Self-Launched New Zealand: Auckland to Christchurch — North to South Island in 20 Days

Arrive in Auckland and check in to a central hostel in the CBD. Spend the afternoon walking the waterfront along Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, getting your bearings. Head to the welcome area near the Sky Tower for orientation. Join the hostel common room to meet fellow travellers — many are doing the same route independently.

🚌Auckland Airport to CBD via SkyBus: ~£15 one-way

🛏Haka House Auckland City or Base Auckland — dorm bed ~£22/night

• →Walk the Auckland waterfront and Viaduct Harbour
• →Explore the CBD and Sky Tower area
• →Pick up an NZ SIM card and sort any local admin

Take an early InterCity bus or book a budget shuttle from Auckland to Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula (~4 hrs). Arrive in time to visit Hot Water Beach at low tide — grab a spade from a local hire shop and dig your own geothermal hot pool in the sand. In the evening, grab a BBQ dinner at the hostel or local takeaway.

🚌InterCity or Go Kiwi shuttle Auckland to Hahei: ~£25

🛏Hahei Beach Resort or Cathedral Cove Retreat — dorm/cabin ~£28/night

• →Hot Water Beach — dig your own hot pool at low tide (spade hire ~£3)
• →Explore Hahei village and the surrounding coast
• →Self-catered or local takeaway BBQ dinner

Spend a full free day at Hahei. Walk the trail down to Cathedral Cove (30–45 mins each way, free) — one of New Zealand's most iconic natural arches. Alternatively, book a Hahei Explorer boat trip or kayak tour through GetYourGuide to paddle into sea caves. The afternoon is yours to relax on the beach.

🚌Local — on foot or bike hire

🛏Hahei Beach Resort — dorm/cabin ~£28/night

• →Walk to Cathedral Cove (free, ~1.5 hrs return)
• →Optional: Cathedral Cove kayak tour via GetYourGuide ~£55
• →Optional: Hahei Explorer boat trip ~£45
• →Swim and relax on Hahei Beach

Head south toward Rotorua with a stop at the Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata — book tickets directly on the Hobbiton website in advance (~£28). En route, walk through the dramatic Karangahake Gorge on the free 45-minute loop track. Arrive in Rotorua in the evening and check in to a hostel. End the day with a stroll through the geothermal Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest (free).

🚌InterCity bus Hahei/Thames to Rotorua via Hamilton: ~£20

🛏Haka House Rotorua or Base Rotorua — dorm ~£20/night

• →Hobbiton Movie Set tour — book direct at hobbitontours.com ~£28
• →Karangahake Gorge walkway (free)
• →Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest walk (free)

Travel out to the Murupara area to experience authentic Māori culture at Kohutapu Lodge. This can be booked directly — the lodge offers guided tours to sacred Māori rock carvings on Lake Aniwhenua, flax weaving workshops, and a full traditional hāngī (earth oven) feast. This is one of the most immersive Māori cultural experiences in the North Island and well worth booking ahead.

🚌Hire a car or arrange lodge shuttle from Rotorua (~45 mins): car hire split ~£15pp

🛏Kohutapu Lodge — book direct, ~£60/person including dinner

• →Guided tour to sacred Māori rock carvings on Lake Aniwhenua — book direct at Kohutapu Lodge
• →Learn the haka (included in lodge package)
• →Māori flax weaving workshop
• →Traditional hāngī buffet dinner (~£35 included in lodge rate)

Drive or bus to Taupo with two brilliant free stops. First, Kerosene Creek — a natural hot stream you can bathe in for free (follow SH5 south of Rotorua). Then swing by Huka Falls, one of New Zealand's most spectacular waterfalls, accessible on a short free walkway. Check in to a hostel on the shores of Lake Taupo. The town is the skydiving capital of NZ — optional jump available!

🚌InterCity bus Rotorua/Murupara to Taupo: ~£15

🛏Haka House Taupo or All Seasons Holiday Park — dorm ~£20/night

• →Soak in Kerosene Creek natural hot stream (free)
• →Walk to Huka Falls viewpoint (free)
• →Swim or kayak on Lake Taupo
• →Optional: Skydive Taupo — book direct ~£180
• →Optional: Taupo Bungy — book via GetYourGuide ~£90

One of the world's best single-day hikes and the jewel of any New Zealand itinerary. Take an early shuttle to the trailhead — book via Tongariro Expeditions or Alpine Shuttle (mandatory on peak days). The 19.4 km crossing takes 6–8 hours and passes volcanic craters, emerald lakes, and the Mordor-esque landscape of Mount Doom. Wear layers and carry plenty of water. Stay overnight in chalets or a hostel near the park.

🚌Tongariro Expeditions shuttle from park base: ~£18 return (book in advance)

🛏Ruapehu Mountain Lodge, Discovery Lodge, or Alpine Chalets — from ~£25/night dorm

• →Tongariro Alpine Crossing — full day hike (free entry, shuttle ~£18 return)
• →Optional: Taranaki Falls walk (free, 2 hrs return)
• →Optional: Visit Tawhai Falls — Gollum's Pool from Lord of the Rings (free)

Take a morning InterCity bus south through the gorgeous Whanganui River landscape to Wellington, New Zealand's compact and creative capital. Check in to a central hostel and spend the afternoon exploring. Walk up to Mt Victoria Lookout for panoramic harbour views (free), stroll along Oriental Parade, and explore the Cuba Street dining and bar scene for dinner.

🚌InterCity bus Tongariro to Wellington: ~£22

🛏Cambridge Hotel Hostel or Nomads Capital Wellington — dorm ~£22/night

• →Walk to Mt Victoria Lookout (free, ~30 mins each way)
• →Stroll Oriental Parade along the waterfront
• →Explore Cuba Street — NZ's coolest dining precinct
• →Optional: Te Papa National Museum (free)

A full free day to explore Wellington at your own pace. Te Papa — New Zealand's national museum — is completely free and easily fills half a day with its Māori taonga (treasures) and natural history exhibits. Ride the historic Wellington Cable Car up to the Botanic Garden for great views. If you're a film buff, book a Weta Workshop tour in advance — New Zealand's legendary film effects studio behind Lord of the Rings.

🚌On foot and cable car within the city

🛏Cambridge Hotel Hostel — dorm ~£22/night

• →Te Papa National Museum (free, allow 3–4 hours)
• →Wellington Cable Car return (~£5)
• →Wellington Botanic Garden (free)
• →Optional: Weta Workshop Unleashed tour — book via wetaworkshop.com ~£28

Catch the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry from Wellington to Picton across Cook Strait — one of the world's great ferry crossings with dramatic Marlborough Sounds scenery (~3.5 hrs, book ahead). From Picton, take a bus to Nelson or directly to Marahau. The Marlborough Sounds views from the ferry deck are unforgettable. Check in to The Barn for cabin-style accommodation at the edge of Abel Tasman National Park.

🚌Ferry Wellington–Picton ~£42, then Abel Tasman Coachlines Picton–Marahau ~£20

🛏The Barn Backpackers Marahau — cabin/dorm ~£25/night

• →Interislander Ferry Wellington to Picton — book at greatjourneysofnz.co.nz ~£42
• →Views of the Marlborough Sounds from the ferry deck
• →Optional: Stop at a Marlborough Sounds winery for a tasting
• →Evening arrival at Marahau — briefing for tomorrow's hike

One of New Zealand's most beautiful national parks with golden sand beaches and turquoise sea. Take a water taxi from Marahau out to Anchorage Bay — book via Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles (~£20 one way). Hike back along the coastal track through native forest and past pristine beaches. Detour to Cleopatra's Pools for a freshwater swim in carved rock formations. The track is well marked and free to walk.

🚌Water taxi Marahau–Anchorage return: ~£35

🛏The Barn Backpackers Marahau — cabin/dorm ~£25/night

• →Water taxi to Anchorage Bay — Abel Tasman Sea Shuttles ~£20
• →Hike Abel Tasman Coast Track from Anchorage back to Marahau (free, ~4–5 hrs)
• →Swim at Cleopatra's Pools (free)
• →Optional: Full-day kayak tour via GetYourGuide ~£75
• →Optional: Skydive Abel Tasman — book direct ~£180

A long but scenic driving/bus day down the West Coast — one of the most dramatic routes in New Zealand. Stop at Punakaiki to see the famous Pancake Rocks and blowholes (free entry, short 15-min loop walkway). Continue through the wild Buller Gorge and along the untamed West Coast to Franz Josef. Arrive in the evening and enjoy a group dinner at the hostel or a local pub.

🚌InterCity or Atomic Travel bus Marahau/Nelson to Franz Josef via Greymouth: ~£35

🛏Rainforest Retreat Franz Josef or Franz Josef TOP 10 — dorm ~£22/night

• →Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & Blowholes (free, short walkway)
• →Drive/travel through Buller Gorge scenic route
• →Arrive Franz Josef and explore the village
• →Dinner at the Blue Ice Restaurant or hostel kitchen

Franz Josef Glacier is one of the world's most accessible glaciers, sitting within a temperate rainforest. The free valley floor walk gets you impressive glacier views (self-guided, always check DOC conditions). For the full experience, book a guided glacier hike via Franz Josef Glacier Guides — they provide crampons, ice axes and expert guiding on the ice. Alternatively, a scenic helicopter flight over the glacier is breathtaking (~£175). Book glacier activities well in advance as they depend on weather.

🚌Local/on foot within Franz Josef village

🛏Rainforest Retreat Franz Josef — dorm ~£22/night

• →Franz Josef Glacier valley floor walk (free, ~2 hrs return)
• →Guided glacier hike — book at franzjosefglacier.com ~£110
• →Optional: Scenic helicopter flight over the glacier ~£175
• →Explore the rainforest walks around the village (free)

Another stunning West Coast drive day. Start early with a walk to Lake Matheson — the famous 'Mirror Lake' with its reflection of Aoraki/Mount Cook. Best viewed at dawn before the wind picks up (~1 hr loop, free). Travel south through the spectacular Haast Pass, one of the lowest mountain passes in the Southern Alps, and past Lake Hawea. Arrive in Queenstown in the evening — the adventure capital of the world.

🚌InterCity bus Franz Josef to Queenstown via Haast: ~£40

🛏Haka House Queenstown or Base Queenstown — dorm ~£25/night

• →Lake Matheson Mirror Lake walk (free, ~1 hr, go at dawn)
• →Haast Pass scenic drive with views of waterfalls and mountains
• →Arrive Queenstown — explore the lakefront and Steamer Wharf
• →Dinner on Queenstown's vibrant Shotover Street

Queenstown needs no introduction — it's packed with adrenaline activities bookable directly or via GetYourGuide. Pick your thrills: AJ Hackett's original Kawarau Bridge bungy (the world's first commercial bungy), Shotover Jet boat, or the Skyline Gondola up Bob's Peak for panoramic lake views. Or hike Ben Lomond for free epic views (6–7 hrs return). Budget tip: the gondola + luge combo is great value and the lakefront views are free.

🚌On foot and local within Queenstown

🛏Haka House Queenstown — dorm ~£25/night

• →Optional: AJ Hackett Kawarau Bungy — book via ajhackett.com ~£135
• →Optional: Shotover Jet boat — book via GetYourGuide ~£75
• →Optional: Skyline Gondola + Luge ~£35
• →Free: Ben Lomond Hike (6–7 hrs return, stunning views)
• →Free: Walk Queenstown Hill (2–3 hrs return)

A second full day to enjoy Queenstown at your pace. Consider a half-day bike ride on the Queenstown Trail, horse riding in the Wakatipu Basin, or a zipline with Ziptrek Ecotours. Alternatively, take a short bus to Arrowtown — a perfectly preserved 1860s gold rush village with free heritage trails and a great bakery. In the evening, Queenstown's bar scene is legendary — try the famous Fergburger (expect a queue).

🚌On foot, local bus to Arrowtown ~£8 return

🛏Haka House Queenstown — dorm ~£25/night

• →Optional: Ziptrek Ecotours Queenstown — book via GetYourGuide ~£80
• →Optional: Horse riding Wakatipu Basin ~£85
• →Day trip to Arrowtown gold rush village (free entry, bus ~£8 return)
• →Queenstown lakefront and garden stroll (free)
• →Dinner at Fergburger — the legendary NZ burger institution (~£12)

Milford Sound is one of the world's great natural spectacles and absolutely worth the long day trip from Queenstown (~5 hrs each way). Book an early coach + cruise combo through Real NZ or via GetYourGuide — this is the most efficient and affordable way as a self-launched traveller. The cruise through the fiord passes Mitre Peak, waterfalls, and seals. Pack lunch as food on the cruise is expensive.

🚌Day trip coach Queenstown–Milford Sound–Queenstown: included in combo booking ~£80 total

🛏Haka House Queenstown — dorm ~£25/night

• →Coach from Queenstown to Milford Sound (departs ~6am) — book via realnz.com ~£35
• →Milford Sound Nature Cruise (2 hrs) — book as combo ~£45
• →Views of Mitre Peak, Stirling Falls, seals and dolphins
• →Te Anau lakeside stop on the return journey

Travel north to Lake Tekapo, famous for its impossibly blue glacial waters and the Church of the Good Shepherd — one of New Zealand's most photographed buildings. The lake sits within the Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve — the largest dark sky reserve in the southern hemisphere. Book a stargazing experience at the Mount John Observatory through Earth & Sky (~£90) — this is one of New Zealand's most magical experiences. Optional: warm up beforehand at Tekapo Springs hot pools.

🚌InterCity or Atomic Travel bus Queenstown to Lake Tekapo: ~£28

🛏YHA Lake Tekapo or Tailor Made Tekapo Backpackers — dorm ~£22/night

• →Church of the Good Shepherd and Lake Tekapo viewpoints (free)
• →Mount John Observatory Stargazing tour — book via earthandsky.co.nz ~£90
• →Optional: Tekapo Springs hot pools ~£20
• →Optional: Ice skating or snow tubing in winter ~£15

Travel east through the Canterbury Plains to Christchurch — New Zealand's second largest city and a place of extraordinary urban renewal following the 2011 earthquake. Check in to a central hostel and spend the afternoon exploring. The Re:START container mall, Cardboard Cathedral, and the beautiful Botanic Gardens are all walkable from the centre. The vibrant Riverside Market is perfect for a cheap and delicious dinner.

🚌InterCity bus Lake Tekapo to Christchurch: ~£22

🛏Drifter Christchurch or Foley Towers — dorm ~£22/night

• →Christchurch Botanic Gardens (free)
• →Riverside Market — great food stalls and local produce (~£10 dinner)
• →Re:START container precinct and street art (free)
• →Cardboard Cathedral exterior and interior (free)
• →Explore the revitalised city centre on foot

Final morning in Christchurch before checking out by 10am. If time allows before your flight, take the Christchurch Gondola up to the Port Hills for sweeping views over the Canterbury Plains and Banks Peninsula. The International Antarctic Centre near the airport is a great way to fill a few hours before departure. Grab a coffee on Oxford Terrace and reflect on 20 incredible days across New Zealand.

🚌City bus or taxi to Christchurch Airport: ~£10

🛏Check out by 10am — Drifter Christchurch

• →Christchurch Gondola — book via christchurchattractions.nz ~£15
• →Optional: International Antarctic Centre near the airport ~£25
• →Final coffee and farewell stroll along Oxford Terrace (free)