Self-Launched: Discover New Zealand — Auckland to Queenstown

Fly into Auckland International Airport and make your way into the city. Check into your hostel or budget hotel in the CBD. Spend the afternoon exploring the waterfront, the Sky Tower neighbourhood, and Queen Street. Tonight, join a free walking tour or head to the Viaduct Harbour for drinks — a great way to meet fellow travellers before the adventure begins.

🚌SkyBus from Auckland Airport to CBD (~£15 one way)

🛏Haka Hotel Suites Auckland or Base Backpackers Auckland (~£35–50/night budget hotel or ~£20–25/night dorm)

• →Explore Auckland Waterfront and Viaduct Harbour
• →Walk up to the Auckland Domain and War Memorial Museum (free to enter grounds)
• →Join a free walking tour of the CBD (tip-based, book via freetour.com)

Take the Fullers360 ferry from Auckland's Ferry Building to Waiheke Island — a stunning 35-minute crossing. On the island, hire a bike or hop on a local bus to explore the boutique wineries and olive groves. Stop at Stonyridge, Mudbrick, or Cable Bay for tastings. Most wineries charge £10–20 for a tasting flight. Return to Auckland by evening ferry.

🚌Fullers360 ferry Auckland to Waiheke return (~£20)

🛏Haka Hotel Suites Auckland or Base Backpackers Auckland

• →Fullers360 ferry to Waiheke Island (return ~£20, book at fullers.co.nz)
• →Self-guided winery tour: Stonyridge, Mudbrick, or Cable Bay (~£15–20 per tasting)
• →Hire a bike on the island (~£20/day) or use the island bus (~£3/trip)

Hire a car (recommended for flexibility) or take an intercity bus to Waitomo. Book the Waitomo Glowworm Caves tour directly with Waitomo Caves (waitomo.com) — tickets are ~£30–35 per person. After marvelling at the bioluminescent ceiling, continue south to Rotorua, arriving in the evening. Check in and explore the sulphur-scented lakefront.

🚌Rental car (split across group) or InterCity bus Auckland–Rotorua via Waitomo (~£20–30)

🛏Base Rotorua or YHA Rotorua (~£20–28/night dorm, or ~£55 private room)

• →Waitomo Glowworm Caves guided boat tour (~£32, book direct at waitomo.com)
• →Optional: blackwater rafting upgrade via Legendary Black Water Rafting Co (~£70–100)
• →Drive or bus to Rotorua (~2.5 hrs from Waitomo)
• →Evening stroll along Lake Rotorua waterfront

Explore Rotorua's geothermal heartland. Visit Te Puia to see Pohutu Geyser and the New Zealand Māori Arts and Crafts Institute (~£35). For a hangi (traditional underground pit) lunch experience, book at Tamaki Māori Village or head to the Whakarewarewa Living Village for a more authentic, community-run option (~£25–40 including lunch). Afternoon free to visit Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (~£25).

🚌Local rental car or Rotorua town shuttle (~£5–10)

🛏Base Rotorua or YHA Rotorua

• →Te Puia geothermal park and Pohutu Geyser (~£35, book at tepuia.com)
• →Traditional hangi lunch at Whakarewarewa Living Village (~£25–35 including lunch)
• →Optional: Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland (~£25, book at waiotapu.co.nz)
• →Optional: Hot pools soak at Polynesian Spa (~£20–35)

Before leaving Rotorua, visit the National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs (~£18) — one of the best places in New Zealand to see kiwi chicks up close. Then take a domestic flight from Rotorua (ROT) to Christchurch (CHC). Jetstar and Air New Zealand fly this route; book well in advance for the best fares (~£40–80). Check in and explore the revitalised city centre and the Cardboard Cathedral.

🚌Domestic flight ROT–CHC (~£50–80 booked in advance)

🛏Haka Lodge Christchurch or Jailhouse Accommodation (~£22–30/night dorm, or ~£60 private)

• →National Kiwi Hatchery at Rainbow Springs (~£18, book at rainbowsprings.co.nz)
• →Domestic flight Rotorua (ROT) to Christchurch (CHC) (~£40–80, book via Jetstar or Air NZ)
• →Explore Christchurch CBD: Re:START Mall, Cardboard Cathedral, Avon River punting (~£15)

Board the world-famous TranzAlpine train from Christchurch to Greymouth and back — a breathtaking journey through the Southern Alps, river gorges, and the Canterbury Plains. Book direct at greatjourneysnz.com (~£80–120 return). Stop at Arthur's Pass for a 45-minute walk and a coffee. On the return leg through Canterbury Plains, watch for sheep farms and dramatic mountain views. This is the self-launched equivalent of the guided sheep shearing and BBQ lunch day — you can arrange a farm visit independently via Canterbury Farm Experiences.

🚌TranzAlpine train included as main activity

🛏Haka Lodge Christchurch or Jailhouse Accommodation

• →TranzAlpine scenic train Christchurch–Greymouth–Christchurch (~£90 return, book at greatjourneysnz.com)
• →Explore Arthur's Pass village and short walks (free)
• →Optional: Christchurch Botanic Gardens walk (free)
• →Optional: Book a Canterbury farm visit independently via local operators (~£30–40)

Hire a car or join a shuttle from Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (~3 hrs, shuttles via Atomic Travel ~£25–30). The drive through the Mackenzie Basin is stunning. Arrive by early afternoon to catch the famous Church of the Good Shepherd and turquoise lake in good light. Book the Dark Sky Experience with Earth & Sky at the Mount John Observatory — one of the best stargazing experiences in the Southern Hemisphere (~£120, book at earthandsky.co.nz).

🚌Shuttle Christchurch–Lake Tekapo via Atomic Travel (~£28) or shared rental car

🛏YHA Lake Tekapo or Tailor Made Tekapo Backpackers (~£25–35/night dorm, or ~£70–90 private)

• →Church of the Good Shepherd and lakeside walk (free)
• →Dark Sky Project / Earth & Sky Stargazing tour at Mt John Observatory (~£120, book at earthandsky.co.nz)
• →Lake Tekapo hot pools at Tekapo Springs (~£18–25)

Take a morning shuttle or drive to Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park (~1 hr from Lake Tekapo). Hike the Kea Point Track (2 hrs return, free) for dramatic close-up views of Mount Sefton, the Mueller Glacier, and Mt Cook itself. Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at The Hermitage (~£15). Return to Lake Tekapo for the night.

🚌Shuttle or rental car Lake Tekapo–Mt Cook return (~£20–30)

🛏YHA Lake Tekapo or Tailor Made Tekapo Backpackers

• →Drive or shuttle from Lake Tekapo to Mt Cook (~1 hr, shuttle ~£20 return)
• →Kea Point Track hike (2 hrs return, free — starts from Mt Cook Village)
• →Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre at The Hermitage (~£15)
• →Optional: Tasman Glacier guided walk (~£50, book at hermitage.co.nz)

Today is a stunning driving day — hire a car or take a shuttle south toward Queenstown, stopping in Wanaka for lunch beside the lake and a photo at the famous 'That Wanaka Tree'. Continue to Arrowtown, a charming 19th-century gold rush village. Walk the main street, visit the Chinese Settlement (free), and explore the Lakes District Museum (~£8). Arrive in Queenstown by evening — the adventure capital of the world awaits.

🚌Rental car (recommended for flexibility, ~£40–60/day) or Ritchies shuttle (~£30–40)

🛏Haka Lodge Queenstown or Base Queenstown (~£25–35/night dorm, or ~£70–90 private)

• →Stop at Wanaka Lakefront and 'That Wanaka Tree' photo stop (free)
• →Lunch in Wanaka (~£10–15)
• →Arrowtown self-guided walk: main street, historic miners' cottages, Chinese Settlement (free)
• →Lakes District Museum, Arrowtown (~£8)
• →Arrive Queenstown — evening bar hopping on Cow Lane

Join a day tour from Queenstown to Milford Sound (Piopiotahi) in Fiordland National Park — the equivalent of the guided Fiordland wilderness cruise. Book a coach + cruise combo direct with Real Journeys or Jucy Cruize (~£75–100 including transport and cruise). The drive through the Homer Tunnel and across the Fiordland wilderness is itself spectacular. The cruise past Mitre Peak and thundering waterfalls is unmissable.

🚌Coach day trip included in Milford Sound tour price (~£85–100 return from Queenstown)

🛏Haka Lodge Queenstown or Base Queenstown

• →Coach + Milford Sound cruise day trip from Queenstown (~£85–100, book via realjourneys.co.nz or jucy.com)
• →Milford Sound Wilderness Cruise past Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls, and Lady Bowen Falls
• →Optional kayaking on Milford Sound (~£80 add-on)

Queenstown is the adventure capital of the world — today is yours to fill with whatever gets your adrenaline pumping, or simply take it easy on the lakefront. Options include the Skyline Gondola and luge (~£30–40), Shotover Jet (~£85), bungee jumping at Kawarau Bridge (~£120), or an Earnslaw Steamship cruise on Lake Wakatipu (~£65). Book all activities direct through the operators' websites or via GetYourGuide.

🚌Local — walk or use Queenstown's free town shuttle

🛏Haka Lodge Queenstown or Base Queenstown

• →Skyline Gondola & Luge (~£35, book at skyline.co.nz)
• →Optional: Shotover Jet boating (~£85, book at shotoverjet.com)
• →Optional: AJ Hackett Kawarau Bridge Bungee (~£120, book at bungy.co.nz)
• →Optional: TSS Earnslaw Steamship Lake Wakatipu cruise (~£65)
• →Farewell dinner on Queenstown waterfront (~£20–30)

Enjoy a final lakeside breakfast before heading to Queenstown Airport (ZQN) for your onward flight. Queenstown connects directly to Auckland, Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Alternatively, extend your adventure with a few nights in Wanaka, Te Anau, or The Catlins — all easily self-launched from Queenstown.

🚌Taxi or shuttle to Queenstown Airport (~£15–20)

• →Final breakfast at a Queenstown café (~£8–12)
• →Last-minute souvenir shopping on Shotover Street
• →Transfer to Queenstown Airport (ZQN) via taxi or shuttle (~£15–20)