New Zealand South Island Encompassed: Self-Launched Edition
16 days · New Zealand
G Adventures charges £1,595
No-markup version: ~£1,375 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched 16-day loop from Wellington through the South Island's greatest hits — Abel Tasman's golden bays, the wild West Coast and Franz Josef Glacier, adrenaline-fuelled Queenstown, Arrowtown, Lake Tekapo and Aoraki/Mount Cook — using InterCity coaches, the Bluebridge/Cook Strait ferry, hostel dorms and self-bookable activities. This DIY version mirrors the G Adventures 'South Island Encompassed' route (16 days, Wellington to Wellington) but at a fraction of the price, with full flexibility to add or drop side trips like Milford Sound.
Day-by-day
Arrive Wellington & waterfront wander
Wellington
Fly or bus into Wellington and check into a central hostel dorm (Nomads Capital or Haka Lodge are good value). Spend the afternoon on the waterfront walkway, pop into Te Papa Museum (free entry, though some exhibitions charge) and get your bearings. In the evening, join a free hostel social night or wander Cuba Street for cheap eats.
🚌Airport bus or shuttle to city centre ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm, central Wellington (£20-28)
- →Te Papa Museum (free)
- →Wellington waterfront walk
- →Cuba Street food crawl
Cook Strait ferry to Nelson & Marahau
Abel Tasman National Park
Book either the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry across Cook Strait (book ahead — around £30-45 with a backpacker fare; stand on deck for Marlborough Sounds views). From Picton, take an InterCity bus to Nelson/Marahau (~£15-20, 2-2.5 hrs). Settle into a hostel in Marahau, the gateway to Abel Tasman National Park.
🚌Cook Strait ferry ~£35; InterCity bus Picton–Marahau ~£18
🛏Hostel dorm in Marahau (£20-30)
- →Cook Strait ferry crossing
- →Marlborough Sounds views from deck
Abel Tasman coastal walk via Aqua Taxi
Abel Tasman National Park
Book an Aqua Taxi from Marahau to Anchorage (~£25-30) and walk the coastal track back at your own pace past golden beaches like Torrent Bay and Bark Bay — roughly 4-5 hours including swim stops. Alternatively kayak the coastline (about £80-100 with a guided half-day tour). A park entry/facilities fee doesn't apply but the track is free to walk.
🚌Aqua Taxi Marahau–Anchorage ~£27
🛏Hostel dorm in Marahau (£20-30)
- →Aqua Taxi to Anchorage
- →Abel Tasman coastal track walk
- →Swim stops at Torrent Bay & Bark Bay
- →Optional: kayaking ~£90
West Coast road & Cape Foulwind seal colony
Westport
Head south down the rugged West Coast by InterCity bus (Marahau/Nelson to Westport, ~£25-30, 4-5 hrs). Stop at the Cape Foulwind walkway (~20 min loop from the roadside car park; you can hitch or take a taxi from Westport) to see the fur seal colony and lighthouse views. Settle into a Westport hostel for the night.
🚌InterCity bus Nelson–Westport ~£28
🛏Hostel dorm in Westport (£20-25)
- →Cape Foulwind seal colony walkway
- →Westport town explore
Punakaiki Pancake Rocks to Franz Josef
Franz Josef
Take the InterCity bus south, hopping off at Punakaiki to walk the Pancake Rocks and blowholes loop (free, 20-30 mins). Continue on the next bus to Franz Josef village (total ~£30-35). Check into a rainforest hostel — the YHA or Rainforest Retreat are solid backpacker options.
🚌InterCity Westport–Punakaiki–Franz Josef ~£33
🛏Hostel dorm in Franz Josef (£22-30)
- →Punakaiki Pancake Rocks & blowholes
- →Rainforest village evening
Glacier day: heli-hike or free valley walks
Franz Josef
Pick your glacier experience: a heli-hike with snow landing (roughly £200-280 booked direct with Franz Josef Glacier Guides or HeliServices), a guided ice walk, or — on a budget — the free public walkways: the Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (1.5 hrs return) and the Tatare Tunnels or Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier (bus/taxi). Weather can cancel flights, so keep a buffer day in mind.
🚌Local shuttles/taxis ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Franz Josef (£22-30)
- →Optional heli-hike with snow landing ~£240
- →Franz Josef Glacier Valley Walk (free)
- →Lake Matheson mirror lake walk
- →Optional kayaking ~£85
Haast Pass & Wanaka to Queenstown
Queenstown
Bus south over Haast Pass to Wanaka (~£20-25) — stop for the iconic #ThatWanakaTree photo and a lakeside lunch. Then continue on to Queenstown (~£15-18, 1.5 hrs). Book into a central hostel (Nomads, Haka Lodge or Adventure Q2) and stroll the Lake Wakatipu waterfront in the evening.
🚌InterCity Franz Josef–Wanaka ~£22; Wanaka–Queenstown ~£16
🛏Hostel dorm in Queenstown (£25-35)
- →Haast Pass scenic drive
- →That Wanaka Tree photo stop
- →Lake Wakatipu waterfront
Adrenaline day in Queenstown
Queenstown
Book direct with operators for the big hits: the Kawarau Bridge or Nevis Bungy (£90-180), Shotover Jet (£85-100), skydiving over the Remarkables (£200-280) or the Luge and Skyline Gondola (£30-45). Booking direct or via Klook often beats tour-inclusive prices. Everything is walkable or a short shuttle from town.
🚌Walking / operator shuttles (often free)
🛏Hostel dorm in Queenstown (£25-35)
- →Bungy jumping ~£120
- →Shotover Jet ~£95
- →Optional skydiving ~£240
- →Skyline Gondola & Luge ~£35
Milford Sound day trip
Milford Sound / Fiordland
Take a coach-and-cruise day trip to Milford Sound — book via GetYourGuide or directly with Southern Discoveries/Jucy (roughly £110-160 including the 12-hour return coach through Fiordland and a 1h45m nature cruise under the cliffs). If you'd rather save money and have longer, drive the Milford Road yourself if you hire a car, or stay the night in Te Anau.
🚌Coach transfer included in Milford Sound day trip
🛏Hostel dorm in Queenstown (£25-35)
- →Milford Road scenic drive
- →Milford Sound nature cruise
- →Mirror Lakes & Homer Tunnel stops
Glenorchy & Bob's Cove
Glenorchy
Take the public Orbus or the Glenorchy scenic shuttle/bus (about £10-15 each way) out to Glenorchy at the head of Lake Wakatipu, with Lord of the Rings filming locations en route. Walk the Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk and, back towards Queenstown, do the Bob's Cove Track for lake and mountain views. Return to Queenstown in the late afternoon.
🚌Orbus/shuttle Queenstown–Glenorchy ~£25 return
🛏Hostel dorm in Queenstown (£25-35)
- →Glenorchy Lagoon boardwalk
- →Bob's Cove Track
- →LOTR filming location viewpoints
Arrowtown & Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
Bus to Arrowtown (20 mins, £5-8) for the gold-rush main street and the Arrow River trail, then hop the InterCity bus onward to Lake Tekapo (~£30-35, 3-3.5 hrs). Stay two nights in a Tekapo hostel (YHA Tekapo or Lake Tekapo Lodge backpackers) and watch the turquoise lake glow at sunset.
🚌Orbus to Arrowtown ~£6; InterCity Queenstown–Lake Tekapo ~£33
🛏Hostel dorm in Lake Tekapo (£25-32)
- →Arrowtown historic village
- →Arrow River trail
- →Lake Tekapo sunset
Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park
Aoraki/Mount Cook
Take the InterCity or GreatSights bus from Tekapo to Mt Cook village (~£18-22, 1.5 hrs) and hike the Hooker Valley Track (10 km, ~3 hrs, free) — the best free walk in the country, ending at Hooker Lake with icebergs and Aoraki views. Visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre (£12) if time allows. Bus back to Tekapo for the night, or stay in Mt Cook if you want an early start tomorrow.
🚌InterCity Tekapo–Mt Cook return ~£40
🛏Hostel dorm in Lake Tekapo (£25-32)
- →Hooker Valley Track
- →Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre ~£12
- →Tasman Glacier viewpoint
Stargazing & hot springs in Tekapo
Lake Tekapo
Free morning: swim or kayak on the lake, walk Mt John via the Cowan Hill or the summit trail (free, 2 hrs). In the evening book a Dark Sky Project stargazing session at Mt John Observatory (£45-90 depending on the tour) or soak at Tekapo Springs hot pools (£12-20).
🚌Walking / shuttle to Mt John ~£10
🛏Hostel dorm in Lake Tekapo (£25-32)
- →Mt John summit walk
- →Dark Sky Project stargazing ~£65
- →Tekapo Springs hot pools ~£16
Optional Kaikoura dolphins & Christchurch
Christchurch
Bus north via Christchurch (~£25-30). If you want the dolphin swim, add a Kaikoura detour: InterCity Tekapo–Christchurch then Christchurch–Kaikoura, and book the Dolphin Encounter (~£70-90 for the swim, £45 for watching). Otherwise explore Christchurch's Riverside Market and cardboard cathedral before heading on toward Picton.
🚌InterCity bus ~£30
🛏Hostel dorm in Christchurch or Kaikoura (£22-30)
- →Optional Kaikoura dolphin swim ~£80
- →Riverside Market Christchurch
- →Cardboard Cathedral
Back across Cook Strait to Wellington
Wellington
Take the InterCity bus to Picton (~£20-25) and the ferry back to Wellington (~£35-45) — or if you're flying back to the North Island, Christchurch has the cheapest domestic fares. Evening in Wellington: Weta Workshop visit (~£50) is optional, or join a hostel quiz night.
🚌Bus to Picton ~£22; ferry ~£40
🛏Hostel dorm in Wellington (£20-28)
- →Cook Strait ferry
- →Optional Weta Workshop ~£50
- →Hostel social night
Wellington farewell
Wellington
Free morning for last-minute souvenir shopping on Cuba Street or a coffee crawl through the city's famously good cafe scene. Check out and head to the airport — the Airport Flyer bus is ~£5.
🚌Airport Flyer bus ~£5
🛏Checkout
- →Cuba Street shopping
- →Wellington coffee crawl
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,375 | £1,595 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £220 per person (14%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,375
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 South Island Encompassed: Self-Launched Edition cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,375 per person for 16 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,595 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,375 — a saving of roughly £220 (14%) per person.
How long is the New Zealand trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 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?
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