To leave a review you need to be logged in
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
Sunny
Jul 05,2016I had a great time on Stray on the Everything Pass, the drivers were lots of fun and really helpful. I've made many new friends hopping on and off buses accross New Zealand and met many interesting people from all walks of life. Although the buses are generally full of people in there twenties there were some adventurous older folk who get the prize for funniest travel companions. The only thing that annoyed me was the website and changing my plans which can be an absolute nightmare for people who have a short amount of time in New Zealand. Especially in the summer months when it's busy make sure to book everything in advance because if not you can be stuck in one place for a few weeks until there are free seats on the buses. This can really muck up your plans if you find you want to stay somewhere for longer. All in all I had a wonderful time and hopefully will be going round again soon.
Luis Hashimura
Jul 05,2016Travelling with Stray in New Zealand was one of the best experiences of my life. For solo travellers it's one of the best ways to travel around New Zealand, meet nice travellers from all over the world and see special places in NZ.
Kate
Jul 05,2016Stray is an amazing experience, great bus drivers, amazing stops and takes the stress out of travelling. Tutu and Lego were my fav drivers and would love to travel with stray again.
Emily Garrard
Jun 01,2016I had the maximus pass so basically everywhere except the east cape. Oversall Stray is well organised, an easy way to travel with like minded people with friendly drivers. However I did find sometimes it was too easy, having travelled SE Asia alone I found this left like a step back for me. Especially as naked inlimted pass was quarter of the price at the time. However if this is your first time travelling or you want an easy ride I definitely recommend. Majority of drivers are very friendly and approachable (I hasd 14 in total so a good selection!) Good routes going to most of the main places. As I'm sure most people will have said stray is sightly older customers (and normally more mature) than those on the kiwi experiences, but this can vary bus to bus, night to night. Most people are very friendly and welcoming to make new friends. New Zealand is a fabulous country and stray created as easy way to get off some of the beaten track... However the only way to really get of the track is a to hire a car, but I'm saving that for the next trip! Ohh and it says you can do it in 21 or 22 days. If you only have that long just stick to one island. If you do it in the shortest times you'll be stuck on the bus all day most days. Take your time and do it probably (I took 11 weeks, but I'd say 6 would be long enough to hop off in most places)
Martijn Devilee
May 28,2016Great experience. The hop-on hop-off was a little bit different then I would have thought at the beginning, but I could live with it. I thought there would go way more buses to different locations more times a day, but there always only goes one bus, sometimes not even everyday, so you still have to plan quit in advance because the bus can be full. You do get to know heaps of other backpackers which was always fun and easygoing. The busdrivers have a lot of knowledge about the country which is very nice to learn from. Most of the drivers are funny and cool to hang out with. Please put sometimes the music off in the bus, all the time the music that they broadcast everywhere made my mind blown and I found it hard to read a book or to listen to my own music because of that. They give you the option to say something about the music but I don't want to be the complainer of the bus of course. Accomodations are medium and also not the cheapest. The places were we were going to were pretty much all amazing and the activities which are offered by Stray are very good/cool and you had heaps of options. Overall I liked it and I did not regret that I did it. Next time for me would be renting a car though! Cheers!
Doug
May 26,2016The wonderful interpersonal experiences made our trip all the more special and the value is second to none. I'd definitely use Stray again.
Bregje Drion
May 19,2016Stray is simply the best operator out there, and definitely the best in their field: no one shows short term tourists or long term travellers a better impression of this amazing country.
Ad Rytr
May 18,2016Travelling in NZ with Stray was awesome! Nice people, great experience! I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a great time in NZ off the beaten track.
Marty
May 18,2016Stray has taken care of me so well when I traveled New Zealand. I couldn't have wished for a better bus network and people and drivers to show me the country. The drivers are so much fun and they literally know everything about New Zealand. Whenever they can they show you cool and unique spots along the way (or they just go out of their way to show you). If you have any questions, the people at the office are very helpful. It's very nice how accommodation is taken care of (if you wish) but it's never a problem to stay somewhere else if you want. You can engage as much as you want with the people traveling with you, or just do your own thing, which I thought was perfect. They offer good deals for activities (like the amazing tongariro crossing, and horse riding at blue duck station was my favourite) and the people traveling with Stray are fun. Just a good mix of very different people from all backgrounds and all ages. Not just some ''party'' bus as some other bus networks are. Just people who want to explore and do adventurous things. And yes, drink a beer and have a bbq, and sometimes party till late, but there is no pressure at all. I would definitely recommend travelling with Stray and when I'm going to South East Asia I will use their service again. Thank you heaps for the great experience guys!
Amanda Wheeler
May 18,2016Stray is a one of a kind authentic New Zealand experience. We travelled to locations off the beaten track, where we got to see and experience Maori culture at its finest. The drivers help you to book in your activities and organise group meals which helps you save your money. My favourite spot was Blue Duck in the North Island. Blue Duck is a sheep farm station where we had the option to do a variety of activities including clay bird shooting, pig hunting, kayaking and horse riding. The food was an absolute treat and the scenery breath taking. You make friends for life travelling on the Stray bus. The drivers are so much fun, very insightful and helpful every step of the way. You don't want regrets so remember to face your fears and get out of your comfort zone! I recommend to either Skydive or Bungy Jump - (or both) your travelling through the Adventure Capital of the World!!! Make you and your FB page proud!!! :) AJ
Sam
May 17,2016I had an awesome time on the Stray tour, going to places that i'd never thought of going to. The highlights are surfing in Raglan, the Waitomo caves where you can see the glow worms, getting to eat a traditional Hangi and Blue Duck station and that’s just the north island. The south island is incredible with Kaikoura, Franz Josef glacier, Milford Sound and Queenstown. There were lots of stops along the way to check out the scenery, take little walks and get photos. Great guides, great places and the bus was full of like minded fun people. Great trip
Nielsine Poulsen
Mar 03,2014Vi har rejst rundt i New Zealand i 1 måned med Stray. Vi har haft mange oplevelser og mødt stor indsats fra flere chauffører for at skaffe os et dobbeltværelse og gode oplevelser. Men især 1 chauffør må vi advare imod. Splash. Han er kun chauffør for folk til vil høre megahøj musik og drikke i bussen. Hvis du havner i hans bus, så spring af så hurtigt som muligt, hvis du ikke er til ulidelig støj.
Mie Bøgesvang
Apr 21,2013Jeg rejste til new Zealand i 10 dage, fra Australian.. Jeg rejste rundt i hele sydlandet med Stray, og det var så godt! Jeg mødte de fedeste mennesker, og det eneste du selv skulle sørge for var at komme til tiden.. Alle aktiviteter og hostle osv blev booket for dig på bussen ( hvor der kom en seddel rundt) . Awesome! Next stop: stray asia
Level 1/4 Brown Street, Ponsonby, 1011, Auckland, NZ
http://www.straytravel.com
Mette Heuver
Jul 05,2016Stray is a great way to travel around in NZ! You meet lots of other backpackers, they offer accomodation and different kinds of activities. Bus drivers are really nice and tell stuff about where you are. It's easy traveling. You are tied to the bus schedule and buses are sometimes full so if you want complete freedom to go and stand wherever you want you should be traveling by car ;) For the rest Stray is the best!!