Australia & New Zealand Explorer — Self-Launched
22 days · Australia & New Zealand
G Adventures charges £5,800
No-markup version: ~£3,155 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of G Adventures' 22-day Sydney-to-Queenstown "Australia & New Zealand Explorer" (trip code OANS), rebuilt for independent travellers using budget flights, trains, buses and self-bookable activities. You'll cover Sydney harbour by sail, the Daintree and Great Barrier Reef from Cairns, the Red Centre at Uluru and Kata Tjuta, Melbourne's laneways, then cross to New Zealand for Auckland, Raglan, Rotorua's geothermal Maori country, the TranzAlpine to the South Island, Franz Josef and an overnight Doubtful Sound cruise. Note that Oceania is not cheap — budget flights and the Doubtful Sound cruise are the big fixed costs — but you'll still save substantially versus the packaged tour by using hostels and booking direct. All costs are approximate per-person GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Sydney
Sydney, Australia
Land at Sydney Airport and take the Airport Link train to Central Station (~AUD 20, ~15 min) rather than the $40-50 taxi. Check into a hostel in Surry Hills or the Rocks area. Pick up an Opal card (or just tap your contactless bank card) for all public transport, and have a wander down to Circular Quay at dusk to see the Opera House and Harbour Bridge light up.
🚌Airport Link train from SYD to Central (~AUD 20)
🛏Hostel dorm or private room, Surry Hills/CBD (~£25-35/night)
- →Airport Link train to Central
- →Evening walk at Circular Quay
Sydney Harbour walk + racing yacht sail
Sydney, Australia
Walk the free Bondi-to-Coogee coastal path in the morning or do a self-guided wander through the Rocks and around the Opera House. In the afternoon, book the equivalent of the included America's Cup yacht sail direct with an operator like Sydney Harbour Tall Ships or a harbour racing yacht experience via GetYourGuide (~£65-90). Cheaper alternative: the Manly Ferry (Opal fare ~AUD 8) gives you a superb harbour cruise for a fraction of the price.
🚌Opal-card ferries and light rail (~£6)
🛏Hostel, Sydney (~£25-35/night)
- →Self-guided Rocks & Opera House walk
- →Bondi to Coogee coastal walk
- →Harbour sailing trip (self-booked via GetYourGuide)
Fly to Cairns – Daintree Dreamtime Walk
Port Douglas / Mossman Gorge, Australia
Fly Sydney to Cairns on Jetstar or Virgin Australia (book 2-3 months ahead for ~£90-140 one way). Take the local bus or shuttle up to Port Douglas (~AUD 35), dropping at Mossman Gorge for the Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walk — book direct with Voyages Mossman Gorge Centre or via GetYourGuide (~£40). An Indigenous guide covers bush food, medicinal plants and rainforest survival techniques.
🚌Jetstar/Virgin flight SYD–CNS (~£110) + shuttle to Port Douglas (~£18)
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Port Douglas (~£28-38/night)
- →Kuku Yalanji Dreamtime Walk at Mossman Gorge (self-booked)
- →Mossman Gorge boardwalk
Great Barrier Reef snorkel day
Port Douglas, Australia
Book a full-day outer reef snorkel trip direct with a Port Douglas operator (Quicksilver, Poseidon or Calypso, ~£110-140 including lunch and gear) instead of the tour's optional add-on. Cheaper option from Cairns is a Reef Magic or Reef Experience day (~£90). Reef trips leave early, so book the day before.
🚌Included in reef trip (~£0) + local shuttle
🛏Hostel or guesthouse, Port Douglas (~£28-38/night)
- →Outer Great Barrier Reef snorkelling day trip
Port Douglas to Cairns
Cairns, Australia
Bus back down the coastal road to Cairns (~AUD 20-30) and settle into a Cairns hostel near the Esplanade. Free afternoon for the lagoon pool, Rusty's Markets and the waterfront. Optional skydive over the reef (~£160-200) — book direct with a Cairns operator.
🚌Local bus Port Douglas–Cairns (~£14)
🛏Hostel, Cairns (~£22-30/night)
- →Rusty's Markets
- →Cairns Esplanade lagoon
- →Optional skydive (self-booked)
Kuranda Scenic Railway + Skyrail
Kuranda, Australia
Book the Kuranda Scenic Railway and Skyrail Rainforest Cableway direct with Skyrail (~AUD 130 combined for the one-way rail + one-way cableway combo) — no group needed. Ride the historic railway up through the Barron Gorge, explore Kuranda's markets, then return over the rainforest canopy by cableway with stops at Red Peak and Barron Falls stations.
🚌Skyrail/Rail combo (self-booked, ~£68)
🛏Hostel, Cairns (~£22-30/night)
- →Kuranda Scenic Railway
- →Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
- →Kuranda markets
Fly to Uluru – sunset at the Rock
Uluru / Yulara, Australia
Fly Cairns to Yulara (Ayers Rock) on Jetstar/Qantas (~£150-200). Stay at the Ayers Rock Resort's Outback Pioneer Lodge dorm or budget cabin (~£45-60/night) — it's the only accommodation in the park and not cheap. Buy a 3-day Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park pass (~AUD 38). Head to the sunset viewing area with a bottle of sparkling wine for the classic colour-change show; a taxi or shuttle from the resort is easiest as there's no public transport.
🚌Flight CNS–AYQ (~£170) + resort shuttle/taxi (~£15)
🛏Outback Pioneer Lodge dorm/cabin, Yulara (~£50/night)
- →Uluru sunset viewing
- →National park entry (3-day pass)
Uluru base walk + Cultural Centre
Uluru, Australia
Join the free ranger-guided Mala Walk (10am daily, no booking needed) or self-walk the 10.6km Uluru Base Walk early to beat the heat. Visit the Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre for Anangu art and stories. Note the climb is permanently closed — respect Anangu wishes and walk instead. Rent a bike from the resort if you want to cover the base faster (~AUD 30).
🚌Resort shuttle or bike hire (~£12)
🛏Outback Pioneer Lodge, Yulara (~£50/night)
- →Mala Walk with park ranger
- →Uluru Base Walk
- →Uluru-Kata Tjuta Cultural Centre
Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds → Alice Springs
Kata Tjuta & Alice Springs, Australia
Sunrise at Uluru, then drive or join a small-group day tour to Kata Tjuta (~50km west) for the Valley of the Winds walk (~7km, stunning domed rock formations, ~£60-90 for a half-day tour via GetYourGuide). In the afternoon fly Yulara to Alice Springs on Qantas (~£120) or take the long Greyhound bus. Overnight in Alice.
🚌Kata Tjuta tour transfer (~£75) + flight AYQ–ASP (~£120)
🛏Hostel, Alice Springs (~£25-32/night)
- →Sunrise at Uluru
- →Kata Tjuta Valley of the Winds walk
- →Half-day Kata Tjuta tour (self-booked)
Fly to Melbourne – tramcar dinner
Melbourne, Australia
Fly Alice Springs to Melbourne (~£130-170). Check into a hostel in the CBD or Fitzroy. In the evening, book the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant direct (~AUD 145-190 for the early dinner sitting) — the exact experience the tour includes — or save money with a laneway food crawl instead (~£35).
🚌Flight ASP–MEL (~£150) + free CBD tram zone
🛏Hostel, Melbourne CBD/Fitzroy (~£25-35/night)
- →Colonial Tramcar Restaurant dinner (self-booked)
- →Melbourne laneway wander
Great Ocean Road or Yarra wineries
Melbourne, Australia
Day trip independently: either rent a car with hostel mates and drive the Great Ocean Road to the Twelve Apostles (~£18/day car + ~£15 fuel split, plus ~£10 park fees) or join a small-group Great Ocean Road tour (~£75-95 self-booked). Wine lovers can take the train to the Yarra Valley and book a couple of cellar-door tastings direct (~£15-25 each).
🚌Shared car hire or group tour (~£40)
🛏Hostel, Melbourne (~£25-35/night)
- →Great Ocean Road / Twelve Apostles
- →Optional Yarra Valley wineries
Fly to Auckland + city orientation
Auckland, New Zealand
Fly Melbourne to Auckland on Jetstar/Air New Zealand (~£120-170). Take the SkyBus or AT Airport Express into the city (~NZD 18). Do your own orientation walk: Viaduct Harbour, Britomart, Queen Street and the Domain. Overnight in a city hostel or budget hotel.
🚌Flight MEL–AKL (~£145) + airport bus (~£9)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Auckland CBD (~£30-45/night)
- →Self-guided Auckland waterfront walk
- →Mt Eden viewpoint
Auckland → Raglan
Raglan, New Zealand
Take an InterCity bus from Auckland to Hamilton then on to Raglan (~NZD 35-45, ~3hr). Raglan is a laid-back surf town. In the afternoon walk to Bridal Veil Falls (~35m waterfall, 20min from town) and in the evening join a harbour dinner cruise (~NZD 65-95 self-booked) or grab fish and chips at the wharf for far less.
🚌InterCity bus Auckland–Raglan (~£20)
🛏Hostel, Raglan (~£28-38/night)
- →Bridal Veil Falls walk
- →Raglan harbour cruise or wharf dinner
Raglan surf lesson → Rotorua
Raglan & Rotorua, New Zealand
Morning surf lesson on Raglan's famous left-hand break (~NZD 89, book direct with Raglan Surf School) or a stand-up paddle lesson (~NZD 79). After lunch, bus to Rotorua via Hamilton (~NZD 45-55, ~4hr). Check into a hostel with a thermal pool and watch the geysers steam from the town park.
🚌InterCity bus Raglan–Rotorua (~£25)
🛏Hostel, Rotorua (~£25-35/night)
- →Surf lesson (self-booked)
- →Kuirau Park thermal walk
Maori village, hangi feast & geothermal
Rotorua, New Zealand
Book a cultural evening direct with Tamaki Maori Village or Mitai Maori Village (~NZD 130-160 including hangi feast and performance) — this is the equivalent of the included Maori experience. During the day, visit Te Puia (~NZD 60) or soak in free thermal pools at Kuirau Park; paid hot springs range NZD 50-360.
🚌Shuttle to village (~£8)
🛏Hostel, Rotorua (~£25-35/night)
- →Tamaki/Mitai Maori Village evening with hangi feast
- →Te Puia geothermal valley
Rotorua → Christchurch (fly)
Christchurch, New Zealand
Fly Rotorua or Auckland to Christchurch on Air New Zealand (~£70-110). Do a self-guided walk of the rebuilt Christchurch CBD, the Transitional Cathedral and the Botanic Gardens. Book your TranzAlpine train ticket in advance on the KiwiRail site (~NZD 179 for the scenic class).
🚌Flight to Christchurch (~£90) + airport bus (~£6)
🛏Hostel or budget hotel, Christchurch (~£30-40/night)
- →Christchurch city walk
- →Botanic Gardens
TranzAlpine train to the West Coast
Greymouth → Franz Josef
Ride the TranzAlpine — one of the world's great train journeys — from Christchurch across Arthur's Pass to Greymouth (~4.5hr, NZD 179 self-booked on KiwiRail). From Greymouth, take the InterCity bus down the coast to Franz Josef (~NZD 45, ~2.5hr). Overnight in Franz Josef village.
🚌TranzAlpine (~£88) + InterCity bus (~£22)
🛏Hostel or lodge, Franz Josef (~£30-42/night)
- →TranzAlpine scenic train
- →West Coast drive
Franz Josef Glacier day
Franz Josef, New Zealand
Walk the free valley track to the Franz Josef Glacier viewpoint, or book a guided heli-hike directly with a local operator (Franz Josef Glacier Guides, ~NZD 500-650). Budget alternative: the heli scenic flight with snow landing (~NZD 385-655, ~£210) — the classic splurge from the original itinerary. If you skip the flights, the DOC valley walk is free and still spectacular.
🚌Local shuttle to trailhead (~£5)
🛏Hostel or lodge, Franz Josef (~£30-42/night)
- →Glacier valley walk (free)
- →Optional heli-hike or scenic flight with snow landing
Franz Josef → Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
InterCity bus down the magnificent Haast Pass to Wanaka and on to Queenstown (~NZD 55-75, ~5-6hr with a stop). Check into a hostel in town. Evening wander around Lake Wakatipu; ride the Skyline Gondola (~NZD 55, ~£27) for sunset views over the Remarkables — the equivalent of the included gondola ride.
🚌InterCity bus (~£33) + gondola (~£27)
🛏Hostel, Queenstown (~£30-45/night)
- →Haast Pass scenic journey
- →Skyline Gondola at sunset (self-booked)
Overnight cruise in Doubtful Sound
Doubtful Sound, Fiordland
Bus from Queenstown to Manapouri (~NZD 40, ~2hr), then check in for the Fiordland Navigator overnight wilderness cruise (~NZD 599-799 self-booked direct with RealNZ, or a shared cabin option). Cross Lake Manapouri, bus over Wilmot Pass and board for an afternoon of kayaking, tender-boat wildlife spotting, a 3-course buffet dinner and stargazing. (In winter a day cruise runs instead.)
🚌Bus Queenstown–Manapouri (~£20) + cruise incl. transfers (~£300)
🛏Cabin aboard the Fiordland Navigator
- →RealNZ Fiordland Navigator overnight cruise
- →Kayaking and wildlife spotting
- →3-course dinner and stargazing
Cruise return → Queenstown
Manapouri & Queenstown
Cooked breakfast on the fiord, then kayak or tender-boat before returning to Deep Cove and the bus back to Manapouri. Take the afternoon bus back to Queenstown and check into a hostel for your final night. Optional last-night activities: a Queenstown burger at Fergburger and the waterfront bar scene.
🚌Bus Manapouri–Queenstown (~£20)
🛏Hostel, Queenstown (~£30-45/night)
- →Morning kayaking in Doubtful Sound
- →Boat return to Deep Cove
- →Fergburger and waterfront evening
Depart Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Departure day. If time allows, walk the Queenstown Hill Track (~1.5hr, free) or the Queenstown Gardens before your flight. Take the Orbus to the airport (~NZD 10). International airfares home are not included in either itinerary.
🚌Orbus to airport (~£5)
🛏None (departure day)
- →Queenstown Hill Track or Gardens walk
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£3,155 | £5,800 |
| Duration | 22 days | 22 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,645 per person (46%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£3,155
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 Australia & New Zealand Explorer — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £3,155 per person for 22 days in Australia & 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 £5,800 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £3,155 — a saving of roughly £2,645 (46%) per person.
How long is the Australia & New Zealand trip?+
This itinerary runs 22 days, covering 22 day-by-day stops through Australia & 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, culture, beaches trip through Australia & 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?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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