Self-Launched: New Zealand North & South Islands — Auckland to Queenstown (18 Days)
18 days · New Zealand
Collette charges £6,100
No-markup version: ~£2,175 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
An independent, backpacker-priced version of Collette's 18-day Auckland-to-Queenstown coach tour. You'll cover the same spine of Aotearoa — Auckland's waterfront, Rotorua's geothermal Maori heartland, Wellington's food and museum scene, the Cook Strait ferry, Christchurch, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Dunedin's wildlife coast, and Queenstown with Milford Sound — but using InterCity buses, the Bluebridge/Interislander ferry, the TranzAlpine-style scenic rail option and self-booked hostels. Everything the coach group does as a "guided" inclusion can be replicated solo via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct booking with the same operators (Whakarewarewa, Willowbank, the Albatross Centre, RealNZ Milford cruises, TSS Earnslaw). Costs are realistic backpacker estimates in GBP; transport is heavily weighted because New Zealand distances are long. Note: NZ is expensive for food and activities relative to Southeast Asia, so budget accordingly and pre-book Milford Sound and Mt Cook beds early.
Day-by-day
Arrive Auckland — settle into the city
Auckland
Land at Auckland Airport and take the SkyBus or the AT AirportLink/SkyDrive into the CBD (~NZ$20, roughly £9). Check into a central hostel or budget hotel near Queen Street — the same area Collette uses for its Hotel Indigo base, but at a fraction of the price. Pick up a SIM/eSIM and an AT HOP card for trains, buses and ferries. Evening: walk Queen Street and the Viaduct Harbour. Self-organise your own 'welcome dinner' at a food truck or Britomart eatery — fish and chips on the waterfront is the classic.
🚌SkyBus Auckland Airport → CBD, ~£9
🛏Central Auckland hostel dorm or private room (e.g. Haka Lodge / Attic Backpackers area)
- →SkyBus airport transfer
- →Queen Street and Viaduct Harbour evening walk
- →Buy AT HOP card + eSIM
Auckland city day — America's Cup Village and Harbour Bridge
Auckland
Replace the coach's panoramic city tour with a self-guided loop on foot and by ferry. Start at the America's Cup Village and Viaduct Basin, walk to Queen Street, then along the waterfront to the Auckland Harbour Bridge viewing area (or pay a small sum to walk/climb the bridge with AJ Hackett if you want the thrill). Visit the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the Domain — the equivalent of Collette's 'War Memorial visit' — entry is by donation for NZ residents, an international visitor ticket is around NZ$32 (£15). Afternoon: ferry to Devonport (AT HOP, ~NZ$4) for a free volcanic-cone walk and skyline views.
🚌AT HOP card buses/ferries, ~£8
🛏Central Auckland hostel dorm or private room
- →America's Cup Village & Viaduct Basin
- →Queen Street & waterfront walk
- →Auckland Harbour Bridge viewpoint
- →Auckland War Memorial Museum
- →Devonport ferry + Mt Victoria walk
Auckland to Rotorua — Redwoods and Whakarewarewa Forest
Rotorua
Take an InterCity bus from Auckland to Rotorua (about 3h30, ~NZ$45–60 or £22–30; book online in advance for cheapest fares). This covers the coach's transfer leg. On arrival, walk or shuttle to Whakarewarewa Forest (the Redwoods) — free entry, with walking and mountain-bike trails through towering Californian redwoods. A small kauri/forest walk plus the Redwoods Treewalk canopy experience (~NZ$40) is a good self-booked substitute for the option. Swap the private farm visit for a local farm-orchard stop or the Agrodome if you want an animal fix (book direct, ~NZ$40). Evening soak at a public hot pool such as Kuirau Park (free) or the Polynesian Spa public pools (~NZ$35).
🚌InterCity Auckland → Rotorua, ~£26
🛏Rotorua hostel dorm (e.g. Rock Solid Backpackers / Rotorua Downtown Backpackers)
- →InterCity bus Auckland → Rotorua
- →Whakarewarewa Redwoods Forest walk
- →Redwoods Treewalk (optional)
- →Kuirau Park geothermal free walk
Rotorua — Whakarewarewa Maori village + hangi experience
Rotorua
Book Whakarewarewa – The Living Maori Village directly (entry ~NZ$45–55) or via Klook/GetYourGuide. Take the guided village walk covering the geothermal valley, then add the cultural performance and a hangi (earth-oven) meal package — this replaces Collette's included hangi dinner and Maori performance. Alternatively, the Mitai Maori Village evening show includes a hangi feast and glow-worm bush walk (~NZ$145, book direct or on GetYourGuide). Afternoon: walk the lakefront and Government Gardens for free.
🚌Local bus / walk, ~£4
🛏Rotorua hostel dorm
- →Whakarewarewa Living Maori Village guided walk
- →Maori cultural performance
- →Hangi dinner (Mitai or Whakarewarewa combo)
- →Rotorua lakefront & Government Gardens
Rotorua to Wellington — long bus day
Wellington
Bus Rotorua to Wellington on InterCity (about 7–8 hours via Taupo and the Desert Road, ~NZ$50–80 or £25–40; night or early departure gives you the day back). This is the practical self-launched replacement for Collette's private coach transfer. Break the journey in Taupo if you want a lake stop or a Huka Falls walk. Arrive Wellington, check into a hostel in the Cuba Street / Te Aro area and eat cheaply on Cuba Street.
🚌InterCity Rotorua → Wellington, ~£32
🛏Wellington hostel dorm (e.g. Trek Global / Haka Lodge Wellington area)
- →InterCity Rotorua → Wellington
- →Optional Taupo/Huka Falls stop
- →Cuba Street evening wander
Wellington — Beehive, Old Government Building, Te Papa
Wellington
Self-guided civic walk: the Beehive (Parliament) and the Old Government Buildings (one of the world's largest wooden buildings) are free to view from outside, and free guided Parliament tours run on weekdays — book online in advance. Then spend the afternoon at Te Papa Tongarewa, the national museum, which is free. Finish on the waterfront and Queen's Wharf.
🚌Walk / local bus, ~£4
🛏Wellington hostel dorm
- →Parliament/Beehive (free guided tour if booked)
- →Old Government Buildings
- →Te Papa Museum (free)
- →Wellington waterfront & Queen's Wharf
Wellington — food tour and/or Lord of the Rings day
Wellington
Book a Wellington walking food tour on GetYourGuide or direct with the local operators (Zest Food Tours, ~NZ$165–195) to replicate Collette's included culinary walk — or DIY it: Hannah's Laneway, Moore Wilson's, the Wellington Night Market and a flat white at a Cuba Street roastery cost a fraction. In the afternoon choose one of Collette's optional extras self-booked: the Seal Coast 4WD safari to the wild south coast (~NZ$175) or a Lord of the Rings/Weta Workshop experience (~NZ$50 for the Weta Cave, or a half-day locations tour ~NZ$160).
🚌Local bus/walk, ~£5
🛏Wellington hostel dorm
- →Wellington food walking tour (GetYourGuide/direct) or DIY food crawl
- →Seal Coast safari OR Weta Workshop/LOTR locations tour
- →Cuba Street coffee stop
Wellington to Christchurch — Cook Strait ferry + east coast
Christchurch
This is the scenic highlight leg: book the Interislander or Bluebridge ferry across Cook Strait to Picton (walk-on passenger fares from around NZ$65–99, ~£32–50; book 4–6 weeks ahead for the cheapest 'Saver' fares). Then take the InterCity bus Picton → Christchurch along the Kaikoura coast (about 5h, ~NZ$40–55), or break the journey at Kaikoura for a whale watch or seal colony walk. Arrive Christchurch and check into a hostel near the city centre.
🚌Ferry ~£42 + bus ~£28, total ~£70
🛏Christchurch hostel dorm (e.g. The Bealey Quarter / Haka Lodge Christchurch area)
- →Interislander/Bluebridge ferry Wellington → Picton
- →InterCity Picton → Christchurch via Kaikoura coast
- →Optional Kaikoura stop
Christchurch — Botanic Gardens and Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
Christchurch
Self-guided Christchurch day: the Botanic Gardens and Hagley Park are free, and the earthquake-recovery street art and Cardboard Cathedral are walkable. In the afternoon take the local bus or a rideshare to Willowbank Wildlife Reserve (~NZ$32 entry) to see kiwi, kea, tuatara and takahe — the same 'Big 5' wildlife Collette includes. Book a Maori-guided cultural experience or the Avon River punting/canoe option directly (Avon punting ~NZ$35) as a replacement for the included Maori canoe paddle.
🚌Local bus, ~£6
🛏Christchurch hostel dorm
- →Christchurch Botanic Gardens & Hagley Park (free)
- →Cardboard Cathedral & street art walk
- →Willowbank Wildlife Reserve
- →Avon River punting (direct booking)
Christchurch — Quake City and Antarctic Centre
Christchurch
Do the two Collette optionals self-booked: Quake City museum (~NZ$20) in the city centre and the International Antarctic Centre near the airport (~NZ$59, includes the Hagglund ride and penguin encounter; book online for a small discount, or via Klook). Both are easily reached by the airport bus or a rideshare. Evening free in the city.
🚌Airport bus / rideshare, ~£8
🛏Christchurch hostel dorm
- →Quake City museum
- →International Antarctic Centre
- →Christchurch city evening
Christchurch to Aoraki / Mount Cook — hooker valley scenery
Aoraki / Mount Cook
Take the InterCity GreatSights or standard InterCity service Christchurch → Mount Cook village (about 5h via Lake Tekapo, ~NZ$50–75 or £25–38; book early, this is a popular route). The bus stops at Lake Tekapo and often at the Church of the Good Shepherd. Stay in the Aoraki/Mount Cook YHA or backpackers — beds here are limited and expensive, so book 2–3 months ahead. Late-afternoon wander to the Mueller/Kea Point viewpoint (free) for sunset on the Hooker Valley.
🚌InterCity to Mount Cook, ~£32
🛏Aoraki/Mount Cook YHA or backpackers (book early)
- →InterCity Christchurch → Mount Cook
- →Lake Tekapo & Church of the Good Shepherd stop
- →Kea Point / Hooker Valley viewpoint walk
Aoraki / Mount Cook — Hooker Valley Track, optional glacier flight
Aoraki / Mount Cook
Walk the Hooker Valley Track (about 10km return, 3h, free) — one of NZ's best half-days, with swing bridges and views to Aoraki. This replicates Collette's included nature walk. In the afternoon, weather permitting, book a self-launched glacier flightseeing or ski-plane landing direct with the operators in the village (~NZ$400+ for the snow landing, or heli-hike options) — Collette's optional is the same product, just book it yourself on arrival. Alternatively the free Tasman Glacier viewpoint walk.
🚌On foot / village shuttle
🛏Aoraki/Mount Cook YHA or backpackers
- →Hooker Valley Track
- →Tasman Glacier viewpoint walk
- →Optional glacier flightseeing (book direct)
Mount Cook to Dunedin — Baldwin Street and the steepest road
Dunedin
InterCity Mount Cook → Dunedin via Twizel and the Waitaki valley (about 6–7h, ~NZ$45–65). On arrival, walk or take a local bus to Baldwin Street in North East Valley — the world's steepest residential street, free. Evening: a local ale house meal in the Octagon or along George Street as a self-booked replacement for Collette's ale-house dinner. Check into a Dunedin hostel.
🚌InterCity to Dunedin, ~£30
🛏Dunedin hostel dorm (e.g. Hogwartz Backpackers / On Top Backpackers)
- →InterCity Mount Cook → Dunedin
- →Baldwin Street walk
- →Octagon / George Street evening
Dunedin — Larnach Castle and Royal Albatross Centre
Dunedin
Self-guided panoramic city loop: the Octagon, Dunedin Railway Station, First Church and the Otago Peninsula by the local bus (Orbus route to Portobello). Book Larnach Castle entry directly (~NZ$34) and the Royal Albatross Centre at Taiaroa Head directly (~NZ$28–65 for the observatory tours) — the same mainland albatross colony Collette visits. Add a free walk on the peninsula beaches and, if you're lucky, see seals and penguins at dusk.
🚌Orbus local bus to the peninsula, ~£8
🛏Dunedin hostel dorm
- →Dunedin city landmarks
- →Larnach Castle
- →Royal Albatross Centre tour
- →Otago Peninsula walk
Dunedin to Queenstown — Bob's Peak gondola
Queenstown
InterCity Dunedin → Queenstown (about 4h, ~NZ$35–50). Check into a Queenstown hostel. Ride the Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak (book via Klook/GetYourGuide or direct, ~NZ$66 return) for the lake views, then walk down the Tiki Trail for free if you prefer the exercise. Evening: lakefront walk and a cheap meal in town.
🚌InterCity to Queenstown, ~£22
🛏Queenstown hostel dorm (e.g. Adventure Q2 / Nomads Queenstown area)
- →InterCity Dunedin → Queenstown
- →Skyline Gondola to Bob's Peak
- →Tiki Trail walk
- →Queenstown waterfront evening
Queenstown to Milford Sound — fjord cruise day
Queenstown / Milford Sound
Book a Milford Sound day trip with RealNZ, Jucy or Go Orange on GetYourGuide — these run the same coach-plus-cruise product Collette uses (about NZ$189–259 or £90–125 including the cruise). It's a long day (12–13h round trip) but the drive through Fiordland is spectacular. Alternative for a tighter budget: catch the InterCity Queenstown → Milford Sound service and pre-book just the cruise (~NZ$99–139). Optional scenic flight back to Queenstown (~NZ$400+) can be booked direct.
🚌Milford coach/cruise day trip, ~£105
🛏Queenstown hostel dorm
- →Milford Sound coach + cruise (GetYourGuide)
- →Fiordland National Park drive
- →Optional scenic flight return
Queenstown — TSS Earnslaw and lakeside farewell
Queenstown
Book the TSS Earnslaw steamship cruise on Lake Wakatipu directly with RealNZ (~NZ$85, or via GetYourGuide) — the same coal-fired steamship Collette includes. Swap the included BBQ dinner for the Walter Peak High Country Farm package (BBQ lunch and farm/sheepdog show, ~NZ$175 total with the Earnslaw) if you want the full sheep-dog demonstration experience; otherwise grab a lakeside picnic. Optional afternoon: a self-booked Glenorchy/LOTR locations tour (~NZ$120) or the Skyline luge for a cheap thrill.
🚌Walk / local bus, ~£5
🛏Queenstown hostel dorm
- →TSS Earnslaw Lake Wakatipu cruise
- →Walter Peak farm & sheepdog show (optional upgrade)
- →Glenorchy/LOTR locations tour (optional)
- →Lakeside picnic
Queenstown — depart
Queenstown
Easy morning: walk the lakefront and Queenstown Gardens, then transfer to Queenstown Airport by the Orbus Route 1 (~NZ$10) or a shared shuttle. If your flight is later, squeeze in the Queenstown Hill Time Walk (free, 1.5h).
🚌Orbus to Queenstown Airport, ~£5
🛏—
- →Queenstown Gardens walk
- →Orbus transfer to airport
Self-launched vs. Collette
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Collette | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,175 | £6,100 |
| Duration | 18 days | 18 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £3,925 per person (64%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Collette-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,175
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 Self-Launched: New Zealand North & South Islands — Auckland to Queenstown (18 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,175 per person for 18 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 Collette?+
Yes — Collette charges around £6,100 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,175 — a saving of roughly £3,925 (64%) per person.
How long is the New Zealand trip?+
This itinerary runs 18 days, covering 18 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, culture, hiking 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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