Stray

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101 Face-to-Face

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Get further off the beaten track!
Experience Maori culture on a real Marae
See the best of New Zealand!
Meet like-minded travellers, find secret spots...
Get closer to the action!
Expert guides to show you the kiwi way of life!

Information

Stray

New Zealand's Hop-on Hop-off Bus Network for Adventurous Travellers

Stray's mission is to get travellers "further off the beaten track" into unique and awe-inspiring places that even the locals haven't heard of. Founded in 2002, we've spent over a decade scouring our beautiful country for experiences unlike any other.

Our "hop-on hop-off" attitude gives you the flexibility to jump off the bus anywhere along the route and explore, before jumping back on again when you are ready. Our travel passes are valid for up to 12 months.

Every bus is captained by one of our awesome driver-guides, there to provide you with invaluable local knowledge, book your bungy jumps and basically be a good mate along the way.

All ages 18+ welcome.

Say hello @ facebook.com/straybus.

Details

Feature Value Info

Organisation

Stray

Commercial organisation

Location

North IslandAuckland RegionAuckland

Categories

  • Activity__bus_van_toursGroup Tours

Directions

To Coordinates

Coordinates

-36.846161

174.768898

Latitude
-36.846161
Longitude
174.768898

Social Links

Maps

Reviews

    • Had an amazing time on the Stray bus!
    • I had 6 great weeks in New Zealand with Stray.
    • Exceptional value for money.
    • JUST GREAT!
    • I did the Stray max pass for 1 month.
    Rating Count Percentage
    10/10 62
    32%
    9/10 42
    22%
    8/10 36
    18%
    7/10 31
    16%
    6/10 9
    5%
    5/10 7
    4%
    4/10 3
    2%
    3/10 5
    3%
    2/10 0
    0%
    1/10 0
    0%
  • 3.0/5

    It really depends on which bus driver you get and the group you are travelling with.

    The first bus driver Lego was so cool and our group was just perfect . The route is very cool and i liked it a lot. Later we had a grumpy bus driver and it was more like a school trip. "You have 8 minutes to take a picture...if you are one minute late i leave you behind" "dont ask me questions, i told you everthing before" maybe im too old for this. Maybe the driver doesnt like his Job. I actually paid for the travel and the stray App was broken all the time. I cant understand this. especially if youre not an enlish native speaker sometimes its very stressfull to book all your stuff and understand everthing. So if youre older i wouldnt recommend stray to you. And all activities cost more than booking it by yourself. Its not cheap its just an easy way to travel if you havent rlly prepared anything

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Atte's avatar

    Atte

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I 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!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Tom C's avatar

    Tom C

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I spent 5 weeks travelling around the whole of New Zealand with Stray.

    From day one we were greeted by drivers who were incredibly informative about every aspect of New Zealand in particular the Maori heritage and the stunning scenery and sites we would come across throughout our journey.

    The drivers enable groups to form bonds quickly and make the bus a welcoming, friendly and enjoyable place. The buses I travelled in enabled me to meet an amazing bunch of people and form our own little whanau for the duration of our travels.

    Throughout New Zealand Stray offers a wide range of activities in every location, catering for all budgets and all travellers. In addition to this Stray is true to its motto of travelling off the beaten track, staying in remote locations such as Blue Duck Station and Gunns Camp, but also in locations which allow tourists to visit cultural locations that they may not have been able to visit alone such as Mourea and Lake Aniwhenua.

    An amazing experience, with fantastic people and stunning scenery! A must for anyone visiting New Zealand!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Jodie's avatar

    Jodie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I choose Stray (Maximus tour round all of the North and South Island) over some of the other competitors and have no regrets in the slightest!

    I wanted a trip that offered a mixture of meeting great people, getting to see the real New Zealand rather than all the typically touristy parts as well as having the flexibility to hop on and off. Having had a real mix of drivers going round, they all bring their own unique styles to the tours that allow you to bond as a group and have all of the stress and hassle taken off your hands. They are incredibly informative and the activities they can offer on the way round appeal to everyone from the extreme to the scenic and everything in between.

    As a solo traveller, Stray made for an exceptional journey that allowed me to do everything from skydive and bungey jump to swimming with dolphins and enjoying some of the remote and cultural stops with great friends. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to explore and see the real sights and experiences of New Zealand, I've even been able to pick up some work at Blue Duck Station before continuing my travels onwards. An easy 10/10!!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Paul's avatar

    Paul

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I had an amazing time on the Stray bus exploring the North Island of New Zealand!

    It was a fantastic week with awesome people and experiences I will never forget. :) Especially, those unique stays were unforgettable. Who can tell from himself that he has slept in a Marae and helped a local community to give food to their kids? These memories will always be with me and I am happy that I have chosen Stray to commence my travels around New Zealand.

    The whole bus became like your small Kiwi family and you were never alone! It is a great way to meet people from all over the world.

    Thank you Stray for this great journey!!! :)

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Christin Ossege's avatar

    Christin Ossege

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Absolutely loved Stray, with very few hiccups.

    I found it to be by far the perfect choice for the lone traveller (like myself) to meet others while travelling around the country.

    It does get fairly crowded during peak season, and they don't warn you that you may need to book onto your next bus days in advance to ensure yourself a spot. Hopping off is easy, but simply "hopping back on" isn't as easy as they like to advertise... a very common flaw with these bus tours.

    Aside from that, I absolutely loved Stray and I would highly recommend it.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    I was lucky to be traveling the Deep South with Stray.

    We had 7 days and managed to see the most pristine and breathtaking nature I've seen in a while.

    Starting in Queenstown, we made our way to Milford Sound, a beautiful river starting somewhere in the Mountains heading towards the ocean. With sea lions and massive waterfalls, snow capped mountains and good company this was one of my highlights.

    We traveled further South, staying in an old miners camp that is exclusive to Stray and a really cool spot with little huts and a community meal to get everyone entertained!

    Our group of roughly 20 people was well balanced and our tour guide, Seagull, was an absolute legend, making sure everyone got to know each other. He created a well balanced group atmosphere and everyone got along well with each other.

    I would definitely recommend to everyone to experience Stray at least once, while in New Zealand. I liked it so much, that I will be heading over again in August this year!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in September 2015

    GERMANY
    Phil Hartmann's avatar

    Phil Hartmann

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Although my nickname was Mother Goose on my Stray Bus, I had an amazing time!

    I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought my Stray pass but the experience was above and beyond any expectations. The bus was clean, roomy and very comfortable. My driver was very knowledgeable, accommodating and did a great job of making everyone on the bus feel like a family. Their consciousness of the environment is great to see from a company that can have such an impact on their native land. The itinerary was DEFINITELY "off the beaten track", I can't even count how many times I said "Are we in the middle of nowhere?". The Stray bus in New Zealand was the only part of my 'Around the World' trip that I had purchased a guided tour for and after that experience I started searching for Stray-like tours in all of my other countries. When I come back to New Zealand to do the South Island I will be using Stray for sure!

    Reviewed about 9 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    dana forrest's avatar

    dana forrest

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Went on a Stray tour with the best driver out there - Splash!

    There wasn't one boring day, always smiling, laughing, singing, making jokes, making me smile. I had the trip of my life with this man, the best two and a half weeks of my life. I learnt so much about New Zealand while on his bus, from the Maori culture to the "oreo cows" and that ducks do actually fly! A man of many talents and the most inviting, loving, fun and amazing personalities you will ever come across. I can honestly say I couldn't of picked a better driver to travel New Zealand with, in one word this guy is EPIC! I've made a life long friend and memories that will last a life time, Splash is AWESOME! To the guy who saved my life, I love you heaps.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Abbi Smith's avatar

    Abbi Smith

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    When we started travelling with Stray, we didn't have much time or money left to travel New Zealand.

    Thanks to Stray we were able to depart on an unforgettable adventure at the heart of Middle Earth, meet so many wonderful travellers and really impressive locals with a will to help their community and share their culture through tourism.

    From a Marae in Mourea to the lost world of Blue Duck Station, from the wonders of Abel Tasman to the glacier of Franz Josef, from the adrenalin-packed city of Queenstown to the dolphins of Kaikoura,...

    We will never forget our trip with Stray and it is in major part thanks to their extraordinary drivers : Lolly is a super star, bubbly, always happy person who will make you smile even on your worst day. She always had new ideas of games and ways to bring us all closer together. We would have stayed on her bus forever as we had so much fun with her. Skins always went the extra mile for his passengers in order to make their trip unforgettable ( sometimes finding himself with 40 cameras and having to take a picture with every one of them ), organising the best group dinners and being always attentif of everyone. Possum also helped everyone well outside of her prerogatives and helped us find a place to wwoof when we found ourselves out of money. Anna has a great personality and made us laugh so many times.

    You'll never find people more devoted to their job and their passengers, they are excellent ambassadors for New Zealand and more precisely Stray.

    Thank you so much for all the memories

    We are so glad to have spent those moments in company of the Stray crew.

    Nicko Wong and Minnka Ferrandez,

    Crash Palace interns

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2015

    HONG KONG
    Nicko Wong's avatar

    Nicko Wong

    Customer

  • 3.0/5

    It really depends on which bus driver you get and the group you are travelling with.

    The first bus driver Lego was so cool and our group was just perfect . The route is very cool and i liked it a lot. Later we had a grumpy bus driver and it was more like a school trip. "You have 8 minutes to take a picture...if you are one minute late i leave you behind" "dont ask me questions, i told you everthing before" maybe im too old for this. Maybe the driver doesnt like his Job. I actually paid for the travel and the stray App was broken all the time. I cant understand this. especially if youre not an enlish native speaker sometimes its very stressfull to book all your stuff and understand everthing. So if youre older i wouldnt recommend stray to you. And all activities cost more than booking it by yourself. Its not cheap its just an easy way to travel if you havent rlly prepared anything

    Reviewed almost 6 years ago

    Atte's avatar

    Atte

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I choose Stray (Maximus tour round all of the North and South Island) over some of the other competitors and have no regrets in the slightest!

    I wanted a trip that offered a mixture of meeting great people, getting to see the real New Zealand rather than all the typically touristy parts as well as having the flexibility to hop on and off. Having had a real mix of drivers going round, they all bring their own unique styles to the tours that allow you to bond as a group and have all of the stress and hassle taken off your hands. They are incredibly informative and the activities they can offer on the way round appeal to everyone from the extreme to the scenic and everything in between.

    As a solo traveller, Stray made for an exceptional journey that allowed me to do everything from skydive and bungey jump to swimming with dolphins and enjoying some of the remote and cultural stops with great friends. I would recommend this trip to anyone looking to explore and see the real sights and experiences of New Zealand, I've even been able to pick up some work at Blue Duck Station before continuing my travels onwards. An easy 10/10!!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Paul's avatar

    Paul

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I spent 5 weeks travelling around the whole of New Zealand with Stray.

    From day one we were greeted by drivers who were incredibly informative about every aspect of New Zealand in particular the Maori heritage and the stunning scenery and sites we would come across throughout our journey.

    The drivers enable groups to form bonds quickly and make the bus a welcoming, friendly and enjoyable place. The buses I travelled in enabled me to meet an amazing bunch of people and form our own little whanau for the duration of our travels.

    Throughout New Zealand Stray offers a wide range of activities in every location, catering for all budgets and all travellers. In addition to this Stray is true to its motto of travelling off the beaten track, staying in remote locations such as Blue Duck Station and Gunns Camp, but also in locations which allow tourists to visit cultural locations that they may not have been able to visit alone such as Mourea and Lake Aniwhenua.

    An amazing experience, with fantastic people and stunning scenery! A must for anyone visiting New Zealand!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Jodie's avatar

    Jodie

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I 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!

    Reviewed about 8 years ago

    AUSTRALIA
    Tom C's avatar

    Tom C

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Absolutely loved Stray, with very few hiccups.

    I found it to be by far the perfect choice for the lone traveller (like myself) to meet others while travelling around the country.

    It does get fairly crowded during peak season, and they don't warn you that you may need to book onto your next bus days in advance to ensure yourself a spot. Hopping off is easy, but simply "hopping back on" isn't as easy as they like to advertise... a very common flaw with these bus tours.

    Aside from that, I absolutely loved Stray and I would highly recommend it.

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016

  • 5.0/5

    I had an amazing time on the Stray bus exploring the North Island of New Zealand!

    It was a fantastic week with awesome people and experiences I will never forget. :) Especially, those unique stays were unforgettable. Who can tell from himself that he has slept in a Marae and helped a local community to give food to their kids? These memories will always be with me and I am happy that I have chosen Stray to commence my travels around New Zealand.

    The whole bus became like your small Kiwi family and you were never alone! It is a great way to meet people from all over the world.

    Thank you Stray for this great journey!!! :)

    Reviewed over 8 years ago

    GERMANY
    Christin Ossege's avatar

    Christin Ossege

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I was lucky to be traveling the Deep South with Stray.

    We had 7 days and managed to see the most pristine and breathtaking nature I've seen in a while.

    Starting in Queenstown, we made our way to Milford Sound, a beautiful river starting somewhere in the Mountains heading towards the ocean. With sea lions and massive waterfalls, snow capped mountains and good company this was one of my highlights.

    We traveled further South, staying in an old miners camp that is exclusive to Stray and a really cool spot with little huts and a community meal to get everyone entertained!

    Our group of roughly 20 people was well balanced and our tour guide, Seagull, was an absolute legend, making sure everyone got to know each other. He created a well balanced group atmosphere and everyone got along well with each other.

    I would definitely recommend to everyone to experience Stray at least once, while in New Zealand. I liked it so much, that I will be heading over again in August this year!

    Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in September 2015

    GERMANY
    Phil Hartmann's avatar

    Phil Hartmann

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Although my nickname was Mother Goose on my Stray Bus, I had an amazing time!

    I wasn't sure what to expect when I bought my Stray pass but the experience was above and beyond any expectations. The bus was clean, roomy and very comfortable. My driver was very knowledgeable, accommodating and did a great job of making everyone on the bus feel like a family. Their consciousness of the environment is great to see from a company that can have such an impact on their native land. The itinerary was DEFINITELY "off the beaten track", I can't even count how many times I said "Are we in the middle of nowhere?". The Stray bus in New Zealand was the only part of my 'Around the World' trip that I had purchased a guided tour for and after that experience I started searching for Stray-like tours in all of my other countries. When I come back to New Zealand to do the South Island I will be using Stray for sure!

    Reviewed about 9 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    dana forrest's avatar

    dana forrest

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Went on a Stray tour with the best driver out there - Splash!

    There wasn't one boring day, always smiling, laughing, singing, making jokes, making me smile. I had the trip of my life with this man, the best two and a half weeks of my life. I learnt so much about New Zealand while on his bus, from the Maori culture to the "oreo cows" and that ducks do actually fly! A man of many talents and the most inviting, loving, fun and amazing personalities you will ever come across. I can honestly say I couldn't of picked a better driver to travel New Zealand with, in one word this guy is EPIC! I've made a life long friend and memories that will last a life time, Splash is AWESOME! To the guy who saved my life, I love you heaps.

    Reviewed over 9 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Abbi Smith's avatar

    Abbi Smith

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    When we started travelling with Stray, we didn't have much time or money left to travel New Zealand.

    Thanks to Stray we were able to depart on an unforgettable adventure at the heart of Middle Earth, meet so many wonderful travellers and really impressive locals with a will to help their community and share their culture through tourism.

    From a Marae in Mourea to the lost world of Blue Duck Station, from the wonders of Abel Tasman to the glacier of Franz Josef, from the adrenalin-packed city of Queenstown to the dolphins of Kaikoura,...

    We will never forget our trip with Stray and it is in major part thanks to their extraordinary drivers : Lolly is a super star, bubbly, always happy person who will make you smile even on your worst day. She always had new ideas of games and ways to bring us all closer together. We would have stayed on her bus forever as we had so much fun with her. Skins always went the extra mile for his passengers in order to make their trip unforgettable ( sometimes finding himself with 40 cameras and having to take a picture with every one of them ), organising the best group dinners and being always attentif of everyone. Possum also helped everyone well outside of her prerogatives and helped us find a place to wwoof when we found ourselves out of money. Anna has a great personality and made us laugh so many times.

    You'll never find people more devoted to their job and their passengers, they are excellent ambassadors for New Zealand and more precisely Stray.

    Thank you so much for all the memories

    We are so glad to have spent those moments in company of the Stray crew.

    Nicko Wong and Minnka Ferrandez,

    Crash Palace interns

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in March 2015

    HONG KONG
    Nicko Wong's avatar

    Nicko Wong

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had an awesome time on this 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. Great guides, great places and the bus was full of like minded fun people. Can't wait to go on one in the South Island

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in February 2015

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Samuel Berwick's avatar

    Samuel Berwick

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I joined the Stray 'Tom' Pass on a tour around the North Island in November 2014.

    Stray promotes themselves as 'off the beaten track' adventure travel company which appealed to me. I can confirm for the 6 days I travelled with them they completely lived up to these expectations. We visited lots of cool places including a cool west coast surf town (where we learnt to surf), a lakeside lodge (where we learnt about Maori history and ate traditional Maori foods), an awesome high country station (Blue Duck) where we had options to hike, horseride, hunt or just relax. Stray offered lots of different activities along the way (I also went caving and skydiving) which you could opt in or out of. I feel like I saw a lot more of New Zealand than I would have travelling around on my own. Leftie (our Driver) was a dude. He was always up for a laugh but had lots of great insights to share about New Zealand. Thanks Stray. I had such a blast!

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in November 2014

    NEW ZEALAND
    Anna Elden's avatar

    Anna Elden

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Stray was a great way to see New Zealand.

    My pass only covered the North Island and when it ended and all my new friends were continuing to the South Island I was gutted I didn't buy both - the fun was only just beginning! Stray is awesome because you don't have to worry about where you were going, navigating the roads yourself, and where you would stay. If you want accommodation that night, you write your name on a clipboard and the driver books it for you! If you want to do activities, write your name on another clipboard and that's all booked too - at a Stray discounted price! It's a nice no-stress way to travel around and meet great people who are wanting the same kind of experience. Our driver was fantastic, always sorting things out for us, packing our bags in and out, telling us interesting facts along the way and stopping off for photo opportunities. It really was a great tour. I'm already saving up to do the South Island next summer!

    Reviewed over 9 years ago and experienced in February 2015

    NEW ZEALAND
    Jodine 's avatar

    Jodine

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I loved my time going down to Rotorua with my tour guide/driver Golum, he was fun and enjoyable.

    It was about 4-5 days and i wish it was longer! Stray is a great way to experience a country, i recommend it for all types of people.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    Charlotte Wilson's avatar

    Charlotte Wilson

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    I really enjoyed my time on Stray.

    I spent 3.5 weeks traveling across both islands on the Max Pass. I wish I had more time for sure.

    I'd highly suggest this trip for anyone 18-30 looking to travel alone or w/ a small group of friends.

    I have an in-depth review of my experience at my blog.

    http://wherecouldibenow.com/2014/03/stray-bus-new-zealand-review/

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    UNITED STATES
    jason beinstein's avatar

    jason beinstein

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Had the best experience with Lego, made the journey so fun and informative.

    Met the best people and would do it all over again.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Amy Jellings's avatar

    Amy Jellings

    Customer

  • 1.5/5

    Too less information about the overnight stays, too expensive, too crowded.

    Reviewed almost 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014

    GERMANY
    Claudia Bauch's avatar

    Claudia Bauch

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Top marks for Stray, I did the Ron pass in roughly three weeks and had a brilliant time.

    It's a good match for people in their 20s and 30s (Kiwi Experience has a much younger demographic) and for group/singles alike. I traveled to NZ alone and left with good friends scattered across the globe.

    The people always make the experience, but logistics are crucial and Stray excelled here. Lodgings all comfortable, buses in good shape (with sweet playlists too!) and timing always spot-on. The drivers were incredible - really can't say enough about them - heaps of energy, enthusiasm and brimming with cool stories. I loved the added details to the stunning scenery we passed. Felt very organised yet also laid-back.

    The activities were numerous - both paid and free - so there's always something to do. The Stray buses also do quick off-road stops so you don't miss any waterfalls or lovely views.

    The only part I wasn't so keen on was Stewart Island - there's not much to do. Bit of a disappointment.

    I guess the best part was the energy - you're in a gorgeous country, with fellow travelers and keen guides. Good times!

    Cheers.

    Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Victoria Wander's avatar

    Victoria Wander

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    The Stray bus was an awesome experience.

    I was short on time and wanted to see a lot, and the Stray bus worked out perfectly. I got the Stew pass for the South Island for less than $400, and it stopped at my must sees (Milford Sound and Mount Cook). It was also a nice surprise to stay at rustic Gunn Camp for the night. My only negative with that tour was the stop in Invercargill. I think the main point of that stop is Stewart island, but if you don't have the time or the budget for it, there really isn't much to see in Invercargill for the night, so staying in the kinda sketchy hostel for the night feels like a bit of a waste of time. On a positive note, the Catlins stop the next day is amazing, so that made it more worth it. It was pretty incredible to see all the wildlife in their natural habitat.

    All in all, I would recommend Stray for their flexibility, price, and the great experience.

    To read more about my experience, please visit my website:

    http://discoveringaway.com/2014/04/nz_tour_bus/

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in February 2014

    CANADA
    discoveringaway's avatar

    discoveringaway

    Customer

  • 3.5/5

    For two months I've been traveling around with Stray!

    Because of the possibility of hopping on and off everywhere, I could make my own trip. With the bus selecting nice hostels (with almost always nice discount), my stay in New Zealand was great!

    Sometimes it depands on the driver if you stop at nice look-outs, one is more into it than others, but overall I saw a beautiful country with nice people to hang around with!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    NETHERLANDS
    Johanna Molenaar's avatar

    Johanna Molenaar

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    My Stray tour was ultra fun!

    The drivers are all good natured with awesome personalities and full of interesting stories, the accomodation is generally more than acceptable and the flexibility of the hop-on hop-off pass was invaluable to allow for deeper exploration of any region. I definitely hopped off a lot, and so feel familiar with New Zealand and the culture gradients within the country.

    Having activities options arranged was really helpful, and there's always a free idea of bush walks, beach time, star gazing or learning more about other travellers and cultures. Our stays off the track were excellent- the marae, the Blue Duck station, East Cape in general, Gunn's Camp in Fiordland, Rangitata... seeing small towns and remote lodges gives a true impression of the country and the people. The other passengers also seemed to enjoy themselves a lot, and that made the bus trips entertaining. The busses are even pretty comfortable, and the drivers tended to amaze me at their dexterity and ability to reverse and handle such a long vehicle.

    Stray has great energy, is FUN and comprehensive.

    I had one negative experience- when I called the HQ to confirm that I was on the bus leaving the next day. However, when I waited and waited for the bus that didn't show, I called HQ again and it turns out there was no bus that day. So I had an extra day in Rotorua- not a bad thing since I had lots of time in my journey, but could have been a real issue for a traveller in another situation. Also, one time the bus door wouldn't open when we were trying to depart an overnight stop, but in the end that was a delay of less than an hour, so no big deal.

    Overall, I absolutely recommend Stray NZ. The company is populated by good people, and that means good times. Thanks guys!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in November 2013

    UNITED STATES
    Maia Kazaks's avatar

    Maia Kazaks

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    The Stray Experience was a good one.

    I prebooked a 12 day journey through the south island and enjoyed it very much. All bus-drivers and all of them got us safe and with a lot of fun to our next destinations. Allthough it was great, that there were a lot of "adventure offers" we were able to book with a stray discount.

    Since I was prebooked I stayed at the stray-suggested accomondations, which sometimes were great and sometimes not so great.

    Also it was a little bit confusing beeing prebooked on the round-trip: I didn't get any documents about the travel. But the stray-hotline worked fine and I had no bigger problems.

    The people on the stray bus were great and we had a lot of fun.

    Die Erfahrungen mit Stray sind gut. ICh hatte einen 12 Tagestripp über die Südinsel von Deutschland aus gebucht und es hat mir sehr viel Spaß gemacht. Alle drei Busfahrer die ich in der Zeit hatte, waren gut drauf und haben uns sicher zum nächsten Halt gebracht. Zudem gab es als Stray-Reisender bei zahlreichen Attraktionen Vergünstigungen.

    Da ich eine gebuchte Rundreise hatte, habe ich immer in den Stray-empfohlenen Unterkünften übernachtet, mal gut mal schlecht. Auch gab es öfter Verwirrung, ob ich denn nun wirklich für die Nacht angemeldet war... aber ich habe immer ein Bett bekommen. Unterlagen hatte ich keine bekommen aber ein Anruf bei Stray-Hotline hilft. Es empfiehlt sich, von Deutschland aus schonmal bei Stray anzurufen und mit denen E-Mailkontakt aufzunehmen. Vmtl. erhält hat man dann auch etwas mehr Informationen über seine Reise;) Und eine NZ-Telefonkarte fürs Handy ist auch nicht zu verachten.

    Die Mitreisenden im Bus waren super drauf und da es sich um die ersten beiden Wochen meines NZ-Urlaubs handelte, konnte ich sowohl meine Sprachkenntnisse (es waren insg.nur 4 Deutsche an Board ) optimieren als auch Kenntnisse über "Urlaub in NZ" sammeln, da viele der Mitfahrer bereits seit der Nordinsel zusammen auf dem Bus wahren. Insgesamt gut.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    GERMANY
    Chris Luebbi's avatar

    Chris Luebbi

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I had 6 great weeks in New Zealand with Stray.

    It's a very easy way to enjoy the country and meet other people.

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    GERMANY
    Andrea Leichtl's avatar

    Andrea Leichtl

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I met some awesome guys on the way in NZ and thanks for Stray for a great experience, five star cheers

    Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in January 2014

    HUNGARY
    Zsolt's avatar

    Zsolt

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Highly recommended Stray, it's a fantastic hassle free way to travel.

    We completed the Stew Pass over 12 days during Christmas and New Years and the only downside was we didn't get to spend longer..stupid work!!

    We had two awesome drivers Karlyn and Splash who really made sure we were entertained during the trip and took us to some of the most amazing places, the scenery was just stunning.

    Thanks guys for a wonderful time would love to do it all over again...Someday hopefully :)

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    IRELAND
    Sonia's avatar

    Sonia

    Customer

  • 4.0/5

    I am not a big fan of such bus tours but wanted to say that our bus driver Karlyn was the best.

    He made our tour, he is SUPER FUNNY and relaxed.

    Stray, please give him also other routes as it can be quite boring to take the same route all over.

    Our driver Panda is also worth mentioning. Full with energy and has a lot of knowledge about his country, I mean New Zealand :)

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    LATVIA
    ieva m's avatar

    ieva m

    Customer

  • 4.5/5

    Traveling through New Zealand with Stray was amazing!

    Really knowledgeable bus drivers took us to amazing places and kept us entertained with great stories. Plus you get to constantly meet new people from all over the world! It was awesome. Travel on Chase's bus, if you can!

    Reviewed over 10 years ago

    UNITED STATES
    TtotheT13's avatar

    TtotheT13

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    Stray is a great way to see New Zealand and hit places you might otherwise miss out on.

    If you don’t want to plan every part of your trip then kick back and let stray do it for you. You’ll meet incredible people, see some spectacular sights and smile lots along the way. It’s whatever you want it to be. Our driver Splash was brilliant and he showed us how beautiful his Country is. It’s impossible to have a bad time when he is around. My favourite Kiwi.

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in August 2013

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Raj  Singh's avatar

    Raj Singh

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    What an amazing experience ,love New Zealand so beautiful.

    I would recommend stray to anyone !

    Especially splashes bus great driver and a complete dude!!

    Cheers and we will be seeing you again

    Andy and Nicole

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in January 2013

    UNITED KINGDOM
    Andy Brown's avatar

    Andy Brown

    Customer

  • 5.0/5

    I did the Stray max pass for 1 month.

    I found it hassle free and flexible travel. Your Stray driver will organise your accommodation for you and will take you to a supermarket each day. It is also a great way (if not the best) to meet a lot of people. They really do take you off the beaten track. Weather it be places you stay, walks r simply just where you eat your lunch. There are loads of opportunities to stop and take photos and nights out with your crew are always good fun.

    My driver for the South Island was Splash. He is always entertaining and gets everyone involved. He does free bicycle tours around Queenstown and If your good he might bring you to his mams house in Invercargal for a bbq. He looked after us well and even got us dvds for long trips. A word of warning: don't be late for his bus (unless you like tongue twisters that is). I'd love to do it all over again.

    Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in October 2013

    IRELAND
    Colette Keely's avatar

    Colette Keely

    Customer