Dusky Sound is a fjord on the south west corner of New Zealand, in Fiordland National Park.

Geography

One of the most complex of the many fjords on this coast, it is also one of the largest, 40 kilometres in length and eight kilometres wide at its widest point. To the north of its mouth is the large Resolution Island, whose Five Fingers Peninsula shelters the mouth of the sound from the northwest. along the east coast of the island, Acheron passage connects Dusky Sound with Breaksea Sound, to the north.

Several large islands lie is the sound, notably Anchor Island, Long Island, and Cooper Island. The upper reaches of the sound are steep-sided, and the high precipitation of the region leads to hundreds of waterfalls cascading into the sound during the rainy season. Seals and dolphins are often sighted in the sound's waters. The Seaforth River is the largest of many small rivers and creeks which flow into the sound.

History

In pre-European times, it is believed that Maori occasionally camped by the sound's waters while hunting moa.

Dusky Sound was first sighted by Eurpoean explorers when Captain Cook noted the opening to the sound during his first voyage to New Zealand on February 13, 1770. He named it Dusky Bay. On his second expedition to New Zealand, Cook spent two months exploring the sound, and used it as a harbour, establishing workshops and an observatory. It is believed that the first beer brewed in New Zealand was brewed by Cook's crew at this time.

The sound was also used as a harbour by other visiting ships in the late 18th century and early 19th century, and from 1792 it became a favourite site for seal hunters.

Access

Access to the sound is by sea or foot only, with no roads reaching the coast at this point. A tramping track stretches to the upper reaches of the sound from lakes Manapouri and Hauroko.