New Zealand Journey: Self-Launched North to South Island Adventure
11 days · New Zealand
G Adventures charges £3,600
No-markup version: ~£1,478 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An 11-day self-launched take on G Adventures' National Geographic "New Zealand Journey" — Auckland to Queenstown across both islands. You'll do the same core experiences (Waiheke Island wineries, Raglan, Waitomo glowworms, a Maori cultural evening in Rotorua, the TranzAlpine train, Franz Josef glacier country, an overnight Doubtful Sound cruise) but booking hostels, InterCity buses, the TranzAlpine, your own domestic flight and self-bookable activities instead of a guided group. Note: G Adventures advertised no price on the page, so the operator price shown is our estimate for this trip style (~£3,600 pp land-only, excluding international flights). All figures are approximate and in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Auckland
Auckland
Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus (about NZ$20 / £10) to the city centre, then walk or hop a short bus to your hostel in the CBD or Ponsonby. Spend the afternoon sorting a Kiwi SIM/eSIM, an AT HOP transit card and a grocery shop, then wander the Viaduct Harbour and Britomart at golden hour. Eat cheap at a food court or the Ponsonby night markets if you're in town on a Friday.
🚌SkyBus airport transfer, walking
🛏CBD or Ponsonby hostel dorm (e.g. Haka Lodge / The Attic)
- →Viaduct Harbour & Britomart orientation walk
- →Buy AT HOP card and SIM
Waiheke Island wineries
Waiheke Island / Auckland
Walk down to the ferry terminal and take the Fullers ferry to Waiheke Island (~NZ$50/£24 return, buy a Waiheke hop-on hop-off bus pass or use the local bus #1). Pre-book a tasting at two wineries via GetYourGuide or directly with the vineyards — Mudbrick and Cable Bay for views, or Batch and Stonyridge for a cheaper, backpacker-friendly vibe (~£30–40 for two tastings). Swim at Oneroa Beach and take the evening ferry back.
🚌Fullers ferry + island bus
🛏CBD or Ponsonby hostel dorm
- →Waiheke Island ferry and hop-on bus
- →Wine tastings at two vineyards
- →Oneroa Beach
Waikato backroads to Raglan
Raglan
Take the InterCity bus from Auckland toward Hamilton/Raglan (about £20–25). Detour to the Bridal Veil Falls (30-min walk from the car park) and, if you have a car-share or the timing works, the Waikato eel farm experience — otherwise book a small-group tour via GetYourGuide. Arrive in Raglan, a laid-back surf town, and take an afternoon harbour cruise (Raglan Boat Charters, ~£30) or rent a kayak. Sunset at Manu Bay.
🚌InterCity coach
🛏Raglan hostel or surf lodge (e.g. Raglan Backpackers)
- →Bridal Veil Falls walk
- →Raglan harbour cruise or kayak
- →Manu Bay surf lookout
Glowworms and a Maori evening
Rotorua
Continue by InterCity to Waitomo (about 2h) and join a Waitomo Glowworm Caves boat tour booked direct or via Klook (~£30) — thousands of lights on the cave ceiling. Bus on to Rotorua. Tonight book a Tamaki Maori Village evening direct (~£75–85): a welcome from a Kaumatua, a performance of myths and legends, and a hangi feast. Book ahead in peak season.
🚌InterCity coach
🛏Rotorua hostel (e.g. Haka Lodge Rotorua)
- →Waitomo Glowworm Caves boat tour
- →Tamaki Maori Village cultural evening with hangi dinner
Rotorua to Christchurch
Christchurch
Free morning in Rotorua: walk the Government Gardens, Kuirau Park's free thermal vents, or pay for the Polynesian Spa hot pools (~£20) or Hells Gate geothermal park. In the afternoon fly Rotorua or Hamilton to Christchurch on Air New Zealand (~£70–100 booked ahead; budget airline pricing varies). In the evening, join a small-group city walking tour via GetYourGuide (~£20) or do the free self-guided walk along the Avon River and through the earthquake-recovery city centre.
🚌Local bus + domestic flight
🛏Christchurch hostel or budget hotel
- →Kuirau Park thermal walk
- →Avon River and city-centre walk
- →Optional 45-min scenic flight over Fox Glacier (~£170)
TranzAlpine to the glaciers
Franz Josef
Catch the 8:15 TranzAlpine from Christchurch to Greymouth (~£90–100 one way, book on the Great Journeys NZ site weeks ahead — this is one of the world's great train rides over Arthur's Pass). From Greymouth take the InterCity coach south down the coast to Franz Josef (~£25). Check into a rainforest lodge or hostel and walk the easy Franz Josef Glacier Valley track at dusk.
🚌TranzAlpine train + InterCity coach
🛏Rainforest lodge or hostel in Franz Josef (e.g. Rainforest Retreat)
- →TranzAlpine scenic train over the Southern Alps
- →Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (free)
Glacier day
Franz Josef
Pick your adventure. Budget option: hike the free Roberts Point Track or Alex Knob for glacier views. Mid-range: book a guided heli-hike onto the glacier direct with Franz Josef Glacier Guides (~£280–340) or a heli scenic flight with snow landing (~£200–300). Cheap thrills: kayak the glacial lake or soak in the Glacier Hot Pools (~£18). Book everything the day before; glacier flights are weather-dependent.
🚌Walking / local shuttle
🛏Rainforest lodge or hostel in Franz Josef
- →Roberts Point Track hike
- →Optional heli-hike or scenic snow landing
- →Glacier Hot Pools
West Coast to Queenstown
Queenstown
Take the InterCity coach south through the Haast Pass to Queenstown (long day, ~£45–55, or split the journey with a night in Wanaka). Arrive late afternoon and ride the Skyline Gondola (~£25) for sunset views over Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables. Evening: cheap dumplings or a burger on Shotover Street.
🚌InterCity coach
🛏Queenstown hostel (e.g. Adventure Q2 or Haka Lodge)
- →Haast Pass scenic coach ride
- →Skyline Gondola and luge
Into Fiordland
Doubtful Sound
Take the coach to Manapouri (InterCity, ~£20) and join a RealNZ Doubtful Sound overnight cruise (~£330–400, book direct — this is the closest self-bookable equivalent to the included cruise). Cross Lake Manapouri by boat, then the Wilmot Pass road to Deep Cove. Afternoon cruise among the fiords with onboard naturalist guides, dolphins, fur seals and penguins, then dinner and stargazing on deck.
🚌InterCity coach + boat + coach over Wilmot Pass
🛏Overnight cruise boat cabin (RealNZ)
- →RealNZ Doubtful Sound overnight wilderness cruise
- →Wildlife spotting and kayaking option
Wildlife morning and return to Queenstown
Queenstown
Cruise back to Manapouri with morning wildlife viewing, then coach back to Queenstown. Use the afternoon for the free Queenstown Hill or Lake Wakatipu foreshore walk, or splurge on a Shotover Jet (~£80) or a bungee at Kawarau Bridge (~£150). Farewell dinner at a hostel BBQ or a cheap eats spot in town.
🚌Boat + InterCity coach
🛏Queenstown hostel
- →Queenstown Hill walk
- →Optional Shotover Jet or Kawarau bungee
Depart Queenstown
Queenstown
Booked activities depend on your flight: the Earnslaw steamship to Walter Peak (~£60), a vineyard tour in Gibbston Valley (~£95), or simply a flat white by the lake. Orchard Road bus to the airport (~NZ$12/£6) or a shared shuttle.
🚌Orbus to Queenstown Airport
🛏—
- →Optional Earnslaw steamship cruise
- →Optional Gibbston Valley wine tour
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,478 | £3,600 |
| Duration | 11 days | 11 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,122 per person (59%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,478
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 New Zealand Journey: Self-Launched North to South Island Adventure cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,478 per person for 11 days in New Zealand. 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 £3,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,478 — a saving of roughly £2,122 (59%) per person.
How long is the New Zealand trip?+
This itinerary runs 11 days, covering 11 day-by-day stops through New Zealand.
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, hiking, backpacker trip through New Zealand, 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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