the primordial majesty and unspoiled beauty of Fiordland
- Explore sea caves and observe wildlife in spectacular numbers
- Zodiac cruise glittering waterways between podocarp forests looking penguins and dolphins
- Spend the day hiking the unforgettable landscapes of Enderby and Campbell Islands
- Look for the elusive Campbell and Auckland Island Snipe
- Wade waist deep through fields of flowering megaherbs
- Experience the rarely-seen early Albatross courting ritual known as gamming
- Explore wildlife-rich rugged coastlines
- Human history - Coastwatcher's Huts, early settlements and shipwreck tales
- Visit some of New Zealand's most remote and iconic locations, many only accessible by expedition ship
*Book by 29 August 2025. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.
New Zealand Coastal Odyssey: The Ultimate Expedition Cruise of the New Zealand Coast
12 DAYS
3 Mar 2026 SAVE 5%*
13 DAYS
11 Nov 2026 SAVE 20%*
Aboard Heritage Adventurer
Queenstown to Auckland, New Zealand
- Discover the primordial majesty and unspoiled beauty of Fiordland
- Wealth of birding highlights on predator-free Ulva Island
- Discover Stewart Island's quirky town centre Oban
- Explore the 'World's Coolest Little Capital,' Wellington
- Visit the quirky avant garde fashion forward city of Dunedin
- Enjoy a traditional Maori welcome and unforgettable cultural immersion
- Golden beaches and island conservation sanctuaries of the upper North Island
- Discover the wildlife and rich history of New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds
- Explore the incredibly beautiful coastal scenery of Abel Tasman National Park
- Visit the renowned Eastwoodhill Arboretum
- Enjoy New Zealand's world-famous wines and gourmet fare
- Marvel at Rotorua's steam vents, geysers and bubbling mud pools
*Book by August 2025. Landing fees not included, per person, new bookings only.
Introducing: Heritage Adventurer
Heritage Adventurer is a true pioneering expedition vessel of exceptional pedigree. Setting a peerless standard in authentic expedition travel, Heritage Adventurer (formerly known as MS Hanseatic) brings an impressive history of Polar exploration. Having held records for the most northern and southern Arctic and Antarctic navigations, and for traversing both the Northwest and Northeast Passages, makes Heritage Adventurer perfect for our signature expeditions. Originally designed for 184 guests, Heritage Adventurer now welcomes just 140 expeditioners ensuring spacious, stylish and comfortable voyages, while a fleet of 14 Zodiacs ensures all guests are able to maximise their expedition adventure.
Indulge in an awe-inducing Observation Lounge with library, bar and sweeping 270-degree views, or relax the Oberservation Deck with 360-degree views and comfortable sun loungers. Reinvigorate in the heated salt water pool, well-equipped gym, enclosed hot tub, sauna and steam room. Savor daily international gourmet cuisine from talented chefs across two lavish restaurants, and settle into spacious and well-appointed accommodations each night.
Technical Specs
Year Built: 1991
Shipyard: Rauma, Finland
Classification: Lloyds 1AS, GL E4
Accommodation: 140 guests
Length: 124 metres
Beam: 18 metres
Draft: 4.97 metres
Gross Tonnage: 8,378gt
Engines: 3,940 horsepower (x2)
Maximum Speed: 15 knots
Cruising Speed: 12 knots
Range: 8,600 nautical miles
Zodiacs: 14
About Heritage Expeditions
Ambassadors for conservation, pioneers of discovery, and leaders in expedition travel to the world’s best-kept secrets.
Experience
For 40 years, Heritage Expeditions has pioneered voyages to some of the most wild and biologically rich regions on the planet. Our mission is to increase awareness and conservation of the natural world through responsible expedition travel.
Expert Team
Our team of naturalists and crew bring an enormous wealth of experience, knowledge and passion to our expeditions, both in the field and onboard our ship during our lecture series.
Our Ships
Our 140-guest Heritage Adventurer offers luxury all-suite staterooms, elegant common areas and cuisine prepared by top chefs. Our 18-guest expedition yacht, Heritage Explorer, features 10 cabins, Sun Deck, kayaks, fishing equipment and superb cuisine prepared by top NZ chefs.
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