Stray New Zealand – Max Pass

Auckland to Hahei

Accommodation: Exclusive Stray accommodation by the waterfront.

Optional paid activities: Kayaking, scuba diving, bike hire, glass bottom boat tour.

Free activities: Walk to Cathedral Cove, watch the sunrise on the beach, go snorkelling in the marine reserve, explore old cultural sites or simply relax on the beach.

Hahei to Raglan

Accommodation: An eco-lodge, near the beach set in native bush.

Optional paid activities: Learn to surf, sunset cruise, dine on fresh fish and chips for dinner

Free activities: Walk to the waterfall, bush walk around Mt Karioi, beach walk, glow-worm spotting in the bush, West Coast sunset, Inspiration Point.

Raglan (via Waitomo) to Rotorua

Accommodation: Comfortable central city hostel

Optional paid activities: Waitomo ‘must-do’ caving options or a glow-worm tour, Hobbiton, Tamaki Village

Free activities: Walk around Ruakuri Reserve, Waitomo Valley Caves walk

Rotorua to Lake Aniwhenua

Unique Stray Experience: The Lake Aniwhenua overnight experience is $95, which includes comfortable lodge accommodation, a guided tour to sacred Maori rock carvings, a Marae experience, afternoon tea, delicious ‘Hangi’ dinner and buffet breakfast, participation in an altruistic community program. 

Accommodation: Scenic lakefront lodge, including afternoon tea, a Hangi dinner and breakfast
Optional paid activities: Night eeling, flax weaving

Lake Aniwhenua to Whakahoro

Accommodation: Country station lodge.

Optional paid activities: Taupo: skydiving, bungy.

Free activities: Huka Falls, Spa Road walk.

Whakahoro

Accommodation: Country station lodge.

Optional paid activities: An eco-warrior 4WD tour, a one day horse trek, clay bird shooting, kayaking, jet boating, pest control.

Free activities: Walk around the truly amazing property at Whakahoro and take in the lush scenery, walk to the Kaiwhakauka waterfall, enjoy your hosts’ fantastic hospitality and stories of the local wildlife and history.

Whakahoro to National Park

Accommodation: Alpine lodge.

Optional paid activities: The Tongariro Alpine Crossing.

Free activities: Taranaki Falls walk, visit the Volcanic Centre, Tawhai Falls (Gollum’s pool).

National Park to Wellington

Accommodation: Central city hostel.

Optional paid activities: Check out some of the great cafes and bars.

Free activities: Walk Oriental Parade, head up Mt Victoria for fantastic views, visit Te Papa National Museum, gumboot (welly) throwing.

Wellington to Marahau (Abel Tasman)

Accommodation: Unique Stray accommodation on the edge of the national park.

Optional paid activities: Wine tasting, skydiving.

Free activities: Walks, mussel tasting around the fire, stargazing.

Marahau (Abel Tasman)

Accommodation: Unique Stray accommodation on the edge of the national park.

Optional paid activities: Full day sailing trip, kayaking, skydiving, water taxi, stand-up paddle boarding, canyoning, hang gliding, scenic microlight flight.

Free activities: Walk in the national park, relax on one of the golden sand beaches, go for a swim.

Marahau (Abel Tasman) to Westport

Accommodation: Charming character villa in the centre of town.

Optional paid activities: Surfing, caving, craft brewery tour.

Free activities: Westport seal colony, West Coast sunset, Truman Track walk.

Westport to Franz Josef

Accommodation: Lodge in the middle of the rainforest.

Optional activities: Save some coin today!

Free activities: Punakaiki Pancake Rocks and the mighty blowholes, walk along the beach.

Franz Josef

Accommodation: Lodge in the middle of the rainforest.

Optional paid activities: The ‘Ice Explorer’ Trip – a short heli-hop onto the glacier followed by an educational tour (entry to hot pools included), kayaking, skydiving.

Free activities: Many excellent bush hikes (but we recommend a guided one for safety). Relax in one of NZ’s largest spa pools at your accommodation.

Franz Josef to Wanaka

Accommodation: Central Wanaka hostel.

Optional paid activities: Save some coin today!

Free activities: Lake Matheson walk, Ship Creek walk, Blue Pools walk, Thundercreek Falls walk, explore Wanaka.

Wanaka to Queenstown

Accommodation: Central hostel close to all the action.

Optional paid activities: Puzzling World, skydiving, bungy jumping, mountain biking, pilot your own stunt plane or learn to fly and take a friend for free.

Free activities: Walk Mt Iron, watch people jumping off a bridge!

Queenstown

Accommodation: Central hostel close to all the action.

Optional paid activities: Any adventure activity that we mad Kiwis can dream up (bungy, swing, jet boating, skydiving, mountain biking, zipline, horse riding…).

Free activities: Sleep in, great walks, take in beautiful views from this cool resort town.

Queenstown to Gunn’s Camp

It’s an early start as we head for breathtaking Fiordland National Park and NZ’s most famous destination Milford Sound, sometimes called the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Sit back and enjoy one of the most scenic drives on the South Island circuit as we cruise past Lake Wakatipu and watch the landscape change from farmland to mountains, glacier carved valleys and fiords. There is time to do a cruise around Milford Sound before we head for our unique Stray overnight stop, Gunn’s Camp. Located in the solitude of Hollyford Valley, there’s no better place to enjoy an evening under the stars, spot glow-worms and listen out for kiwi bird calls.

Accommodation: Historic camp in the heart of Fiordland National Park.

Optional paid activities: Milford Sound cruise (ask the driver about the special Milford Sound + Stewart Island combo).

Free activities: Stunning views, visit the historic museum or take in the incredible surroundings at Gunn’s Camp, Chasm walk.

Gunn’s Camp to Invercargill/Stewart Island

We start the morning with a short riverside stroll through beech forest on the Viewing Gantry walk. Fiordland is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site Te Wahipounamu (which incorporates four national parks including Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring, Westland and Fiordland) and you’ll understand why as you soak up the spectacular landscape around you. This afternoon we travel further south via Te Anau to Invercargill, next stop Stewart Island! NZ’s third-largest island, Stewart Island has an abundance of activities such as fishing, kayaking, diving, bird watching and tramping tracks. Those not going to Stewart Island will spend the night in Invercargill.

Accommodation: Stewart Island backpackers or central hostel in Invercargill.

Optional paid activities: Te Anau Wildlife Centre, catch the ferry to Stewart Island (ask the driver about the special Milford Sound + Stewart Island combo).

Free activities: Humboldt Falls walk, Viewing Gantry walk.

Invercargill/Stewart Island to Queenstown

The morning is yours to explore the island, meet the locals, go fishing or enjoy some of the walks. We catch an afternoon ferry back to the mainland. For those who chose not to venture onto Stewart Island your bus departs mid-morning to head out to Waipapa Point, Curio Bay and Porpoise Bay for some sea-lion, penguin and dolphin spotting. On the chance we can’t find any wildlife, we can visit the 180 million-year-old fossilized forest and grab a milkshake. Afterwards we return to Bluff Hill to meet up with the island-goers before we express back to Queenstown.

Accommodation: Central hostel close to all the action.

Optional paid activities: Stewart Island: fishing, Village & Bays tour, go to Ulva Island.

Free activities: Explore the island, amazing birdlife, walks through the native parkland (Stewart Island); visit the start/end point for State Highway 1, sea-lion, penguin, dolphin spotting, find Burt Munro’s World’s Fastest Indian, Bluff Hill walk,  visit Henry the 118-year-old tuatara (Invercargill).

Queenstown to Aoraki/Mt Cook

Today we head over the Lindis Pass through the beautiful Mackenzie Country and past picturesque Lake Pukaki on the way to our amazing stop at the base of New Zealand’s highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. We arrive in the early afternoon with time to do a 4WD & Argo Tour, check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre or do one of the many great short walks in the park.  If you want to hop off the bus for a few days there are some incredible longer walks you can do (we’d recommend leaving climbing Mt Cook to the experienced mountaineers though).

Accommodation: Stunning alpine lodge.

Optional paid activities: Argo tour of alpine region, visit the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre.

Free activities: Take photos of awe-inspiring scenery, do one of the many great short walks to the Hooker glacial lake (weather dependent).

Mt Cook to Christchurch
Leaving Mt Cook we make our way through a landscape made famous in the Lord of the Rings films. We make a stop at turquoise Lake Tekapo before heading on to Geraldine, where we will drop off the thrill seekers wanting to raft the top notch Grade 5 white water on the Rangitata River. Those not rafting will continue on to Christchurch for a mid-afternoon arrival, giving you time to explore parts of the South Island’s largest city. The rafters will rejoin the group at the accommodation in Christchurch this evening.
Accommodation: Purpose built backpackers near the city centre.
Optional paid activities: Rangitata River rafting (late September – late March only).
Free activities: Take photos of stunning scenery, go for a walk around central Christchurch.

Christchurch to Nelson
We stop briefly to do pick-ups and drop-offs at the Christchurch International Airport as we depart Christchurch this morning. Once we’re out of the city, we head north across the Southern Alps through scenic Lewis Pass and drive past Nelson Lakes National Park on our way to our next destination Nelson, the sunshine capital of New Zealand. Nelson is a cool little town that’s home to a thriving community of artists and many fine wineries and craft breweries. It’s a great spot to score some unique NZ made crafts at the weekend markets.
Accommodation: Comfortable hostel in the heart of sunny Nelson.
Optional paid activities: Sample local wines and craft beers.
Free activities: Centre of New Zealand walk on Botanical Hill.

Nelson (via Picton) to Wellington
Leaving Nelson in the morning, we drive across the famous Marlborough region to the town of Blenheim before reaching Picton. For those that choose to hop off in the port town of Picton on the South Island, check out the Queen Charlotte Sound view walk, and enjoy the free fishing gear and mountain bikes at the Picton accommodation. Those heading to Wellington will catch the afternoon Bluebridge Ferry across the Cook Strait (from Picton to Wellington). The evening in Wellington is free so why not explore this funky town’s nightlife at any of the bars and restaurants along Cuba Street.
Accommodation: Central Wellington hostel or cosy villa in Picton.
Optional paid activities: Save some coin today!
Free activities: Explore Wellington city, go fishing/mountain biking in Picton.

Wellington (via Taupo) to Auckland

We depart in the early morning. This is an express day via Taupo heading back to New Zealand’s largest city Auckland. You can hop off anywhere along the way. With an early evening arrival, there’s still time to wander the streets of Auckland, visit the waterfront, do some souvenir shopping and hang out in some of Auckland’s lively cafes and bars. We hope you had a blast on your Stray adventure!