Best of New Zealand: Self-Launched 21-Day North & South Island Adventure

Fly into Auckland International Airport and make your own way to the city centre. The Airbus Express (route 380) runs every 10–15 minutes and costs around £5 to the CBD. Check into a central hostel — Base Backpackers or Haka Lodge on Queen Street are well-reviewed options with dorm beds from £20/night. Spend the afternoon exploring the Viaduct Harbour waterfront and grabbing dinner on Ponsonby Road.

🚌Airbus Express 380 from Auckland Airport to CBD, ~£5

🛏Base Backpackers Auckland or Haka Lodge Auckland — dorm from £20/night

• →Airbus Express from airport to CBD (~£5)
• →Viaduct Harbour waterfront stroll
• →Explore Ponsonby Road food scene

Take an InterCity bus or book a seat on a Naked Bus from Auckland to Hamilton (£10–14, ~2hrs), then a local Busit! service or shared shuttle to Raglan (~45 mins, £5–8). Stop en route at Bridal Veil Falls (Wairēinga) — a free, short walk from a roadside car park. On arrival in Raglan, book a sea kayak tour directly with Raglan Kayak (raglankayak.co.nz) for around £35–45 per person. Check into Raglan Backpackers, a classic surfer's hostel right in town.

🚌InterCity bus Auckland–Hamilton (~£12), shared shuttle/local bus Hamilton–Raglan (~£7)

🛏Raglan Backpackers — dorm from £18/night

• →InterCity/Naked Bus Auckland to Hamilton (~£12)
• →Shared shuttle Hamilton to Raglan (~£7)
• →Bridal Veil Falls walk (free)
• →Sea kayak tour with Raglan Kayak (~£40)

Raglan is one of the world's great left-hand surf breaks. Book a beginner surf lesson directly with Raglan Surfing School (raglansurfingschool.co.nz) — lessons run daily and cost around £45–55 including board and wetsuit hire. Spend the afternoon exploring the town's laid-back cafés and galleries, or walk the Manu Bay cliffs for views over the break.

🚌No transport needed — all on foot in Raglan

🛏Raglan Backpackers — dorm from £18/night

• →Surf lesson with Raglan Surfing School (~£50)
• →Manu Bay cliff walk (free)
• →Explore Raglan village cafés and galleries

Take a shuttle or InterCity bus from Raglan via Hamilton to Waitomo (~2hrs, £15). Book your Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour online in advance at waitomo.com — the standard 45-minute guided cave tour costs around £32. Then continue to Rotorua by InterCity bus (~£18, 2.5hrs). In the evening, visit Te Puia Maori cultural centre and geyser park (tepuia.com) — evening performances with hāngī dinner cost around £75, or daytime-only entry is £35.

🚌Shuttle Raglan to Hamilton (~£10), InterCity Hamilton–Waitomo–Rotorua (~£23)

🛏Rotorua Central Backpackers or Base Rotorua — dorm from £18/night

• →Shuttle/bus Raglan–Hamilton–Waitomo (~£15)
• →Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided tour (~£32)
• →InterCity bus Waitomo–Rotorua (~£18)
• →Te Puia evening Maori cultural show and geyser visit (~£75)

Start the morning with a soak at Kuirau Park's free public hot springs in central Rotorua — a local favourite and completely free. Optional activities include the Redwood Forest Whakarewarewa mountain bike trails (hire from £20) or Grade 5 white-water rafting on the Kaituna River with Kaituna Cascades (~£65). In the afternoon, take an InterCity bus towards Taupo, stopping at Rainbow Mountain Reserve (Maunga Kākaramea) — DOC-managed trail, entry fee around £8. Continue to Huka Falls, a short walk from the road (free), before checking in to Taupo hostel.

🚌InterCity bus Rotorua to Taupo (~£12)

🛏Taupo Urban Retreat Hostel or All Seasons Holiday Park — dorm from £18/night

• →Kuirau Park public hot springs (free)
• →Optional: Kaituna River white-water rafting (~£65)
• →Optional: Redwood Forest MTB hire (~£20)
• →Rainbow Mountain Reserve walk (~£8)
• →Huka Falls walkway (free)
• →InterCity bus Rotorua–Taupo (~£12)

Catch an InterCity bus from Taupo to Wellington (£25–35, ~5.5hrs) — a spectacular drive through the volcanic plateau and Tongariro National Park. Arrive in Wellington by early afternoon. Drop your bags at a central hostel then head to Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand's national museum on the waterfront — free general entry. In the evening, explore Wellington's legendary craft beer and food scene around Cuba Street.

🚌InterCity bus Taupo to Wellington (~£30, ~5.5hrs)

🛏YHA Wellington City or Nomads Capital — dorm from £22/night

• →InterCity bus Taupo–Wellington (~£30)
• →Te Papa Tongarewa Museum (free general entry)
• →Cuba Street craft beer and food exploration

Book the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton (wellingtontopiton.co.nz) — book in advance online for the best prices, around £35–50 per person for a standard crossing (~3.5hrs). The crossing through the Marlborough Sounds is stunning. On arrival in Picton, take an Abel Tasman Coachlines bus to Motueka or Nelson (~£20–25), the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park. Check into the Motueka Top 10 Holiday Park or YHA Abel Tasman.

🚌Interislander/Bluebridge ferry Wellington–Picton (~£42), Abel Tasman Coachlines bus Picton–Motueka (~£22)

🛏YHA Abel Tasman (Motueka) or Motueka Top 10 — dorm/basic room from £20/night

• →Interislander or Bluebridge ferry Wellington–Picton (~£42)
• →Abel Tasman Coachlines bus Picton–Motueka (~£22)
• →Evening explore Motueka village

Take an Aquataxi or Abel Tasman Aquataxi (abeltasmanaquataxis.co.nz) water taxi from Kaiteriteri Beach into the park — from £30 one-way, letting you access remote beaches and trailheads. Hike a section of the Abel Tasman Coast Track (DOC, free trail) between Anchorage and Bark Bay (~8km, 3hrs), passing waterfalls and golden-sand coves. Take a water taxi back. Alternatively book a half-day guided kayak with Kahu Kayaks (~£55). Pack your own lunch to keep costs down.

🚌Water taxi from Kaiteriteri Beach (~£30 each way)

🛏YHA Abel Tasman (Motueka) — dorm from £20/night

• →Water taxi Kaiteriteri into Abel Tasman NP (~£30)
• →Abel Tasman Coast Track section hike (free)
• →Water taxi return (~£30)
• →Optional: half-day sea kayak with Kahu Kayaks (~£55)

Take an Abel Tasman Coachlines or Intercity bus from Motueka towards Westport (~3.5hrs, £25). Stop at Cape Foulwind on the drive — a short, free loop walkway leads to a New Zealand fur seal colony viewpoint. The walk takes about 45 minutes and is one of the best free wildlife experiences in New Zealand. Check into Westport's Bazil's Hostel, a budget traveller favourite.

🚌InterCity/Abel Tasman Coachlines bus Motueka to Westport (~£25, ~3.5hrs)

🛏Bazil's Hostel Westport — dorm from £18/night

• →Abel Tasman Coachlines/InterCity bus Motueka–Westport (~£25)
• →Cape Foulwind Seal Colony walkway (free)
• →Explore Westport town

Take the InterCity bus down the wild West Coast from Westport to Franz Josef (£20–30, ~3.5hrs), stopping at Punakaiki to walk the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes Loop Track — a DOC walk, free entry, around 30 minutes. The blowholes are most dramatic at high tide; check the tidal chart at doc.govt.nz. Continue south to Franz Josef village and check into the Rainforest Retreat hostel, set among native bush.

🚌InterCity bus Westport to Franz Josef (~£25, with Punakaiki stop)

🛏Rainforest Retreat Franz Josef or Franz Josef YHA — dorm from £20/night

• →InterCity bus Westport–Franz Josef (~£25)
• →Pancake Rocks & Blowholes Loop Track, Punakaiki (free)
• →Franz Josef village evening stroll

The Franz Josef Glacier valley floor walk is free and takes you to the glacier viewpoint — roughly a 2–3hr return hike managed by DOC. For a more dramatic experience, book a heli-hike with Franz Josef Glacier Guides (franzjosefglacier.com) — prices start around £175–200 per person for a 3.5hr guided heli-hike on the glacier ice. This is a splurge but a bucket-list experience. Alternatively, the valley walk and viewpoints are genuinely impressive at no cost.

🚌No transport — all on foot from Franz Josef village

🛏Rainforest Retreat Franz Josef or Franz Josef YHA — dorm from £20/night

• →Franz Josef Glacier valley floor walk and viewpoint (free)
• →Optional: heli-hike with Franz Josef Glacier Guides (~£185)
• →Evening soak at Glacier Hot Pools (~£18)

The West Coast to Queenstown route is one of New Zealand's great drives. Take an InterCity or Naked Bus service via Haast Pass (~£30–40, ~5.5hrs) — a breathtaking journey through ancient rainforest, past Lake Wanaka, and into Central Otago. Arrive in Queenstown by late afternoon. Check into one of Queenstown's many well-equipped hostels — Nomads or Haka Lodge are central and lively. Book any Queenstown activities in advance online to secure early-bird prices.

🚌InterCity/Naked Bus Franz Josef to Queenstown via Haast Pass (~£35, ~5.5hrs)

🛏Nomads Queenstown or Haka Lodge Queenstown — dorm from £22/night

• →InterCity bus Franz Josef–Queenstown via Haast Pass (~£35)
• →Queenstown waterfront evening stroll
• →Research and pre-book adventure activities

Queenstown is the adventure sports capital of the world — book activities directly to avoid agency markups. Bungee jumping at the original AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge (ajhackett.com, ~£115), skydiving with NZONE (~£195), or the Skyline Gondola and luge (£20 gondola, £5/luge ride) are all bookable online. For free thrills, walk the Queenstown Hill Time Walk for panoramic views (~2hrs return). In the evening, explore the lively Remarkables Market or dine in the buzzing town centre.

🚌Walking and local shuttles in Queenstown

🛏Nomads Queenstown or Haka Lodge Queenstown — dorm from £22/night

• →Optional: Kawarau Bridge Bungee (~£115)
• →Optional: NZONE Skydive (~£195)
• →Skyline Gondola (~£20)
• →Queenstown Hill Time Walk (free)
• →Evening in town centre

Spend a more relaxed day exploring the Gibbston Valley wine region, just 20 minutes from Queenstown. You can cycle the Queenstown Trail (hire bikes from Around the Basin, ~£25/day) along the Kawarau River to the valley. Stop for wine tasting at Gibbston Valley Winery or Peregrine Wines — tastings from £10–15. Alternatively, take a $20 bus to charming Arrowtown, a historic gold-mining village, and walk the Arrow River Bridges trail (free). Return to Queenstown for a final evening out.

🚌Bike hire or local bus to Gibbston/Arrowtown (~£10)

🛏Nomads Queenstown or Haka Lodge Queenstown — dorm from £22/night

• →Bike hire and Queenstown Trail cycle (~£25)
• →Gibbston Valley winery tasting (~£12)
• →Arrowtown historic village and Arrow River walk (free)
• →Evening in Queenstown

Book a Milford Sound day tour from Queenstown in advance — this is the most cost-effective way to do it independently. Real Journeys (realjourneys.co.nz) and Jucy Cruize offer cruise-only options from Milford Sound from £45–55, but you'll need a coach transfer from Queenstown (~£50 return) or to join a combined coach-and-cruise package (~£95–110 total). The 2-hour cruise passes Mitre Peak, waterfalls, seals, and dolphins. Book early — this sells out fast in season.

🚌Return coach from Queenstown to Milford Sound (~£50 return)

🛏Nomads Queenstown or Haka Lodge Queenstown — dorm from £22/night

• →Return coach Queenstown–Milford Sound (~£50)
• →Milford Sound nature cruise with Real Journeys or Jucy Cruize (~£50)
• →Fiordland National Park scenery en route (free)

Take an InterCity or Cook Connection shuttle from Queenstown towards Lake Tekapo, routing via Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park (~£40–50). Stop at the Mt Cook village — the Hooker Valley Track is one of New Zealand's most stunning free walks (3hrs return, DOC-managed), passing glacial lakes and ending with close-up views of Aoraki. Continue to Lake Tekapo by late afternoon. Check into YHA Lake Tekapo, beautifully situated on the lakeshore.

🚌Cook Connection or InterCity shuttle Queenstown–Mt Cook–Lake Tekapo (~£45)

🛏YHA Lake Tekapo — dorm from £20/night

• →InterCity/Cook Connection shuttle Queenstown–Mt Cook–Tekapo (~£45)
• →Hooker Valley Track, Aoraki/Mt Cook NP (free, ~3hrs return)
• →Arrive Lake Tekapo, lakeside walk

Hire a bike from Mackenzie Alpine Tramping & Trekking (~£20) and cycle the Lake Tekapo Loop Trail (~35km), with views of the turquoise glacial lake and the Southern Alps. In the afternoon, soak at the Tekapo Springs Hot Pools (~£18). After dark, book a stargazing tour at the Mt John University Observatory with Earth & Sky (earthandsky.co.nz, ~£45) — Lake Tekapo sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, one of the best stargazing spots on Earth.

🚌Bike hire — no other transport needed

🛏YHA Lake Tekapo — dorm from £20/night

• →Bike hire and Lake Tekapo Loop Trail (~35km, ~£20)
• →Tekapo Springs Hot Pools (~£18)
• →Mt John Observatory Dark Sky stargazing tour with Earth & Sky (~£45)
• →Church of the Good Shepherd visit (free)

Take an InterCity bus from Tekapo to Christchurch (~£22, ~3.5hrs). Spend the afternoon exploring New Zealand's 'garden city' — the post-earthquake regeneration is remarkable. Walk through the city centre's cardboard cathedral, the Avon River Punt (free to walk alongside), and the vibrant RESTART container mall. A free walking tour runs daily from the i-SITE visitor centre. Check into The Old Countryhouse Hostel or Haka Lodge Christchurch — the former is a converted heritage villa with a great atmosphere.

🚌InterCity bus Lake Tekapo to Christchurch (~£22, ~3.5hrs)

🛏Haka Lodge Christchurch or The Old Countryhouse Hostel — dorm from £20/night

• →InterCity bus Tekapo–Christchurch (~£22)
• →Free city walking tour from i-SITE (~free, tip-based)
• →Cardboard Cathedral visit (free)
• →Avon River Punting (optional, ~£15)
• →RESTART container mall

Take an InterCity bus from Christchurch to Kaikoura (~£18, ~2.5hrs) along the spectacular Pacific coastline. Kaikoura sits at the meeting of deep ocean trenches and the Kaikōura mountain range — one of the best places in the world for marine wildlife. Book a whale watching trip with Whale Watch Kaikoura (whalewatch.co.nz, ~£125) or dolphin swimming with Encounter Kaikoura (encounterkaikoura.co.nz, ~£95). Both require advance booking. Walk the free Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway (3hrs return) for fur seals basking on rocks at no cost.

🚌InterCity bus Christchurch to Kaikoura (~£18, ~2.5hrs)

🛏Dusky Lodge Kaikoura or Kaikoura Top 10 — dorm from £18/night

• →InterCity bus Christchurch–Kaikoura (~£18)
• →Whale Watch Kaikoura boat tour (~£125)
• →Optional: Dolphin Encounter Kaikoura (~£95)
• →Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway fur seal spotting (free)

Take an InterCity bus from Kaikoura north to Picton (~£18, ~2hrs), then board the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry back across Cook Strait to Wellington (~£35–45). Arrive Wellington by early evening. This is your last night — make the most of Wellington's excellent bar and live music scene around Cuba Street and the Courtenay Place nightlife strip. Ortega Fish Shack and Golding's Free Dive are local favourites.

🚌InterCity bus Kaikoura–Picton (~£18), Interislander/Bluebridge ferry Picton–Wellington (~£40)

🛏YHA Wellington City or Nomads Capital — dorm from £22/night

• →InterCity bus Kaikoura–Picton (~£18)
• →Interislander/Bluebridge ferry Picton–Wellington (~£40)
• →Final night out on Cuba Street and Courtenay Place

Your trip concludes in Wellington. Before departing, consider a tour of the world-famous Weta Workshop (wetaworkshop.com) — the studio behind the Lord of the Rings, Avatar, and The Hobbit special effects. The 'Unleashing the Imagination' guided tour costs ~£25 and runs throughout the day. Te Papa Museum also offers free entry if you didn't visit earlier. Head to the airport via the Airport Express bus from the CBD (~£7). Kia ora — great travels!

🚌Airport Express bus to Wellington Airport (~£7)

🛏Check-out day — no accommodation

• →Optional: Weta Workshop guided tour (~£25)
• →Te Papa Museum (free, if not visited)
• →Wellington waterfront final walk
• →Airport Express bus to Wellington Airport (~£7)