Australia & New Zealand: Surf Camps & Kiwi Highlights — Self-Launched
15 days · New Zealand & Australia
G Adventures charges £1,580
No-markup version: ~£1,485 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 15-day version of G Adventures' Auckland-to-Brisbane surf-and-highlights run: North Island road-tripping and glowworms, Māori culture in Rotorua, lake sailing in Taupō, then a hop to Sydney for ferry-and-coastal-walk days, and finally a train north to the Spot X surf camp near Coffs Harbour. You'll use InterCity buses, the Northern Explorer or Naked Bus routes, Jetstar/ Air New Zealand sale flights, the NSW TrainLink XPT and hostel dorms — all bookable directly, at your own pace.
Day-by-day
Arrive Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus (approx NZ$20, ~£10) or the cheaper 38 bus to the CBD. Check into a central hostel on Queen Street or in Ponsonby. Spend the afternoon wandering the waterfront and Britomart, and if the weather is good walk up Mount Eden for sunset views over the harbour and volcanoes. Sort your AT HOP card for city transport.
🚌SkyBus/airport bus Auckland Airport to CBD ~£10
🛏Central Auckland hostel dorm (e.g. Queen Street or Ponsonby area), £22
Auckland to Raglan via Bridal Veil Falls
Raglan, New Zealand
Book the InterCity bus from Auckland to Hamilton (~£14), then the local Raglan shuttle or bus onward (~£7). If you'd rather stop at Bridal Veil Falls on the way, hire a car for a day or join a small shared van — the falls are just off the highway with a short 10-minute bush walk each way. Arrive in Raglan, a laid-back surf and arts town, and get oriented: hire a kayak from a local operator (approx £25 for a half-day on the harbour). Overnight in Raglan's surf hostel.
🚌InterCity bus Auckland–Hamilton ~£14 + Raglan shuttle ~£7
🛏Raglan surf hostel dorm, £24
- →Short bush walk to Bridal Veil Falls
- →Self-hired kayak on Raglan Harbour
Raglan surf lesson & beach time
Raglan, New Zealand
Raglan Surf School and a couple of other local operators run beginner group lessons (approx £45–55 for 2–3 hours, book direct or via GetYourGuide). Raglan's Manu Bay / Ngarunui Beach breaks are gentle enough for first-timers with a coach. Spend the rest of the day swimming, walking the coastal track to the point, and eating fish and chips by the water. Sunscreen and a rash vest are your best friends here.
🚌Walking / local shuttle in town ~£3
🛏Raglan surf hostel dorm, £24
- →Surf lesson in Raglan (direct with local surf school or GetYourGuide)
Raglan to Rotorua via Waitomo
Rotorua, New Zealand
Take an InterCity bus Raglan–Hamilton–Waitomo (~£18), then drop your bag and book either the standard Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour (~£48) or, for the brave, the Black Water Rafting tubing trip (~£92). After the caves, continue on an InterCity service to Rotorua (~£15). In the evening, book a Te Puia night experience directly (~£70) for geothermal geysers plus a Māori cultural performance — or do the cheaper daytime day-pass option if you're budget-focused.
🚌InterCity Raglan–Waitomo–Rotorua ~£33
🛏Rotorua central hostel dorm, £24
- →Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour
- →Te Puia geothermal & Māori cultural evening (book direct)
Rotorua & Taupō — Huka Falls and lake sail
Taupō, New Zealand
Free morning in Rotorua: pick either the Kuirau Park free geothermal walk and mud pools, or a public hot pool like Kerosene Creek (free, ~30 min drive — check a local shuttle) — cheap option — or a paid spa (~£28) if you want the full treatment. Mid-afternoon, take the InterCity bus Rotorua–Taupō (~£11) and stop at Huka Falls — it's walkable from town on the Huka Falls Walkway or a short bus ride. In the afternoon book a Lake Taupō sailboat trip direct (~£45) — a small yacht operator will usually take walk-ups.
🚌InterCity Rotorua–Taupō ~£11 + local buses ~£5
🛏Taupō hostel dorm, £24
- →Huka Falls walkway
- →Kuirau Park geothermal walk
- →Lake Taupō sailboat trip
Taupō to Wellington
Wellington, New Zealand
Take the InterCity bus Taupō–Wellington (~£22, roughly 5 hours) or, if you have the budget, the scenic Northern Explorer train (Wellington end of the line — check current timetables). Arrive early afternoon, drop bags at a hostel near Cuba Street. Te Papa National Museum is free entry for the main collections, so spend an hour or two on the Māori and Pacific galleries. Ride the Wellington Cable Car (~£5) for the view, walk through the Botanic Garden back down, and finish with dinner on Cuba Street.
🚌InterCity Taupō–Wellington ~£22 + local buses ~£5
🛏Wellington hostel dorm (Cuba Street area), £26
- →Te Papa Museum (free entry)
- →Wellington Cable Car & Botanic Garden walk
- →Cuba Street dinner
Wellington to Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Fly Wellington to Sydney with Jetstar or Air New Zealand (~£120–160 one-way booked 6–8 weeks out). Arrive Kings Cross or Surry Hills and check into a hostel dorm. Evening at leisure: walk the waterfront at Circular Quay for your first look at the Opera House and Harbour Bridge lit up, then grab a cheap dinner in Chinatown or Newtown.
🚌Flight Wellington–Sydney ~£140 + Sydney airport train ~£10
🛏Sydney hostel dorm (Kings Cross / Surry Hills), £32
- →Circular Quay evening walk
Sydney to Manly ferry & coastal walk
Sydney, Australia
Take the public Manly Ferry from Circular Quay (~£5 with an Opal card, about 30 minutes and arguably the best-value harbour cruise in Sydney). Land at Manly, pick up a coffee and do the Manly to Spit or Manly–Shelly Beach coastal walk. Surf lessons and board hire are available at Manly Beach if you want more water time (approx £40 for a group lesson, book direct). Return on the ferry at sunset.
🚌Opal card ferry + buses ~£8
🛏Sydney hostel dorm, £32
- →Manly Ferry crossing
- →Manly–Shelly Beach coastal walk
- →Optional surf lesson at Manly
Sydney highlights — Opera House, The Rocks, Bondi
Sydney, Australia
Book an Opera House guided tour (~£25, direct) or just walk the concourse for free. Wander The Rocks markets and laneways, then catch the 333 or 380 bus to Bondi and do the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk (free, ~2 hours, spectacular). Skip the Harbour Bridge climb (£200+) unless it's a bucket-list splurge — the free pylon lookout (~£10) gets you a great view for a fraction of the price.
🚌Opal card buses/trains ~£8
🛏Sydney hostel dorm, £32
- →Sydney Opera House tour
- →The Rocks neighbourhood walk
- →Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
- →Pylon Lookout
Sydney free day — beach or Blue Mountains
Sydney, Australia
Pick your own adventure: a day trip to the Blue Mountains by train to Katoomba (~£6 each way, ~2 hours) for the Three Sisters and free bush walks; or stay in town for the Australian Museum (free), Paddington markets and a swim at Bronte. Book your NSW TrainLink XPT ticket to Coffs Harbour online today for tomorrow, and pack for surf camp.
🚌Opal card trains/buses ~£12 (more if Blue Mountains day trip)
🛏Sydney hostel dorm, £32
- →Optional Blue Mountains day trip
- →Australian Museum (free entry)
- →Bronte or Coogee beach swim
Train north to Coffs Harbour & Spot X Surf Camp
Arrawarra, Australia
Board the NSW TrainLink XPT from Sydney Central to Coffs Harbour (~£40, roughly 9 hours — book online in advance for the cheapest fare). Watch for one piece of luggage plus one carry-on, or NSW TrainLink charges an extra fee. From Coffs Harbour station, take a local taxi or bus up the coast to Arrawarra (~£12), where Spot X Surf Camp offers dorm beds and multi-day packages direct. Check-in, meet the other surfers, and eat at the camp.
🚌NSW TrainLink XPT Sydney–Coffs Harbour ~£40 + local transfer ~£12
🛏Spot X Surf Camp dorm (Arrawarra), £28
- →Scenic XPT train journey up the NSW coast
Surf lesson at Spot X & kangaroo trek
Arrawarra, Australia
Book your surf lesson directly with Spot X (a bundle of 2 lessons usually runs about £70–80 — cheaper than single lessons). The waves at Arrawarra are famously forgiving and the instructors are brilliant with beginners. In the afternoon, do a self-guided walk along the headland and beach to look for kangaroos (dawn and dusk are best), or scramble the rockpools at Solitary Islands Marine Park. Sunset on Mullawarra Beach is mandatory.
🚌Walking
🛏Spot X Surf Camp dorm, £28
- →Surf lesson at Spot X
- →Self-guided kangaroo spotting walk
- →Solitary Islands rockpool scramble
Spot X — second surf and Byron Bay day trip
Arrawarra / Byron Bay, Australia
Do your second surf lesson in the morning, then in the afternoon take the local bus or a Greyhound/ Premier bus day trip up to Byron Bay (~£10 each way, 45 mins) to walk to Cape Byron Lighthouse and spot whales between June and November. Optional ocean kayaking with a local operator (~£45, book via Klook or direct). Return to Spot X for the night or stay over in Byron if you want a night out.
🚌Local bus Arrawarra–Byron Bay return ~£20
🛏Spot X Surf Camp dorm, £28
- →Second surf lesson
- →Cape Byron Lighthouse walk
- →Optional Byron Bay ocean kayaking
Coffs Harbour to Brisbane
Brisbane, Australia
Travel north to Brisbane — the cheapest option is a Greyhound or Premier bus from Coffs Harbour (~£40, around 7 hours), or fly from Coffs Harbour Airport to Brisbane with QantasLink/Rex (~£85 if booked early). Arrive in Brisbane, check into a hostel in Fortitude Valley or West End, and enjoy a relaxed evening along the South Bank Parklands and river walk.
🚌Coach Coffs Harbour–Brisbane ~£40 + local buses ~£5
🛏Brisbane hostel dorm (Fortitude Valley / South Bank), £26
- →South Bank Parklands stroll
Daisy Hill Koala Centre & departure
Brisbane, Australia
Catch the train and bus out to the Daisy Hill Koala Centre (free entry, ~£5 in Opal fares each way) for a genuinely close view of koalas — far cheaper than the big-ticket wildlife parks. Alternatively, spend a morning at the Queensland Museum and Gallery of Modern Art (both free), then head to Brisbane Airport via the Airtrain (~£12). Late flights out or a final night in town if you want a buffer.
🚌Opal card trains/buses ~£15 + Airtrain to airport ~£12
🛏Departure day — no accommodation included
- →Daisy Hill Koala Centre (free)
- →Queensland Museum / GOMA (free)
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,485 | £1,580 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £95 per person (6%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,485
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Australia & New Zealand: Surf Camps & Kiwi Highlights — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,485 per person for 15 days in New Zealand & Australia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,580 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,485 — a saving of roughly £95 (6%) per person.
How long is the New Zealand & Australia trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through New Zealand & Australia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, backpacker, beaches trip through New Zealand & Australia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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