New Zealand Multisport: Self-Launched 21-Day Auckland to Wellington

Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus (about NZ$18, ~£9) or the cheaper 38 bus into the city. Check into a central hostel (Base, Haka Lodge, or YHA Auckland City). Day 1 is a soft arrival day: sort a NZ SIM/eSIM, pick up a HOP card for city transport, and stock up at Countdown. If you have energy, walk the waterfront to Viaduct Harbour and the Domain. Optional splurge: America's Cup sailing out of Auckland (~NZ$210 / £100) or a Waiheke Island ferry day.

🚌SkyBus from airport ~£9 (one way)

🛏Central Auckland hostel dorm (4-6 bed), ~£22/night

• →SkyBus transfer to city
• →Waterfront and Viaduct Harbour walk
• →Auckland Domain and museum
• →Optional Waiheke Island ferry excursion
• →Optional America's Cup sailing

Rent a bike in the morning (Rotorua/Auckland operators or a Karangahake-based hire from ~NZ$45 / £22) and ride the old rail trail through the Karangahake Gorge tunnels and swing bridges. Take an InterCity bus from Auckland to Rotorua (about 4h, ~NZ$40-55 / £20-27) or split the trip at Paeroa for the gorge. In Rotorua, check into a hostel, then book a Tamaki Maori Village evening experience direct (about NZ$150-170 / £70-80) — marae greeting, haka and poi, hangi dinner, transport included. Some operators offer an overnight stay; otherwise return to the hostel after.

🚌InterCity bus ~£23; local bike hire included in activities

🛏Rotorua hostel dorm or Tamaki Maori Village multi-share overnight, ~£25

• →Karangahake Gorge cycle
• →InterCity bus Auckland–Rotorua
• →Tamaki Maori Village evening with hangi dinner

Pick your own adventure. Options: Hells Gate Geothermal Park (from ~NZ$35 / £17), free public hot pools at Kuirau Park, whitewater rafting on the Kaituna (about NZ$135 / £65), Zorbing (~NZ$49-169), mountain biking in Whakarewarewa Forest (bike hire ~NZ$35+), or a Hobbiton day trip (~NZ$112 / £54). Book anything you want in advance on GetYourGuide or directly with the operator. Eat cheaply at the Rotorua Night Market if it's on.

🚌Walk or local bus

🛏Rotorua hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Hells Gate Geothermal Park
• →Kuirau Park free hot pools
• →Kaituna whitewater rafting
• →Zorbing
• →Whakarewarewa forest mountain biking
• →Optional Hobbiton tour

Bus or shuttle from Rotorua to National Park Village / Whakapapa (InterCity, ~2h, ~NZ$30-45 / £15-22). Book the Tongariro Alpine Crossing shuttle in advance — the standard operator shuttle from National Park Village is about NZ$50-60 return. The 19.4km crossing takes 7-8 hours; bring water, layers, and food. The shuttle drop-off and pickup are fixed, so time yourself. Stay in a National Park Village hostel (Skotel, Plateau Lodge, or a backpacker).

🚌InterCity bus ~£18; trailhead shuttle ~£25 return

🛏National Park Village hostel/bunkhouse, ~£28

• →Tongariro Alpine Crossing hike
• →Booked trailhead shuttle
• →Volcano views of Ngauruhoe and Tongariro

Travel onward to Ohakune or Taumarunui (InterCity or a local shuttle), then book a guided Whanganui River canoe day direct with a local operator (Canoe Safaris, Yeti Tours, or Blazing Paddles — from about NZ$150-200 / £75-100 per day including kayak and gear). Paddle the gorge section among native bush; keep it to a day trip and stay in Pipiriki or Ohakune overnight. Self-catering dinner at the lodge.

🚌InterCity bus or operator shuttle ~£20

🛏Pipiriki or Ohakune lodge/backpackers, ~£25

• →Self-booked Whanganui River canoe day
• →Native bush gorge paddling

Half-day jet boat tour up the Whanganui River to the Bridge to Nowhere or to old Maori and European river settlements (about NZ$150-180 / £75-90; book direct with the operator who'll often pick you up at Pipiriki). The afternoon is a short transfer to Raetihi for a night in a country backpackers or lodge — a cheap, quiet stop before Wellington.

🚌Jet boat included in activity; short bus to Raetihi ~£10

🛏Raetihi backpackers/lodge, ~£25

• →Whanganui River jet boat tour
• →Bridge to Nowhere walk stop

Bus from Raetihi or Ohakune to Wellington (InterCity, ~4-5h, ~NZ$45 / £22). Check into a hostel in the city or Cuba Street area, then visit Te Papa Tongarewa — free entry, superb Maori and Pacific collections, and the earthquake-isolation base isolators are visible in the stairwell outside the entrance. Evening: eat on Cuba Street or hit the waterfront.

🚌InterCity bus ~£22

🛏Wellington hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Bus to Wellington
• →Te Papa Museum (free entry)
• →Cuba Street evening

Book the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry across Cook Strait to Picton (about 3.5h; book early, walk-on passenger fares from ~NZ$60-90 / £30-45 depending on date). From Picton, take the InterCity bus to Motueka (~2.5h) and then a local shuttle or water taxi into Marahau at the edge of Abel Tasman National Park. Stay in Marahau or Motueka at the old-school backpackers (The Barn, Kanuka Ridge). Book tomorrow's kayak trip tonight.

🚌Ferry ~£38 + bus ~£20 + shuttle ~£8

🛏Marahau/Motueka backpackers, ~£24

• →Interislander ferry across Cook Strait
• →Bus to Motueka
• →Marahau arrival and beach walk

Book a full-day sea kayak trip direct (Abel Tasman Kayaks, Kahu Kayaks, or Marahau Kayaks — about NZ$140-190 / £70-95 including safety briefing, gear and water taxi return). Paddle the bays and islets, picnic on a golden beach, and keep an eye out for seals and the odd stingray. Evening back in Marahau: fish and chips or cook at the hostel.

🚌Water taxi included with kayak booking

🛏Marahau backpackers, ~£24

• →Full-day self-booked sea kayaking
• →Water taxi pickup in Abel Tasman
• →Beach picnic and seal spotting

There's no train on the West Coast — use the InterCity bus from Motueka to Greymouth or Punakaiki (~6-7h, ~NZ$55-70 / £27-34). Break the journey or plan the arrival for late afternoon, then walk the Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and blowholes loop (free). Overnight in Punakaiki or Greymouth at a backpackers.

🚌InterCity bus ~£30

🛏Punakaiki or Greymouth backpackers, ~£24

• →InterCity bus down the West Coast
• →Punakaiki Pancake Rocks walk (free)

Continue by bus toward Franz Josef, breaking to walk at Okarito Lagoon (estuary and birdlife — free walk, or a kayak rental if you feel like it). Arrive Franz Josef and stay at a backpackers in the village. Walk the free Franz Josef Glacier Valley track (about 1.5h return) or do the guided valley walk (~NZ$79 / £38). Book tomorrow's heli hike if that's on your list.

🚌InterCity bus ~£14

🛏Franz Josef village backpackers, ~£25

• →Okarito Lagoon walk
• →Franz Josef Glacier Valley track
• →Optional guided glacier valley walk

Full free day. Cheapest strong option: hike the Roberts Point Track (~5h, free). Big-splurge options: helicopter scenic flight with snow landing (about NZ$385-655 / £185-315 — book direct with the operator), Franz Josef glacier heli-hike, kayaking on the lake (~NZ$149-169 / £72-82), or horseback riding (~NZ$65-150 / £31-72). Book anything extreme a day or two ahead since weather cancels flights regularly.

🚌Walk / short local shuttles

🛏Franz Josef village backpackers, ~£25

• →Roberts Point Track hike
• →Optional heli scenic flight with snow landing
• →Optional glacier heli-hike
• →Optional lake kayaking
• →Optional horseback riding

The InterCity bus from Franz Josef to Wanaka crosses Haast Pass and takes about 5-6 hours (~NZ$50-65 / £25-32). Stop for photos at the Blue Pools and Fantail Falls if the driver allows a break. Arrive Wanaka and check into a hostel near the lakefront (YHA Wanaka, Base). Free wander along Lake Wanaka; self-cater dinner.

🚌InterCity bus ~£29

🛏Wanaka hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Bus over Haast Pass
• →Blue Pools and Fantail Falls stops
• →Lake Wanaka waterfront walk

Free day with plenty of self-bookable options: scenic bike ride around the lake or up the Clutha (bike hire from ~NZ$60 / £29), Puzzling World (~NZ$22-32 / £11-15), a lake cruise, Roys Peak hike (free but a 5-6h slog), or skydiving from Wanaka Airport (about NZ$449+ / £215+). Book on GetYourGuide or direct. Cheap dinner at a food truck or supermarket cook-up.

🚌Walk or local shuttle

🛏Wanaka hostel dorm, ~£26

• →Lakefront bike ride
• →Puzzling World
• →Roys Peak hike
• →Optional skydiving
• →Optional lake cruise

Short InterCity hop to Queenstown (~1.5h, ~NZ$25-35 / £13-18) via the Crown Range or Kawarau Gorge. Check into a Queenstown hostel (Adventure Q2, Haka Lodge, Nomads). Free afternoon: walk the lakefront, ride the Skyline Gondola (from ~NZ$66 / £32) or hike up the Tiki Trail for free, and poke around the waterfront. Queenstown is where the adventure spend can balloon — pick one or two.

🚌InterCity bus ~£16

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Bus Wanaka–Queenstown
• →Lakefront walk
• →Tiki Trail hike or Skyline Gondola

Choose your adrenaline hit: Kawarau Bridge or Nevis bungee (NZ$205-320 / £98-155), Shotover Jet (~NZ$159 / £76), Canyon Swing (~NZ$205-295 / £98-140), paragliding (~NZ$210 / £100), Ziptrek (~NZ$120-170 / £58-82), or a vineyard tour (~NZ$189-265 / £90-127). All bookable on GetYourGuide or direct. Rest of the day free: burgers at Fergburger, walk Queenstown Gardens.

🚌Walk / local bus

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Optional bungee jumping
• →Optional Shotover Jet
• →Optional canyon swing
• →Optional paragliding
• →Queenstown Gardens walk

Book a Routeburn Track day-hike shuttle (about NZ$80-110 / £40-54 return from Queenstown; the track itself is free). Hike from the Routeburn Shelter toward Routeburn Falls Hut and back — about 6-7 hours, waterfalls, beech forest, and big mountain views. Back in Queenstown for the evening. Alternatively, book a guided day version through an operator (about NZ$200+).

🚌Track shuttle ~£47 return

🛏Queenstown hostel dorm, ~£28

• →Routeburn Track day hike
• →Shuttle to Routeburn Shelter
• →Routeburn Falls Hut viewpoint

Bus Queenstown to Te Anau (~2h, ~NZ$35-45 / £17-22) and check into a Te Anau hostel. Book a Milford Sound cruise direct — the cruise-only price is about NZ$99-130 / £48-63, and a coach-from-Te-Anau package with cruise runs around NZ$160-200 / £78-98. The drive through the Homer Tunnel and Fiordland is the point. Evening: optional Fiordland Cinema 'Ata Whenua' film (~NZ$10 / £5).

🚌Bus ~£20; coach-cruise package booked as activity

🛏Te Anau hostel dorm, ~£25

• →Bus to Te Anau
• →Milford Sound cruise
• →Homer Tunnel and Fiordland scenery
• →Optional Fiordland Cinema film

Bus Te Anau to Cromwell/Alexandra (~2.5-3h, ~NZ$35-45 / £17-22). Hire a bike in Alexandra or Clyde (about NZ$55-75 / £26-36 for a half or full day with shuttle back) and ride a stretch of the Otago Rail Trail — gravel trail, old viaducts and tunnels, easy effort. Overnight in Clyde or Alexandra at a backpackers/country hotel.

🚌Bus ~£20; bike hire in activities

🛏Clyde/Alexandra backpackers, ~£24

• →Bus to Central Otago
• →Otago Rail Trail cycling
• →Historic Clyde walk

Bus to Christchurch (~5-6h, ~NZ$45-60 / £22-29). Join a free or low-cost community walking tour of Ōtautahi/Christchurch (G Adventures' G for Good partner; community tours often run by donation — check local listings) and see the rebuild, the Transitional Cathedral and the street art. Stay in a Christchurch hostel. If you'd rather chase dolphins, divert to Kaikoura instead (bus from Christchurch or Picton) and book a Dolphin Encounter (~NZ$135 / £65) or sea kayaking (~NZ$140 / £67).

🚌Bus ~£26

🛏Christchurch hostel dorm, ~£24

• →Bus to Christchurch
• →Ōtautahi community walking tour by donation
• →Street art and Transitional Cathedral
• →Optional Kaikoura dolphin swim

Two easy ways to finish: fly Christchurch–Wellington (about NZ$60-110 / £29-54 if booked early) or take the scenic Coastal Pacific train to Picton plus the Interislander ferry, then the train or bus to Wellington — slower and pricier but gorgeous. If you're heading home from Christchurch instead, use the day for the Botanic Gardens and catch your flight. Trip ends in Wellington per the original itinerary.

🚌Flight ~£40 or train plus ferry ~£110

🛏Not included (onward travel day)

• →Flight or Coastal Pacific train and ferry to Wellington
• →Botanic Gardens walk
• →Departure