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New Zealand's backpacker bus tours for adventurous travellers! Choose a hop-on, hop-off travel pass for the ultimate flexibility or a fixed-date Adventure Tour. You haven't lived unless you've Strayed! Come with us, we'll show you the real New Zealand.
Reviews 34
Emma
Mar 20,2023We have just finished the Ruru tour and had a fabulous time. It packs a lot in and you get to see a lot of key places and learn about Maori culture in a short period of time. The accommodation was much better than I was expecting, and felt really good value for money. Sometimes booking optional extras was a bit chaotic, but other than that a wonderful trip.
Mme L
Apr 26,2021J’ai vécu une très belle expérience via Stray. L’itinéraire m’a permis de visiter l’île du sud de le nouvelle Zélande avec un itinéraire établi. J’ai rencontré des personnes de diverses nationalités. Je recommande
Brett Hudson
Nov 19,2019I've travelled all over the world and the experience I had on Stray was more than everything I had hoped for, the drivers were amazing and some of the stops like Blue Duck Station, Abel Tasman, and Gunns Camp have to be seen to be believed.
Jerry
Oct 10,2019I cannot recommend booking with Stray. From the beginning, I had problems. Stray tries to force you to use their application. It took 3 emails just to get my account set up. The application itself is often wrong or lists days and events in the incorrect order. I had a problem when I booked the Star gazing in Mount Cook. The application and the bus driver directed me to be at the main building at 8:30pm. I had to walk 20 minutes, from the other side of the property in the rain to be on time, just to be told that I was early and to return in an hour. I declined to return and requested a refund from Stray. Stray admitted to posting the incorrect time in their application but refused to refund me. Thankfully I was able to contact The Hermitage Hotel and get a refund. They actually have good customer service. The Stray website is also misleading. On the "Blake" winter tour, the Highlights tab states that during winter "Stray Journeys are operated on our hop-on hop-off bus network" but on the Need to know tab and the rest of the website states "Stray Journeys are small group tours based on a fixed itinerary where you stay with the same guide and group of travelers." This was absolutely not the case with my trip. On day one, we had 21 riders. Most people would not consider that a "small group". We also changed drivers. The accommodations were a mixed bag, mostly bad. There were some places that were wonderful, in what I would consider 4 star establishments and rest were 1 star hostels and camp grounds. The one thing you could count on was that every night that we moved, no one would know what was going on. People were given the wrong rooms, some rooms were given towels, some rooms in the same block had to rent towels. The wilderness lodges and cabins got old really fast. Having to walk 30+ meters to use the toilet, at night and in the rain was not fun. The saving thing on the tour was the wonderful driver Lego and the other travelers.
Emilie Bachmann
Mar 17,2019When you get into the buss you expect a calm and nice atmosphere, but when you get into a stray bus you have to expect way too loud music for probably 8 hours straigth. We were so annoyed with it and often we had to ask the driver to please turn the volume down a bit and then they get a bit annoyed and can’t understand why you don’t like the loud music. But then they turn it down for like 5 minutes and then straigth up again. So you can’t listen to a podcast, your own music, read a book or EVEN think because it’s so damn loud. Apart from that it is sad that they don’t have more busses driving because some of the towns we didn’t want to visit because it looked pretty much the same as some others but then you can’t skip it... It’s also bad that they don’t have nigthsbusses, you have to take a buss every other day approximately and then you loose one day everytime you take the bus, because the busdrives are often more than 8 hours in total because of all the stops. Instead of doing all those breaks they should just have busses with a toilet inside.
Kasonda Leigh
Dec 22,2018Unprofessional and untrustworthy company. I bought a Maximus pass with add ons. The buses were dirty, broken down and made for tiny people from Asia. The windows were always dirty, so enjoying the view was difficult. The add on pass I bought was not honored and I spent hours trying to deal with people who never called back and who kept blaming someone else. Some of the drivers looked like they never showered and one actually sang loudly to every song on the radio. The hostels they take you to are horribly run down and the locals in New Zealand actually call it ‘the —- bus’ because of the behavior of the people who tend to ride Stray buses. I felt cheated and lied to and the experience was less than it could have been due to this company’s lack of integrity. Be forewarned.
Holly
Nov 11,2016I travelled the south island of New Zealand with Stray and did so much that I would never have done if I went alone. I met lots of great friends and saw so much.
Chris
Sep 21,2016I'd had Stray recommended to me by a couple of friends, and after a year of living in Wellington, I figured it was about time to get out and see the rest of New Zealand. I was not disappointed. Ducking out of work for a couple of weeks, I headed down south in an attempt to do as much as humanly possible in 16 days. My particular bus was headed by our professional, responsible (and straight-up hilarious) driver, Lantern, who went to great lengths to ensure that everyone felt included on the trip, catering to all tastes on-board, while providing a snappy commentary between destinations. It was this service, combined with the range of activities on offer that puts Stray miles ahead of the competition - this isn't a by-the-numbers guided tour, in which you're led through the local tourist destinations. You get to pick what you want to do and (within reason) when you want to do it, you get the opportunity to experience parts of the country that most tours would sail past (hidden waterfall of baby seals, anyone?), and you're encouraged to bond with your fellow travellers. This isn't a tour, it's an experience, and if you're into fun, friends and adventure, just go for it! The only negative point? Trying to shake off the post-holiday blues...
Catherine Barron
Aug 26,2016This company is perfect for a first time traveller like myself. Not only do you get to see and explore all of New Zealand your driver will orgainse your accomdation and activities for you which allows you to take in the breathtaking scenery without having to worry about your travel arrangements. You also have the opportunity to meet And share experiences with like minded travellers. Your driver will be able to answer any questions you may have aswell as making each journey fun and interesting. I had the most amazing time with Stray and would recomend it to anyone. If your looking for a chamce to see all the main tourist attractions and travel further of the beaten track with amazing people then this is the company for you!
Catherine
Aug 25,2016Started amazing and still the only way was up! Great tour guides who were really knowledgeable and a great laugh, fantastic views and awesome activities. All topped off by meeting the most amazing people. Truly off the beaten track and the best 5 weeks that I'll remember for a lifetime :)
Matthew Gill
Aug 24,2016My Tour with Stray took me throughout the entire South Island of NZ and even the "deep south" portion. I had three different drivers, each with their own personality and quirky attitudes toward their route and what the wanted to show their passengers. I made so many friends and had plenty of experiences within the short two weeks that it felt like such a larger portion of my whole trip! (6 months total) The drivers each had developed such a relationship with each of their hosts at each stop and location that it never felt very touristy in any sense but always like visiting an old friend and bringing new ones to be introduced. I loved every second, minute, hour, day of it and could not think of travelling with another tour company throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Tom Chatfield
Aug 12,2016I booked a Stray trip around the North Island last minute before visiting and it was the best decision I ever made. The trip takes you away from the tourist trap destinations where you get to really experience everything New Zealand has to offer. In my week I went from Visiting film sets from Lord Of The Rings to Hunting in a forest to playing in snow right under Mt Doom. The group of people on my bus were amazing and we became a little family welcoming people on as we went as you get the option to jump off and stay longer if you find somewhere you really like! The flexibility that Stray offers you along with the great support staff and drivers as well as amazing activities and sights on the way make this the perfect option for any traveler looking to see everything New Zealand has too offer! I have no doubt I'll be back soon to do the South Island with Stray!
Toto
Jul 29,2016This is a fun way to get around NZ with lots of adventurous activities on offer. It is easy to hop on and off the bus so you are not locked into a fixed tour. We visited some really remote beautiful places along the way and best of all I met some awesome people on the trip who I am still in touch with. Go Stray!
Anna - Lena
Jul 29,2016I had an excellent time travelling with Stray in New Zealand! Along the trip, I met friends for life, did fantastic activities and saw New Zealand's beautiful nature! It was such a smooth trip from the beginning to the end. I didn't need to worry about accommodation, which is very handy if you travel in high season! The driver was always really informative and helpful! I recommend Stray to everyone who wants an amazing time while travelling through New Zealand!
Kayla
Jul 29,2016I had the best time travelling New Zealand thanks to Stray! Not only do they take you to the well-known parts of the country, Stray will take you off the beaten track to the most amazing places you would not get to on your own. My driver guide was awesome, informative and entertaining. I travelled and met a lot of fun and interesting people along the way. Lots of activities to choose from and accomm was very good. I loved the group meals we had at some of our destinations too. If you want to experience the real New Zealand, you will definitely get further off the beaten track with Stray :)
Jodine
Jul 29,2016Travelling on the Stray bus was fantastic! I didn't have to worry about driving and navigating my way around, I was chauffeured by a lovely bus driver we called Pickle! I got to stare at the amazing scenery out the window and visit some incredible destinations. I met great people who I'll stay in touch with and got to do some incredible things like swim with wild dolphins, skydive, fly a plane and white water raft down the worlds highest commercially rafted waterfall. It was such an adventure!
Eva
Jul 28,2016It was great and time management was very good no waiting time.. schedule was always full packed to see awesome places has a great time with stray
Justin Son
Jul 28,2016Do you want an amazing travel experience? Do you want to be around like-minded go-with-the-flow travelers? Do you want to go to unique off-the-beaten path places? Do you want to explore the most beautiful place in the world and in comfort? Then don't be a fool and travel with Stray! They provided me with what may have been the best two weeks of my life on the South Island. The experience of being with an awesome group, with an awesome guide, going to awesome places, and doing awesome things was once in a lifetime and a dream I never want to wake up from! They have gotten the travel thing down to a science. They book your hostels, they book yor activities, and they even cook for you on some nights! The guides are so informative and helpful. They do numerous scenic stops so you can see things you never would have if you went on your own. Nat is an angel sent from heaven. These guides really go out of their way for you. Nat got my money back for me despite the fact that I am the one messed up and forgot to return a key (remember me now?). Do yourself a favor and book with Stray without hesitation!
Lian
Jul 28,2016Really good trip would recommend stray as a company to use. Cookie and possum great drivers.
Level 1/4 Brown Street, Ponsonby, 1011, Auckland, NZ
http://www.straytravel.com
Ruth Meier
Oct 15,2023This company is absolutely bad. They don't have an idea about organise a tour. They are fraudsters, they guarantee tours and shortly before the tour is due to go they cancel the tour. Really bad people. It is so obvious that they just want your money. What they do is absolutely worthless. Just don't book a tour with them.