Embark on an unforgettable 20-day adventure from Auckland to Christchurch, immersing yourself in New Zealand’s diverse landscapes and vibrant culture. 
Experience the geothermal wonders of Rotorua, the golden beaches of Abel Tasman National Park, and the adrenaline-pumping activities in Queenstown. Traveling in small groups, you’ll stay in quality hostels and lodges, sharing memorable experiences with fellow adventurers.
Days
- 20 days, 19 nights
Group size
- Max 24
Start / finish
- Auckland / Christchurch
Return
- See itinerary for details
Accommodation
- 19 nights in hostels and lodges — two in Auckland, one at Hahei on the Coromandel, one in Rotorua, one at Kohutapu Lodge on Lake Aniwhenua, one in Taupō, two in alpine chalets at Tongariro, one in Wellington, two at The Barn in Marahau, two at Rainforest Retreat in Franz Josef, four in Queenstown, one at Lake Tekapo and one in Christchurch. Rooms are dorm share.
Transport
- An air-conditioned mini bus with your guide, a water taxi out to Rangitoto Island, the Cook Strait ferry to the South Island on day 10, a water taxi to Anchorage Bay in Abel Tasman, and transfers to both ends of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
Meals
- 19 breakfasts, two lunches and one dinner. One dinner is a traditional hāngī with dessert at Kohutapu Lodge.
Route
Included experiences
- Milford Sound — a day trip from Queenstown, cruising through the fjord
- Tongariro Alpine Crossing — a 19km trek across rocky plateaus, craters and turquoise lakes
- Abel Tasman National Park — two nights at Marahau and a water taxi to Anchorage Bay
- Hobbiton — the movie set on the road to Rotorua
- Kohutapu Lodge — learning the haka and Māori flax weaving, then a hāngi dinner
- Rangitoto Island — a water taxi across the harbour and a hike up a dormant volcano
- Tongariro River — whitewater rafting through grade 3 rapids
- Hot Water Beach — digging your own hot pool in the sand
- Kerosene Creek — a morning soak in a naturally hot river
- Punakaiki — the Pancake Rocks on the rugged West Coast
- Franz Josef — a free day at the glacier, or the hot pools
- Haast Pass and Lake Wakatipu on the drive through to Queenstown
- Queenstown — four nights and two full free days
- Lake Tekapo — the Church of the Good Shepherd, and the stargazing
- Kuirau Park — boiling mud pools and steaming lakes in Rotorua
- Whakarewarewa Forest — a walk among the redwoods
- Cook Strait — the ferry across, through the Marlborough Sounds
Pictures / Videos
Reviews
5.0
Based on 13 reviews
Verified from
Real reviews from travellers who've done this tour, gathered from around the web and paraphrased.
AI summary of 13 reviews
Travellers consistently praise the quality of the driver-guides and the friendships made with fellow passengers, with many highlighting the knowledgeable, engaging and personable nature of the guides and the social atmosphere of the bus. The most frequently praised aspect is the flexibility of the hop-on hop-off format combined with the organisation of accommodation and alternative arrangements when needed, allowing travellers to explore both well-known and lesser-known locations across both islands. The primary criticism concerns the mobile application, which several travellers found confusing due to chronological issues, the inability to view information offline, and the requirement to reset at the beginning of trips, though they note this is a minor inconvenience relative to the overall experience.
How we collect and publish reviews
Where they come from. Our reviews are gathered from independent review sites and from guests who share feedback with us directly after their trip. They come from people who have actually travelled on the tour.
Why some are edited. Many of our guests travel in their second or third language. Where a review is hard to read, we lightly edit spelling, grammar and punctuation, or paraphrase a sentence for clarity. We never change the rating, the meaning or the sentiment, and we never write a review on a guest's behalf.
Reading the originals. Reviews sourced from public review sites appear there in their original form, and can be read in full at their original source at any time.
“Kristina the GOAT!”
Had an absolutely amazing time with Stray, Kristina was our tour guide and she was an absolute gem, had some great recommendations and made sure that everything ran as smooth as it could possibly be! Would highly recommend doing the tour whether you are a solo traveller or travelling with mates!
Went on the 20-day Tui Adventure with my husband, brother, sister-in-law and cousin — all of us over 60, while most of the group was under 35. Our driver-guide was great and kept us updated on daily plans. Plenty of activities and sights made it good value, and my family had a wonderful time. Would recommend to anyone wanting to see New Zealand.
“Stray is great and ‘Soxx’ is the best!”
I’ve got to start this review with a huge THANK YOU to my driver ‘Soxx’. I’ve traveled with him for about ten days and I can’t imagine a better guide/driver. He combines interesting facts with funny stories - don’t expect a traditional (boring) explanation about New Zealand’s history or how high mountains are. Moreover he’s really enthusiastic and he took us to some nice unlisted places, such as luging in Rotorua.
That said, is there room for improvement? Yes, there is. The app can be a bit confusing and you can’t download the information (i.e. read it offline). The good thing is that the client service is very fast and you can always ask your driver for advice.
And as far as I’ve seen most of the fellow travellers are in their twenties, I’d say 26 is the average age. The youngest in my bus was 18 and some people are 30+ (and 60+, they made their own group).
So don’t hesitate and choose for Stray!
“Great experience”
It was a really good experience. The drivers made the difference. Especially, Romeoo, Chilli and Cookie. They were great! Bonding with all the group and making delicious dinner for us! I think that renting a car with friends is the best option, but if that is not available I would chose again stray.
“Great way to meet people and see New Zealand sans car”
Was contemplating skipping New Zealand entirely on my travelers because I had heard getting around on your own was challenging without a car, and I didn’t want to rent one alone. Stray was the best solution ever. It took me to some amazing spots, many of which I probably would have not gone to on my own. It enabled me to be relatively flexible, because if I really liked a place, I could jump off and stay there longer (although I did have to book accommodation in some places pretty early seeing as it was peak season and things book up quickly!). Most importantly, though, it allowed me to make friends with fellow bus riders super easily.
Another amazing aspect of Stray is that the drivers are really good at pointing out interesting facts and providing helpful information about the Stray itinerary. Shout out to Thunder, Pac Man, and most of all, Soxx, for an amazing trip. One thing that could use improvement, however, is the app itself. It always restarts at the beginning of your trip, even when you are towards the end. It also is chronologically confusing and allows you to book dates out of order, along with listing your departure before your non-travel activities in the same place (which should come first). Yet, while it’s not ideal, the app is still useable and is a small inconvenience for what was, overall, an incredibly seamless experience. Would recommend, for sure!
“Our Experience”
My girlfriend and I booked Stray without really knowing too much about the company and had no idea what to expect from it.
We have just finished our Stray experience after roughly 6 weeks and we couldn't have hoped for a better experience!
All of the people you get to meet that travel from different countries really makes this experience as great as it is. You make so many new friends and get to travel to some of the most beautiful places in the country.
Special mention to Thor, Lightning and Mozzie. 3 absolute legends and having them as our drivers at various points throughout the experience was awesome. They really make the effort to get to know the Stray travellers and put in a lot of effort to make sure everyone is having as good a time as they can. So big thank you from Riccardo and Heather to the 3 of those drivers for making our experience as great as it was!
“Cool trip”
Hey There,
Thanks for the great review! So happy to hear you had a good time with us and will love to have you on our bus again for travelling around the North Island :)
“Worth every penny”
The Stray experience has exceeded my expectations.
I thought I was getting a three week transportation service with self guided tips, but what I got was thoughtful recommendations, incredible off the beaten path experiences, and the opportunity to meet new people and forage new friendships.
Huge credit to Lightning, our knowledgeable, helpful, and fun driver, who provided guidance along the way, an inclusive environment, and whose general attitude and zest for life brought our group together and enhanced the Stray experience.
Stray gives you the flexibility to amend your itinerary to maximize your time. They also connect you to a variety of highly professional tour companies of which you can decide what activities you want to complete.
“The best trip and Drivers!!!”
I had the best time around New Zealand with so many amazing people I met in the bus for 5 weeks!
The two best Stray bus drivers I had on my way was Rollex and Lightning. They were both so helpfull, funny and made my trip memorial. Rollex were really compatible to be around with in the bus, and he took us to beautiful places I didn't expected to go to. I miss the time we had, thank you for it all.
“Great Trip!”
I’ve been traveling with the stray bus for 2 weeks now and it have been an amazing trip. The app is very easy to use, and it’s a great deal with the guaranteed accommodations! Our driver Lightning made the trip better with great knowledge of the country, many good stories and just being a great guy!
“Amazing way to see NZ especially if travelling solo”
I spent 24 days in NZ and mainly with the Stray Bus. From the first stop in Hahei (a personal favourite) it was full of great people who were happy to do some hikes but also chill in the evening with a glass of wine or 3. Due to weather we couldn’t do Franz Josef which was unfortunate but being on a tour bus they organised alternative accommodation and route for us. I had the same driver Soxx for the full trip from Auckland to Queenstown and he was amazing. Full of corny bad jokes (which we all secretly loved) and was always getting involved with the group whether it be group dinners, games, quiz nights, good photo ops etc.
I don’t think you could ever spend too much time in NZ but the time I had here was amazing. It is a hop-on hop- off tour so you are limited in some sense to the stops that Stray do but I think they give you a taste of everything and it’s hassle free. Also if you have any issues with the app, ask your driver or call the team and they sort it out for you.
“Great company- Pac-Man is an awesome driver”
Had an awesome trip through the north and South Island. The stray bus is great and all the stops were wonderful. Make sure you stop at blue duck lodge. Had the same driver for most of it. What can I say about Pac-Man (my driver) other than that he is a complete legend!! Pac-Man is Awesome knowledge laidback and takes the stress out of traveling and substitutes it with fun! You’re in great hands if you’re on Pac-Man’s bus. Made the best memories and greatest friends on this trip. Would definitely travel with stray again.
“Rolex was our driver for over two weeks and it was…”
One of the best decisions I've ever made. I met so many amazimg people along the way who made the trip. I really didn't want to do a bus tour at the beginning but really glad I went with Stray in the end.
