New Zealand Amplified (Southbound) — Self-Launched
19 days · New Zealand
Intrepid Travel charges £3,100
No-markup version: ~£2,122 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent 19-day run from Auckland to Christchurch covering both islands: Coromandel's Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove, Hobbiton, Rotorua's geothermal and Maori culture, Lake Taupo and Tongariro, the Cook Strait ferry to Kaikoura, then Lake Tekapo, Queenstown, Wanaka, Franz Josef and back over Arthur's Pass. You'll use InterCity buses, the Interislander ferry and a couple of cheap domestic flights instead of a private coach — plus self-booked tours for Hobbiton, Te Puia and the Maori village night. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-hotel rates in GBP and exclude international flights.
Day-by-day
Arrive Auckland
Auckland
Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus or AirportLink bus into the CBD (~£10). Check into a central hostel in the Britomart/Karangahape Road area, then walk the waterfront, Queen Street and the Viaduct Harbour. Grab dinner with other travellers at a hostel or food court — Auckland is pricey, so self-catering where possible saves a lot.
🚌Airport bus ~£10
🛏Central Auckland hostel dorm or budget guesthouse (£22-30)
- →Walk the Viaduct Harbour and Queen Street
- →Free Mt Eden / Maungawhau viewpoint (bus up)
Auckland to Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel Peninsula
Take an InterCity bus from Auckland to Thames or Whitianga (~£20-25, 3-4 hrs), then a local shuttle or the Go Kiwi service to Hahei. Time your visit for low tide at Hot Water Beach — bring a spade (hire ~£3) and dig your own thermal pool. Stay in Hahei or Whitianga.
🚌InterCity bus Auckland to Thames/Whitianga ~£22
🛏Hahei/Whitianga backpackers (£25-32)
- →Dig your own hot pool at Hot Water Beach (tide-dependent)
- →Hahei beach evening
Cathedral Cove and on to Rotorua via Hobbiton
Rotorua
Walk the Cathedral Cove track from Hahei before mid-morning (free, ~1.5 hrs return; check the tide and any track closures). A shuttle from Hahei to Matamata (~£25-35) connects to the Hobbiton Movie Set 2-hr tour — book direct online (~£65). From Matamata take an InterCity bus to Rotorua (~£12).
🚌Shuttle + InterCity buses ~£45
🛏Rotorua hostel (£22-30)
- →Cathedral Cove walk (free)
- →Hobbiton Movie Set tour (~£65, book direct)
Rotorua geothermal and adventure day
Rotorua
Free morning at Kuirau Park's steaming vents and mud pools, then pick your thrill: Kaituna River white-water rafting over Tutea Falls (~£60-80), the Rotorua Canopy Tours zipline (~£70), or a guided kayak trip with hot pools and glow-worm cave (~£70-90). Book on GetYourGuide/Klook or direct. Evening: eat at Eat Streat or the night market.
🚌Local buses/walking
🛏Rotorua hostel (£22-30)
- →Kuirau Park (free)
- →Kaituna rafting or canopy zipline (~£60-85)
Te Puia and Maori village stay
Murupara
Visit Te Puia for the Pohutu Geyser and kiwi conservation centre (~£35-45). Then take a shuttle/bus to Murupara (~£12) for a community-run Maori village experience: guided village tour, haka and flax-weaving lessons, and a hangi dinner cooked in the earth. Book direct with the marae/village operator (~£70-90) — this replaces Intrepid's included night.
🚌Shared shuttle Rotorua to Murupara ~£12
🛏Marae/village multi-share stay (included in experience)
- →Te Puia & Pohutu Geyser (~£40)
- →Maori village tour, haka, flax weaving, hangi dinner (~£80)
Murupara to Taupo via Huka Falls
Taupo
Bus back through Rotorua to Taupo (~£15-18). On the way or from Taupo, stop at Huka Falls and the Aratiatia Dam rapids (free; dam release times are posted). Afternoon free to swim in Lake Taupo or soak at Otumuheke Stream hot pools. Optional: evening lake cruise (~£30).
🚌InterCity bus ~£16
🛏Taupo hostel or budget motel (£25-35)
- →Huka Falls and Aratiatia Dam (free)
- →Otumuheke Stream hot pools (free)
Tongariro day
Taupo / Tongariro National Park
Do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing: book the Tongariro Expeditions or Tracknet shuttle from Taupo or National Park (~£30-40 return). The 19.4 km walk is free and takes 7-8 hrs — check the weather and carry water, food and layers. Longer stayers may prefer skydiving or bungy in Taupo instead.
🚌Tongariro Crossing shuttle ~£35
🛏Taupo hostel or budget motel (£25-35)
- →Tongariro Alpine Crossing (free walk, shuttle ~£35)
Taupo to Wellington
Wellington
InterCity bus Taupo to Wellington (~£25-35, 5-6 hrs) with views of Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. In the evening walk up Mount Victoria lookout (free) and explore Cuba Street's bars and eateries.
🚌InterCity bus ~£30
🛏Wellington hostel (£28-38)
- →Mount Victoria lookout (free)
- →Cuba Street food and bars
Cook Strait ferry to Kaikoura
Kaikoura
Book an Interislander or Bluebridge foot passenger fare across the Cook Strait through the Marlborough Sounds (~£40-55), then take the InterCity coastal bus from Picton to Kaikoura (~£18-25). Evening: local crayfish at a roadside BBQ stand (~£18).
🚌Ferry ~£48 + bus ~£22
🛏Kaikoura backpackers (£25-35)
- →Cook Strait ferry through Marlborough Sounds
- →Crayfish dinner
Kaikoura wildlife and on to Christchurch
Christchurch
Morning whale-watching cruise (~£75-95) or dolphin swimming (~£70-90) — book direct, weather-dependent. Walk the Kaikoura Peninsula Track to the Point Kean seal colony (free). Afternoon InterCity bus to Christchurch (~£15-20).
🚌InterCity bus ~£18
🛏Christchurch hostel or budget hotel (£25-38)
- →Whale watching or dolphin swim (~£80)
- →Point Kean seal colony walk (free)
Christchurch
Christchurch
Self-guided city walk: the Transitional Cathedral, Quake City museum (~£10), the Botanic Gardens (free) and Riverside Market. Afternoon free to rest, do laundry or hire a bike. Note this is the group-changeover day on the original tour — for you it's a slower day.
🚌Walking / local bus
🛏Christchurch hostel or budget hotel (£25-38)
- →Botanic Gardens (free)
- →Quake City museum (~£10)
- →Riverside Market
Christchurch to Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
InterCity bus Christchurch to Lake Tekapo (~£22-28, 4 hrs). Visit the Church of the Good Shepherd on the lakeshore (free). Book a Dark Sky Project stargazing session for the evening (~£45-70) — Tekapo is an International Dark Sky Reserve.
🚌InterCity bus ~£25
🛏Lake Tekapo hostel or holiday park cabin (£30-40)
- →Church of the Good Shepherd (free)
- →Dark Sky stargazing (~£55)
Lake Tekapo to Queenstown via Kawarau Gorge
Queenstown
Hike Mt John summit early for Mackenzie Basin views (free, ~1.5 hrs). Then InterCity bus to Queenstown (~£25-32, 4 hrs) with stops at Lindis Pass and the Kawarau Gorge bungy site. Optional bungy (~£120-160) — book ahead. Evening in Queenstown's waterfront bars.
🚌InterCity bus ~£28
🛏Queenstown hostel (£30-42)
- →Mt John summit hike (free)
- →Kawarau Gorge bungy or viewing (free to watch)
Queenstown adventure day
Queenstown
Pick one big-ticket activity: Milford Sound day tour (~£100-130 — long day, 12 hrs), jet boating (~£70), paragliding (~£130), canyon swing (~£120) or a Lord of the Rings 4WD tour (~£90). Book via GetYourGuide/Klook or direct. Otherwise ride the Skyline Gondola (~£30) and hike the Ben Lomond track.
🚌Local buses / activity pickups
🛏Queenstown hostel (£30-42)
- →Milford Sound day trip (~£115) or jet boating (~£70) or Skyline + Ben Lomond hike
Queenstown to Wanaka via Arrowtown
Wanaka
Bus to Arrowtown (~£5-8), wander the historic gold-mining village (free), then continue to Wanaka (~£12-18). Afternoon: lakeside walk, #thatwanakatree, and a hike on the Mount Iron or Rocky Mountain tracks (free).
🚌Local buses ~£20
🛏Wanaka hostel (£30-40)
- →Arrowtown village walk (free)
- →Lake Wanaka waterfront and #thatwanakatree (free)
- →Mount Iron hike (free)
Wanaka to Franz Josef via Haast Pass
Franz Josef
InterCity bus Wanaka to Franz Josef (~£30-38, 4-5 hrs) along Lake Hawea and over the Haast Pass with rainforest and waterfall stops. Check into a Franz Josef hostel and do the short walk to the glacier viewpoint (free) at sunset.
🚌InterCity bus ~£34
🛏Franz Josef backpackers (£28-38)
- →Lake Hawea lookout and Haast Pass stops
- →Franz Josef glacier viewpoint walk (free)
Franz Josef pounamu and glacier
Franz Josef
Carve your own pounamu (greenstone) pendant in a local workshop (~£50-70, book direct). In the afternoon choose a guided glacier heli-hike (~£250-320) or kayak on the glacial lake / Okarito lagoon (~£70-90) — or keep it free with the Terrace Walk and Tatare Tunnels tracks.
🚌Walking / local shuttles
🛏Franz Josef backpackers (£28-38)
- →Pounamu carving workshop (~£60)
- →Glacier heli-hike (~£280) or lagoon kayak (~£80) or free valley walks
Franz Josef to Christchurch via Arthur's Pass
Christchurch
InterCity bus Franz Josef to Christchurch (~£40-48, 8-9 hrs) through the West Coast and over Arthur's Pass with a stop at the Otira Viaduct lookout and the Devils Punchbowl waterfall walk. Long travel day — bring snacks. Evening farewell dinner in Christchurch (~£20).
🚌InterCity bus ~£44
🛏Christchurch hostel or budget hotel (£25-38)
- →Arthur's Pass scenic drive
- →Devils Punchbowl waterfall walk (free)
Depart Christchurch
Christchurch
Final morning: Hagley Park walk, the Antarctic Centre (~£28) or last-minute souvenir shopping at the Arts Centre. Airport bus or shuttle to Christchurch Airport (~£9) for your onward flight.
🚌Airport bus ~£9
🛏None (checkout day)
- →Hagley Park or Antarctic Centre (~£28)
Self-launched vs. Intrepid Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Intrepid Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,122 | £3,100 |
| Duration | 19 days | 19 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £978 per person (32%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Intrepid Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,122
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 Amplified (Southbound) — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,122 per person for 19 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 Intrepid Travel?+
Yes — Intrepid Travel charges around £3,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,122 — a saving of roughly £978 (32%) per person.
How long is the New Zealand trip?+
This itinerary runs 19 days, covering 19 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?
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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