Kay2

I used Atomic Shuttle from Christchurch to Twizel (one short rest stop enroute; not a tour bus). There I had about 1 hour wait at a small shopping center before Cook Connection shuttle picked me up. We stopped for photos enroute to Mount Cook. For return, I took Cook Connection back to Twizel and rode Intercity (nicer buses than Atomic) to Christchurch with short rest stop at Tekapo.
There was a tour bus direct(Great Sights), but it was much more expensive.

I took an Intercity bus from Dunedin w/change in Gore to Te Anau. My old post says it way a boring ride.

I used Trips and Tramps for a van trip, stopping at viewpoints, picnicing on rocks in the river, hiking up to Key Summit, Milford Sound Mitre Peak boat.

I used Atomic Shuttle again from Te Anau to Queenstown Airport.

My last trip was 4 years ago, but all these companies seem to be running the same routes still.

zxcvbnm

kay2, thanks for the info. it seems that taking an organized tour with greyhound isn't that much more expensive than doing the shuttle with atomic and cook.
if anyone knows any cheaper ways to do it, please let me know

osteorach

Real journeys are a very reputable company in queens town for the Milford tours with the boat included. You can also stay on either Milford or doubtful sound too.

Consider the tranz alpine train from Christchurch to hokatika I think. Whatever bus company you take in the South Island of NZ there is literally only one option to travel from a to b as there is only one road down the west coast, one down the east coast and a few that connect the east and west (Lewis pass, Arthur's pass, Haast pass). So any of the bus companies will take you on a very scenic journey.

I booked my English cousin on the following all public transport:
Fly in to Christchurch. Stay overnight.
Take train to hokatika (tranz alpine follows Arthur's pass), stay
Bus hokatika to franz josef / fox glacier - stay a couple of nights - glacier and lake Matheson visits
Bus glacier to queenstown - long day and could also stay in wanaka.
Stay queenstown 5 nights including day tour to Milford.
Fly out of queenstown (could bus to Christchurch via lake tekapo)
If you have time stay in te anua on way to Milford. Do evening glow worms one night

Hope this helps:

Ps I've never been to Yellowstone but have been to Yosemite. The only similarity to rotorua is likely the geothermal activity in Yellowstone. Not really a national park as such and not picturesque like the South Island...been to rotorua heaps and has nice lakes though and a luge / Maori exhibits. If you are looking at central north Island for something look at the tongariro crossing - considered the best day walk in NZ and taupo also has geothermal activity at craters of the moon

Hope this helps

zxcvbnm

thanks osteo