Self-Launched New Zealand South Island Adventure: Christchurch to Queenstown

Start early from Christchurch and take an InterCity bus or a pre-booked shuttle north over the Lewis Pass to Hanmer Springs (~£22, 2 hrs). Soak in the Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools (£22 entry) against the backdrop of the Southern Alps. Continue by bus to Reefton (~£15), the old gold-mining town — pop into the Reefton Goldfields Museum, then try gold panning with the town's 'Bearded Miners' outfit (drop-in, ~£15). Finish with the scenic Buller Gorge drive through to Westport (~£10). Book the connecting buses in advance on intercity.co.nz.

🚌InterCity bus Christchurch–Hanmer–Reefton–Westport, roughly £40 total

🛏Hostel dorm room in Westport (£18–24 for a bed; e.g. TripInn or Bazil's Hostel)

• →Hanmer Springs Thermal Pools (£22)
• →Reefton Goldfields Museum and gold panning demo (~£15)
• →Buller Gorge scenic drive

Walk the Cape Foulwind cliff-top track out to the lighthouse and watch the fur seal colony at Tauranga Bay (free). Take the coastal road to Charleston and ride the Nile River Gorge Rainforest Train (about £20, book direct with the operator — runs a couple of times daily, seasonally limited). Continue south to Punakaiki to walk the Pancake Rocks and Blowholes track (free, best at high tide). Sleep in Punakaiki or push on to Kumara in Westland.

🚌Coastal shuttle or InterCity bus Westport–Punakaiki (~£12); local taxi for Cape Foulwind (~£10 shared)

🛏Punakaiki or Kumara hostel/guesthouse dorm (£20–26)

• →Cape Foulwind walkway and seal colony
• →Nile River Gorge Rainforest Train (~£20)
• →Pancake Rocks and Blowholes walk

Bus or shuttle to Hokitika (free time in the pounamu and craft galleries), then detour inland to the surreal blue-green Hokitika Gorge for the short walk and swing bridge (free). Carry on south to Whataroa/Okarito for a self-led walk along the Okarito Lagoon foreshore and lookout — the largest unmodified wetland in New Zealand. Continue to Fox Glacier village for the night, catching the last light on the Southern Alps if you arrive early enough.

🚌InterCity bus or Hokitika shuttle with Okarito detour, ~£20–25

🛏Fox Glacier hostel dorm (£22–28; e.g. Fox Glacier Lodge or Ivory Towers)

• →Hokitika Gorge walk
• →Okarito Lagoon foreshore walk
• →Pounamu/greenstone galleries in Hokitika

Dawn walk to Lake Matheson (the 'mirror lake') — 1.5 hrs return on the loop track, free, and the classic Mt Cook/Mt Tasman reflection shot. In the afternoon choose between a Fox Glacier heli-hike (from ~£220 via the local guiding companies) or the cheaper Glacier Valley Walk (~£10 guided, or walk the unguided access track short route yourself). Optional greenstone carving workshop in the village (~£40) or a pub night with the locals.

🚌Village shuttle to Lake Matheson (~£5) or walk 35 mins

🛏Fox Glacier hostel dorm (£22–28)

• →Lake Matheson dawn walk
• →Fox Glacier valley walk (~£10)
• →Optional greenstone carving workshop (~£40)

Take the InterCity bus down the West Coast (sit on the right for ocean views). Stop-hop at Knights Point lookout and walk the Ship Creek dune lake track (free). Stretch your legs on the Thunder Creek Falls short walk in Mt Aspiring National Park, then continue over the Haast Pass into Otago and down Lake Wanaka to the town of Wanaka. Grab groceries — Wanaka's New World is your cheapest self-catering option.

🚌InterCity bus Fox Glacier–Wanaka (~£28, roughly 5 hrs)

🛏Wanaka hostel dorm (£25–32; e.g. YHA Wanaka or the Pink Flamingo)

• →Ship Creek dune lake walk
• →Thunder Creek Falls walk
• →Haast Pass scenic drive

Hire a bike from a local rental shop (~£22 half day) and ride the Lake Wanaka shores out to #thatwanakatree and beyond to Glendhu Bay. Alternatively take the Mou Waho Island cruise (~£60 via Wanaka Ecoventures/Wanaka Water Taxi) to land on the small lake-on-an-island, or walk the Diamond Lake or Mt Iron tracks (both free, 2–3 hrs). Café-hop in the evening with the lake view backdrop.

🚌Walkable town; bike hire £22

🛏Wanaka hostel dorm (£25–32)

• →Bike ride along Lake Wanaka shores
• →Mou Waho Island cruise (optional ~£60)
• →#thatwanakatree photo stop

Ride the Crown Range route (InterCity or a car-share from the ride-share boards) into Queenstown for lunch on the lakefront below The Remarkables. Continue by bus to Te Anau (~£20–25, 2 hrs), gateway to Fiordland. Book your Milford cruise and glowworm cave tour for the next two days promptly — slots sell out in summer.

🚌InterCity bus Wanaka–Queenstown–Te Anau, ~£35 total

🛏Te Anau hostel dorm (£25–30; e.g. Te Anau YHA or Kiwi Holiday Park)

• →Crown Range scenic drive
• →Queenstown lakefront stop
• →Optional Te Anau Glowworm Caves (~£60)

Join a self-booked Milford Sound day trip or drive yourself along the Milford Road — stop at Mirror Lakes and Lake Gunn for short forest walks on the way. Take a 1h45 nature cruise on the fjord with one of the smaller operators (GetYourGuide/RealNZ, ~£60–80, cheaper if you book the cruise-only and make your own way). Walk to the Milford Lookout for the classic view. The Te Anau–Milford road is remote; the coach transfer is the lowest-hassle option.

🚌Coach transfer to Milford Sound (~£50 return) with photo stops

🛏Te Anau hostel dorm (£25–30)

• →Milford Sound nature cruise (~£70)
• →Mirror Lakes and Lake Gunn walks
• →Milford Lookout walk

Head south on the Southern Scenic Route to the Catlins (InterCity or a Catlins shuttle/private day tour if you don't have a car — the region is hard without wheels, so a small-group day tour from Invercargill or Te Anau is worth it at ~£60–80). Walk to Nugget Point Lighthouse (free) and spot yellow-eyed penguins and seals at Roaring Bay, then take the forest trail to McLean Falls (1 hr return, free).

🚌Shuttle/day tour Te Anau–the Catlins (~£40) or self-drive

🛏Owaka or Kaka Point hostel/guesthouse (£25–30)

• →Nugget Point and lighthouse walk
• →McLean Falls walk
• →Roaring Bay wildlife spotting

Drive or shuttle to Bluff (~£20 from Invercargill) and take the RealNZ ferry across Foveaux Strait to Oban on Stewart Island (~£65 return, book ahead — it sells out in peak season). Afternoon free: stroll the Oban waterfront, walk to Observation Rock, or take the short Village and Bays tour (~£30). Book a kiwi-spotting trip for tonight or tomorrow — Stewart Island is the best place in the country to see wild kiwi.

🚌Shuttle to Bluff (£20) plus RealNZ ferry return (£65)

🛏Stewart Island guesthouse or backpackers (£30–40; book early, rooms are limited)

• →Foveaux Strait ferry crossing
• →Oban waterfront and Observation Rock walk
• →Optional Village and Bays tour (~£30)

Catch the Ulva Island Explorer water taxi and guided walk (~£70–75) to the predator-free bird sanctuary — saddlebacks, kaka and fernbirds in close range. In the afternoon walk the forested coastal tracks past early Māori settlement sites, or hire a kayak for the bays. After dark, join a guided kiwi-spotting tour (Wild Kiwi Encounter ~£125 or the shorter Beaks and Feathers ~£90) to see Rakiura's wild kiwi at work.

🚌Water taxi to Ulva Island (~£10, included in most tours)

🛏Stewart Island guesthouse or backpackers (£30–40)

• →Ulva Island Explorer guided walk (~£72)
• →Kiwi-spotting evening tour (~£90–125)
• →Coastal forest walk

Morning ferry back to Bluff and shuttle to Invercargill, then the InterCity bus to Queenstown (~£35, 2.5 hrs) — or, if time allows, linger in Invercargill for a coffee and museum stop. Arrive in Queenstown for a final lakefront evening; use the ride-share and vineyard shuttles if you want to spend an extra day on Central Otago wine tasting or Queenstown adventure activities at your own pace.

🚌Ferry, shuttle to Invercargill and InterCity bus Invercargill–Queenstown (~£50 total)

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm (£28–35) on your final night

• →Optional Central Otago vineyard visit
• →Queenstown lakefront evening
• →Optional adventure activities in Queenstown