When I told people I was visiting New Zealand, 99% of them immediately started talking about hiking. Which… no. I hate hiking. I had absolutely no plans to do any in New Zealand, and I am here to tell you that you can have a completely brilliant trip without ever lacing up a pair of walking boots.
Can you do it solo? Yes. Without hiring a car? Also yes. On a budget that won’t make you weep? Mostly yes, though New Zealand will test your resolve on this one.
I visited as part of a wider Pacific trip, combining New Zealand with Tonga and Samoa on the way, which I’d highly recommend doing if you’re flying long distance to get here. Which you probably are… because New Zealand is far from most places… Anyway Auckland is one of the best-connected hubs for South Pacific island hopping and it would be a shame not to use it that way. More on that at the bottom of this post.
Here’s how to do New Zealand if like me, hiking is your idea of a bad time.
Getting around New Zealand without a car
I thought about hiring a car for the South Island. As a solo traveller during the festive season, quotes were coming in at $200–250 USD per day. That’s not a typo. I also wasn’t particularly thrilled at the prospect of spending most of my trip alone in a car with limited cell service. People do it and love it, it’s just not the only option and it wasn’t for me on this occasion.
Flights between cities – quick and reasonably priced. Auckland to Christchurch was around an hour and $100 USD. Christchurch to Queenstown similar. This was my main mode of transport and I’d do the same again. You can also use Star Alliance points to make it even cheaper.
Intercity buses – technically an option but I can’t recommend them. When I looked into it they were 18+ hours, $200 -300 USD, and ran once per day. I genuinely don’t understand the logic.
Organised tours – the best solution for seeing more remote areas like Milford Sound. More on this below. There are so many tour options, either GetYourGuide, local agencies, and even hostels offering their own options. You won’t struggle to find tours.
Airport transfers – I found public transport efficient in most cities, but early morning and late night flights left me stranded a few times. After one very expensive Uber I discovered Supershuttle – shared airport transfers for around $15, even in the middle of the night, with pickup/drop off directly at your accommodation. Genuinely brilliant and worth bookmarking before you go. You can pay and reserve online in advance and they have a dedicated airport pickup stand.
Where to stay in New Zealand
New Zealand accommodation prices are genuinely shocking. Hotels in major cities were coming in at $180 USD+ per night for something unremarkable, which as a solo traveller I simply wasn’t going to do.
I stayed at Haka House throughout the trip – a New Zealand hostel chain with branches in most major cities. Honestly, this completely changed my opinion on hostel travel. I had never been a hostel person before this trip. I am now a Haka House person, which is a slightly different thing. Either way it opened my mind.
I stayed at Haka House in Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown and I can genuinely say I was impressed by all three.
Why I really loved this option: the beds are private with curtains so you have your own space. Lockers are large (bring a lock) and bathrooms are clean. Staff are genuinely helpful and friendly, bag storage is secure (including after checkout), common areas are comfortable and great for working from, and the kitchens are massive. Also the other travellers staying there were respectful and friendly (it doesn’t always happen…!). Every branch I stayed at was brilliant. Prices ranged from $40-80 USD per night depending on location and season. Obviously this was a fraction of what hotels were charging for what looked like a significantly worse experience in the photos.
Private rooms are also available at Haka House for less than most hotels. If you want your own space without the full hotel price tag, worth looking at. I mean… it’s still pricey, because it is New Zealand, but a cheaper option. Even more doable if you are travelling as a two.
Auckland – half a day is enough
Honestly, Auckland doesn’t need much time. Half a day to a full day is sufficient. Wander the harbour, stroll through the streets to capture the architecture, stop for coffee in one of the zillion cute cafes, grab some food (randomly there is SO many shawarma stores everywhere?), and move on.
Tip: the Sky Tower is cool, but admire it from outside. The architecture is genuinely beautiful and you don’t need to pay the extortionate fee to go up – the view from outside is the better photo anyway.
One thing I wish I’d done: Waiheke Island. A short ferry ride from Auckland, has vineyards, beaches and a lovely relaxed atmosphere. I looked into it but the combined cost of ferry, buses, and vineyard access was pushing $100+ USD for a few hours, which felt steep for a solo trip of drinking wine alone. Worth it if you’re with others. Less so solo. If you’re up for it and want an easy life, book a tour that handles all the logistics, you just have to sort the ferry there yourself.
The Hobbiton tour (the Lord of the Rings film set) is genuinely popular and looked like good fun, even as a non-fan. Gotta get those insta pics… It’s the kind of slightly absurd, hilarious tourist experience that makes travel enjoyable. You’d need an extra day in Auckland to fit it in. Book the Hobbiton tour here.
Where to stay in Auckland: Haka House Auckland for an affordable solo experience without compromising quality
Christchurch – a very pleasant surprise
I went to Christchurch with low expectations and came away genuinely charmed. A full day felt right. I had two nights and was glad of the time to slow down. You won’t run out of things to do.
The tourist classics
The trams are the best way to get around and also just a lovely thing to do. They run a full circuit of the city centre and take about an hour. Try to get a newer tram with forward-facing window seats rather than the older ones where everyone faces inward and you can’t see anything. This was a great way to see the city without having to brave the cold (yes, it was cold even in summer). Tickets are hop-on, hop-off so you can use it freely throughout the day. Book Christchurch tram tickets in advance to avoid queueing.
The Gondola is a short ride from the city centre and absolutely worth it. There are buses from near the tourist information centre (also the main tram terminus) that leave every 30 minutes and take about 20 minutes to get there. I went in genuinely horrible wind and still loved it. The views are great and at the top there are short walks (not hikes — I want to be very clear about this distinction) ranging from 10 minutes to longer options that were absolutely not for me. Book Gondola tickets in advance – the wait at the Gondola station can get massive.
Punting on the Avon River is the other main Christchurch activity. A flat-bottomed boat steered by a pole through the city’s gardens and waterways. Peaceful, scenic, and requires absolutely no physical effort on your part. I didn’t do it (grey and drizzly weather plus being solo made it feel less appealing) but it looked genuinely lovely when the sun was out, and if you’re visiting with someone else it’s probably the most charming way to spend an hour in Christchurch.
Save time and money by booking a combined ticket of Tram + Gondola or a Three in One Tram + Gondola + Punting. Thank me later for not queueing and saving a few $.
Riverside Market
This is one of the best things in Christchurch. A covered food and drink market with craft beer, Nepalese momos, Mexican tacos, cheese stalls, a wine bar doing walk-in tastings, and a very good burger. I spent several very happy hours here eating different things and chatting to locals. Go hungry. Go more than once if you can.
Street art and murals around the city centre are also worth an afternoon wander. Christchurch has invested significantly in public art since the 2011 earthquake and it shows. There are cute cafes and cakes everywhere. Just basically non-stop eat and drink your way around this city and you’ll leave happy.
Where to stay in Christchurch: Haka House Christchurch for comfort and a central location.
Queenstown – the highlight of the trip
Queenstown was the best thing about New Zealand and I didn’t hike a single step. The scenery is so extraordinary that you don’t need to. It’s just right there, in front of the town, unavoidable, relentless in its beauty. Mountains, lake, sky. It’s genuinely one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been.
You could spend an entire day sitting in central Queenstown drinking coffee, having a long lunch, getting an afternoon beer, and just looking at the view. The town itself is small, just a few main streets, but well-stocked with restaurants covering every kind of food. I particularly recommend the traditional fish and chips with a craft beer. It also gets seriously cold at night even in summer, so pack accordingly.
Boat tours on the lake
They leave every hour from the town centre and are an easy, non-strenuous way to get out onto the water and see the mountains from a different angle. Book lake cruise from any of the huts on the shore.
The Gondola is peak.
Yes, another one, and yes, it’s better than the Christchurch one. The views from the top are genuinely breathtaking – mountains, lake, and the whole of Queenstown laid out below. It deposits you onto a viewing deck rather than a hilltop, which means you can soak up the panorama without committing to anything that could be described as a walk. There are longer walking options available if you want them. I did not want them. There is also go-karting up here, but that definitely was not for me. I spent a very happy 15 minutes on the deck taking photos, and went back down. Book Queenstown Gondola via their official website. The queues to buy on the day were long, this is better and you get a digital QR.
Where to stay in Queenstown: Haka House Queenstown – right on the lake, incredible views from a very chill common room.
Milford Sound – the best thing I did in New Zealand
After the Christchurch to Queenstown scenic bus tour (totally amazing looking and definitely something you should consider) I’d booked got cancelled two days before departure due to overbooking, I had an unexpected free day in Queenstown. To be fair, it was Christmas time and I’d booked with Cheeky Kea Travel – a good operator, but a GetYourGuide system error meant they kept selling tickets after it sold out… boo. ANYWAY, I used this extra day to book a Milford Sound day trip. And honestly I think this was better.
I wasn’t convinced it would be worth it at $200 USD. The photos online didn’t do it justice and that felt like an extortionate price. But multiple friends insisted it was unmissable. And they were right.
The drive from Queenstown takes about five hours with scenic stops along the way. This is genuinely one of those days where you want to sit by the window and stare at things. You arrive at Milford Sound around lunchtime and board a two-hour boat cruise through the fjords. Waterfalls, sheer cliff faces, the kind of scenery that makes you put your phone down. You’re back in Queenstown before sunset.
Genuinely the best thing I did in New Zealand. Don’t skip it.
Book the Milford Sound Tour I did here to see these views for yourself.
Beyond Queenstown: Wānaka
Queenstown is a great base for day trips to more of the South Island. Beyond Milford Sound, I wish I’d made it to Wānaka, a smaller town nearby with a similarly stunning lake and mountain setting and a more relaxed atmosphere than Queenstown. If I’d spent one fewer day in Auckland I’d have had time for it. Next trip.
Combining New Zealand with the Pacific islands
New Zealand is one of the best-connected hubs in the South Pacific, which makes it an obvious jumping-off point for island hopping. I combined my New Zealand trip with Tonga and Samoa on the way, flying Auckland to Tonga, then Tonga to Samoa via Fiji, then back to Auckland for more of New Zealand. It’s one of the best Pacific trip structures I’ve done.
If you’re already flying to New Zealand from Europe, Asia, or the US, you’re passing close enough to these islands that adding them costs surprisingly little in both money and time. Check out more on Tonga, Samoa, or the broader Pacific Island Nations.
Practical tips for New Zealand
Budget: New Zealand is expensive. Accommodation, food, tours, and transport all cost more than you’d expect. Budget at least $150–200 USD per day and don’t be shocked when things cost more.
Hostels: Don’t discount them. Haka House specifically is a genuinely great experience and not what most people picture when they think hostel. Book Haka House.
Flights vs buses: Domestic flights are almost always better value than intercity buses once you factor in time, comfort, cost, and sanity.
Book tours in advance: Especially anything departing from Queenstown during peak season. The Cheeky Kea Christchurch to Queenstown bus tour and Milford Sound trips both book up fast.
Weather: Cold. Even in summer, evenings in Queenstown and Christchurch require proper layers. Don’t pack light.
Cell service: Limited outside major cities. Download offline maps before heading into more remote areas. eSims from Airalo worked well.
FAQ: New Zealand for non-hikers
Can you enjoy New Zealand without hiking? Absolutely yes. Gondolas, boat cruises, scenic bus drives, food markets, stunning town centres – New Zealand has plenty to offer without a single trail. Queenstown especially is extraordinary and requires zero hiking to appreciate.
Do you need a car in New Zealand? No – flights between cities are quick and affordable, and tours are a better option than car hire for remote areas like Milford Sound. Supershuttle covers airport transfers cheaply. Public transport is decent.
Is New Zealand good for solo travellers? Yes, with some caveats. It’s expensive solo (car hire in particular), but hostels like Haka House make it very manageable and are genuinely good places to meet people.
Where should I stay in New Zealand on a budget? Haka House – a New Zealand hostel chain that’s a genuine cut above. Private curtained beds, great common areas, huge kitchens, brilliant staff. Available in Auckland, Christchurch, Queenstown, and more.
What is the best thing to do in New Zealand as a non-hiker? Milford Sound day trip from Queenstown. Hands down. Book here.
How long do you need in New Zealand? A week covers Auckland, Christchurch, and Queenstown comfortably with a Milford Sound day trip, and space for Hobbiton or Wānaka if you squeeze them in.
What should I combine with a New Zealand trip? New Zealand is brilliantly positioned for Pacific island hopping. I combined my trip with Tonga and Samoa – or why not do both together? If you want to go further, read my guide to visiting every country in the Pacific for the full picture.
Is the Milford Sound day trip worth it? Yes. I was sceptical at $200 USD and it was the best thing I did in New Zealand. Book it.
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