Making the most of Dusky Sound
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
There is no disembarkation at this location.
Ships visiting Dusky Sound usually include Acheron Passage and Breaksea Sound.
This is among the coast's most complex fjords and one of its largest, measuring 40 kilometers long and eight kilometers across at its widest. Large Resolution Island lies north of its mouth, where the Five Fingers Peninsula protects the sound's entrance from the northwest. On Resolution Island's east coast, Acheron Passage links Dusky Sound with Breaksea Sound to the north.
New Zealand's longest fjord at 44km, Dusky Sound is also among its most beautiful, with many wooded islands and inlets. Captain Cook named it after passing the fjord at dusk on his first voyage in 1770. He entered the sound on his second voyage in 1773, spending more than 6 weeks refitting the Resolution and collecting supplies.
Money
The New Zealand dollar is the country's currency. Some traders, particularly in tourist destinations, accept foreign money. The approximate US-dollar to NZ-dollar conversion is US$1=NZD1.30.
Automatic teller machines (ATMs), locally called 'the hole in the wall', are found in almost every town.
Staying connected
English, Maori and New Zealand Sign Language are New Zealand's official languages. English is universal and written using Commonwealth ("British") spelling.
The emergency telephone number for New Zealand is 111.
Many public libraries provide public Internet access, generally for a charge.