Australia & New Zealand: A Month Down Under — Self-Launched

Land at AKL and take the SkyBus or AT Airport Express into the CBD (~NZ$20). Check into a hostel in the Britomart/Karangahape Road area. Free walking tour of the waterfront or a wander up Mount Eden for sunset views. Sort a NZ eSIM, a HOP travel card, and pre-book your InterCity FlexiPass online tonight.

🚌SkyBus from airport ~£10

🛏Hostel dorm (Britomart/K Rd), ~£22

• →Self-guided CBD / waterfront walk
• →Mount Eden sunset viewpoint

Take an InterCity bus south to Hamilton/Raglan (book online, ~NZ$35-45). Raglan is a small surf town — hostels and shuttle drivers will happily drop you at Bridal Veil Falls for a short native-bush walk if you ask. Or hire a bike locally. Evening: fish and chips at the harbour.

🚌InterCity bus ~£20

🛏Raglan backpackers dorm, ~£22

• →Bridal Veil Falls walk (free)
• →Raglan harbour sunset

Book a beginner surf lesson direct with one of the local surf schools on Manu Bay or Ngarunui Beach (~NZ$90-110 for 3 hours, board included). Afternoon free to read on the beach, hire a kayak from the harbour, or walk the Te Toto Gorge track.

🚌Walk / local shuttle

🛏Raglan backpackers dorm, ~£22

• →Beginner surf lesson (~£48)
• →Te Toto Gorge walk (free)

InterCity bus to Waitomo (~2.5h), leave bags at the i-SITE and do the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour direct (~NZ$75) or the more adventurous Black Water Rafting 'Labyrinth' (~NZ$190). Afternoon bus on to Rotorua. In the evening, walk through Kuirau Park's free steaming craters, or book the Te Puia night experience (~NZ$60-110 via GetYourGuide) for a Maori cultural show and geyser viewing.

🚌InterCity buses ~£30

🛏Rotorua hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Waitomo Glowworm Caves (~£35)
• →Kuirau Park steam vents (free) or Te Puia evening (~£50)

Morning free — soak at the free Kuirau Park hot pools or book white-water rafting on the Kaituna (~NZ$135). Afternoon bus to Taupo, stopping at Huka Falls (a short walk from the Taupo end of the trail). Sunset kayak or a lakeside swim; skip the paid sailboat and rent a paddleboard instead if budget matters.

🚌InterCity bus ~£15

🛏Taupo hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Huka Falls walk (free)
• →Optional Kaituna rafting (~£70)

Bus to Wellington (~4.5h). Te Papa museum is free — give it two hours. Ride the Wellington Cable Car (~NZ$5) up to the Botanic Garden and walk back down. Evening drinks on Cuba Street.

🚌InterCity bus ~£22

🛏Wellington hostel dorm, ~£27

• →Te Papa museum (free)
• →Cable Car + Botanic Garden (~£3)

Take the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton (~3.5h, book ahead — NZ$65-90). Stand on the outside deck for the Marlborough Sounds. Then bus onward to Nelson or straight to Motueka/Marahau. Evening stroll on Kaiteriteri Beach.

🚌Ferry ~£40 + bus ~£18

🛏Marahau/Motueka hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Marlborough Sounds ferry crossing
• →Kaiteriteri Beach

Book an Aqua Taxi or water taxi direct (Marahau to Anchorage, ~NZ$50-60) and walk the coastal track back at your own pace — 3-4 hours through golden beaches and turquoise bays. Stop at Anchorage, Torrent Bay and Bark Bay. Bring lunch, water and sunscreen.

🚌Aqua Taxi ~£28

🛏Marahau/Motueka hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Aqua Taxi to Anchorage
• →Abel Tasman coastal track walk

Long travel day south. Take the InterCity bus via Nelson to Westport (~5-6h). If driving/hitching, stop at the Cape Foulwind seal colony walkway (free, 10 min boardwalk). In Westport, explore the old coal town and the seal colony viewpoint on the Tauranga Bay side.

🚌InterCity bus ~£25

🛏Westport hostel dorm, ~£22

• →Cape Foulwind seal colony (free)

Bus south stopping at Punakaiki to walk the Pancake Rocks and blowholes track (free, 30 min loop). Continue down the coast to Franz Josef. Evening: soak at the free Glacier Hot Pools if you can get a booking, or the paid pools (~NZ$30).

🚌InterCity bus ~£28

🛏Franz Josef hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Pancake Rocks & blowholes (free)

Choose your budget: a heli-hike with snow landing (~NZ$500-700, book direct with Franz Josef Glacier Guides) or a self-guided walk to the glacier terminal viewpoint via the Douglas Walk (2-3h, free). The Lake Matheson loop at dusk is spectacular and free. Rainy? The Waiho hot pools are the fallback.

🚌Walk / local shuttle

🛏Franz Josef hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Glacier valley viewpoint walk (free)
• →Optional heli-hike (~£250)
• →Lake Matheson loop (free)

Bus over Haast Pass and down through the Southern Lakes. Stop at Wanaka for the #ThatWanakaTree photo and a lakeside lunch, then continue to Queenstown (~7-8h total). Book Queenstown adventure activities tonight (bungee, jet boat, Gondola) — prices are cheapest a day or two out.

🚌InterCity bus ~£35

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →That Wanaka Tree
• →Lake Wanaka foreshore walk

Pick one big thing: Nevis or Kawarau Bungee (~NZ$205-275), the Shotover Canyon Swing (~NZ$275), or the Skyline Gondola + Luge (~NZ$50). Walk the Queenstown Hill Time Walk for free views, then eat at Fergburger (a Queenstown institution) and swim at Lake Wakatipu beach.

🚌Walk / local bus

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Queenstown Hill walk (free)
• →Optional bungee (~£120) or Gondola (~£25)

Option A: self-drive or shuttle the Glenorchy road for LOTR scenery and Lake Wakatipu viewpoints. Option B: book a Milford Sound day trip with cruise via GetYourGuide/Klook (~£120-160, includes coach from Queenstown, 12h day) — cheaper if you base in Te Anau instead. Evening back in Queenstown.

🚌Coach tour or shuttle

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Glenorchy scenic drive
• →Optional Milford Sound cruise day trip (~£120)

Bus via Cromwell and Twizel to Lake Tekapo (~4h). Cycle the lake loop on a hired bike (~NZ$40) or walk the Church of the Good Shepherd and lakeshore. Evening: the Dark Sky Reserve is one of the best stargazing spots on earth — a free spot on the beach works, or book the Dark Sky Project (~NZ$120).

🚌InterCity bus ~£22

🛏Lake Tekapo hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Church of the Good Shepherd (free)
• →Stargazing in the Dark Sky Reserve (free option)

Shuttle from Tekapo to Mount Cook Village (~1.5h). Hike the Hooker Valley Track (3-4h return, free) — the swing bridges with Aoraki ahead are unmissable. Or the shorter Kea Point / Tasman Glacier view tracks. Overnight in the village (limited beds — book early) or return to Tekapo.

🚌Shuttle ~£15

🛏Mount Cook backpackers dorm, ~£32

• →Hooker Valley Track (free)
• →Tasman Glacier viewpoint

Morning shuttle to Christchurch (~5h) via Lake Pukaki lookout. Arrive mid-afternoon and wander the Re:START container mall, Hagley Park and the Cardboard Cathedral. Book tomorrow's Trans-Tasman flight (Jetstar/Air NZ) to Sydney if you haven't already.

🚌InterCity/GreatSights coach ~£28

🛏Christchurch hostel dorm, ~£24

• →Lake Pukaki lookout
• →Christchurch city walk (free)

Morning flight Christchurch to Sydney (~3.5h, ~£150-250 if booked ahead). Take the Airport Link train into the CBD (~AU$20). Afternoon: walk Circular Quay, the Opera House forecourt and the Rocks. Free spot to watch the Bridge. Pick up an Opal card or use contactless tap-and-go.

🚌Flight ~£180 + train ~£11

🛏Sydney hostel dorm (The Rocks/King's Cross), ~£32

• →Sydney Opera House forecourt (free)
• →The Rocks walking tour (free)

Take the public Manly Ferry from Circular Quay to Manly Beach (~AU$8 each way — the best-value harbour cruise in the world). Walk the Manly to Shelly Beach path and swim. Optional paid: Sydney Opera House tour (~AU$45) or BridgeClimb (~AU$390). Evening: Chinatown or Newtown for a cheap dinner.

🚌Opal card ferry/train ~£8

🛏Sydney hostel dorm, ~£32

• →Manly Ferry & Manly Beach
• →Shelly Beach walk

Take the NSW TrainLink XPT or Greyhound north. Cheapest is the train to Wauchope + bus into Port Macquarie (or Greyhound direct, ~AU$50-70). Afternoon on the coastal walkway and koala hospital visit (free entry, donations welcome).

🚌Train/bus ~£30

🛏Port Macquarie hostel/YHA, ~£28

• →Coastal walkway
• →Koala Hospital visit

Long bus day north (~6h, Greyhound/NSW TrainLink coach, ~AU$60-80). Arrive Byron in the evening — the town is small and walkable. Grab a cheap burrito and watch the sunset from Main Beach.

🚌Greyhound ~£35

🛏Byron Bay hostel dorm, ~£32

• →Main Beach sunset

Walk the Cape Byron track to Australia's most easterly point and the lighthouse (free, 2h loop) — whale-watch from the headland in season. Optional: ocean kayaking with dolphins (~AU$80-95, book direct or on GetYourGuide). Sunset at The Pass.

🚌Walk

🛏Byron Bay hostel dorm, ~£32

• →Cape Byron Lighthouse walk (free)
• →Optional ocean kayaking (~£45)

Bus north to Noosa (~5h, ~AU$70). Base in Noosaville (cheaper than Hastings Street). Afternoon swim at Noosa Main Beach and the Noosa National Park coastal walk — koala spotting on the Noosa Hill track.

🚌Greyhound ~£38

🛏Noosaville hostel dorm, ~£30

• →Noosa National Park coastal walk (free)
• →Noosa Main Beach

Book a kayak or canoe hire on the Noosa Everglades (~AU$60-90 for a self-guided half day) — one of only two everglades systems on earth. Or take the Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat) and a Hinterland drive. Evening: sunset at Noosa Spit.

🚌Local shuttle

🛏Noosaville hostel dorm, ~£30

• →Noosa Everglades kayak (~£35)
• →Eumundi Markets (Wed/Sat)

Bus north to Rainbow Beach (~2h) or Hervey Bay. Rainbow Beach is the backpacker launchpad for K'gari (Fraser Island). Evening: Carlo Sandblow sunset walk (free, 20 min). Book tomorrow's K'gari 2-day tag-along or guided tour tonight — self-drive 4x4 tag-alongs are the cheapest route (~AU$220-320 for 2 days incl. permit, ferry and food).

🚌Bus ~£20

🛏Rainbow Beach hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Carlo Sandblow sunset walk (free)

Board the barge to K'gari and drive the sand highways. Highlights: Lake McKenzie (freshwater, silica white sand), Central Station rainforest and Wanggoolba Creek. Beach camping or eco-lodge overnight; a ranger-led talk or campfire is often included on tag-along tours.

🚌4x4 + barge (included)

🛏K'gari beach camping / eco lodge (included in tour), ~£40 (in tour price)

• →Lake McKenzie swim
• →Central Station rainforest walk
• →Twilight beach walk

Morning: Eli Creek boardwalk, Maheno shipwreck and the coloured sands at the Pinnacles. Catch the afternoon barge back and shower at the hostel. Evening bus or overnight stay in Hervey Bay; tomorrow's a travel day to Airlie Beach.

🚌4x4 + barge (included)

🛏Hervey Bay / Rainbow Beach hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Eli Creek
• →Maheno shipwreck
• →Pinnacles coloured sands

Long travel day north (~10h by bus, or fly Brisbane to Proserpine cheaper if booked early, ~£80-120). Greyhound overnight or day bus ~AU$110. Arrive Airlie Beach, walk the lagoon and Bicentennial Boardwalk, and book your Whitsundays day trip for tomorrow.

🚌Greyhound ~£60

🛏Airlie Beach hostel dorm, ~£30

• →Airlie Beach Lagoon (free)

Book a full-day Whitsundays cruise direct or via Klook/GetYourGuide (~AU$180-250) — Whitehaven Beach, Hill Inlet lookout and snorkelling at the fringing reef. Cheaper options: a sailing day trip leaving from Port of Airlie at ~AU$160.

🚌Boat (included in tour)

🛏Airlie Beach hostel dorm, ~£30

• →Whitehaven Beach
• →Hill Inlet lookout
• →Reef snorkelling (~£100 all-in)

Bus to Townsville (~3.5h) then the Sealink ferry to Magnetic Island (~AU$36 return). Hire a scooter (~AU$40/day) and explore Forts Walk for koalas, Radical Bay and Alma Bay. Cheaper and quieter than Cairns for a beach day.

🚌Bus ~£25 + ferry ~£19

🛏Magnetic Island hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Forts Walk koala spotting
• →Alma Bay snorkel

Morning ferry back, then bus or train north to Cairns (~4.5h). Check into the Esplanade area and walk the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon (free). Book your Great Barrier Reef trip today — Reef Magic or Quicksilver are ~AU$250-280 for a full day with snorkelling.

🚌Bus/train ~£25

🛏Cairns hostel dorm (Esplanade), ~£26

• →Cairns Esplanade Lagoon (free)
• →Night markets

Full day on the outer reef — snorkel the coral gardens and spot clownfish, parrotfish and reef sharks (~AU$250-290 incl. lunch and gear). Intro dives cost extra. Remember reef-safe sunscreen. Evening: Cairns night markets and a cheap dinner.

🚌Reef boat (included)

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Outer Great Barrier Reef snorkelling (~£130)
• →Optional intro dive (~£70)

Day tour or self-drive north to the Daintree — the world's oldest rainforest. Book a Croc Express or Daintree day tour (~AU$130-180) or take the bus to Port Douglas and hire a car. Walk the Mossman Gorge boardwalk and swim in the gorge (with care).

🚌Tours/shuttle ~£20

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Mossman Gorge walk
• →Daintree Rainforest day trip (~£80)

Free day in Cairns. Options: the Kuranda Scenic Railway + Skyrail cable car (~AU$120), an Atherton Tablelands waterfall tour, or a chill day at the Esplanade with a coffee and a swim. Use it to catch up on rest and laundry.

🚌Local bus / optional tour

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Optional Kuranda Scenic Railway (~£60)
• →Esplanade day

Buffer day — take the ferry to Fitzroy Island (~AU$80 return) for snorkelling and the Nudey Beach walk, or book a second reef/sail trip if you loved the first. Or head up to Palm Cove for a quieter beach and brunch.

🚌Ferry/shuttle

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Fitzroy Island day trip (~£45)
• →Nudey Beach walk

Use today as buffer for weather cancellations and to plan the next leg (Brisbane? Sydney? Working holiday?). Free: Cairns Botanic Gardens, the Red Arrow walk, or a sunset at the marina. Confirm flights and any onwards plans.

🚌Walk

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Botanic Gardens (free)
• →Marina sunset

Final swim, souvenir shopping at the Night Markets, and a relaxed dinner. If you're extending into a working-holiday year, sort your TFN and bank account today (both possible online in a few hours with an Australian address).

🚌Walk

🛏Cairns hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Night Markets shopping
• →Esplanade swim

Check out and fly out from Cairns (CNS) — direct international links to Asia and NZ, or domestic hops south. If you need to get back to Sydney/Brisbane, Jetstar rarely costs more than AU$150 if booked ahead.

🚌Airport shuttle ~£8

🛏None — departure day

• →Departure