Stray - New Zealand Backpackers Bus
TRAVELLERS' COMMENTS
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I travelled with Stray Nov. 2011 and it was absolutely amazing!! Very friendly and easy going travellers onboard and friendly and helpful staff all around - both the bus drivers and the office team!!
I can not say enough good things about my experience with Stray and would highly recommend Stray to all travellers in NZ weather you are there for a long or short stay as long as you want to make the most out of your time, meet great ppl, have a great time - stray is the way to go!
By pepper from Canada - 04 Feb 2012
I do not recommend Stray to anyone who wants to save money, or have a good time. But if you want to waste money, listen to terrible club music from 7 in the morning until the bus reaches it's destination this is the program for you!
Our trip started alright, but I should have sensed something when my name was spelled completely wrong. Then when we hopped off and wanted to hop back on is when we started having problems. The booking system worked horribly. On a couple occasions, after the system claimed we were booked on, we weren't on the manifest and almost didn't get seats. We had to resort to using the online chat to book each and every single bus. The staff were always friendly and ready to help, but even if they were friendly it happened a few times where we still weren't on the manifest. And it was a bit difficult to get to the point with some of them.
As for the actual bus rides, the drivers were always relatively friendly. Motors and Dippy were extremely nice, but the others seemed to just get the job done. And that's not a bad thing, I do like to just get up and get to the next spot. But the music was the worst. I'm no music snob but it was mostly club music. Like electronic dubstep bogus. And that's never good, especially at 7 am. The buses were mostly alright to sit in, but we did have a few that were very uncomfortable. Overall the actual bus rides were alright, and the drivers were good. Although we did leave a guy at the point in Greymouth, but lucky for him there were some people to give him a ride to the hostel. And the buses weren't always on time. We had to wait for almost an hour in Hamilton just for a pick-up.
The route: The places we would go got more and more ridiculous. We'd made a stop here and there to a lot of the same things. A view of the mountain. And that's great but when you stop three times in the same day to see the same mountain it gets a bit tiring. But that's free and that's great! But when they bring you to out in the middle of nowhere places with no other options for accomodation is when it gets really stupid. Uncle Boys for $75! You get a tiny meal where they ask you not to eat too much, you're the 'entertainment' and you get to sleep in the same room witht the whole bus on the floor. FOR $75! Fifteen, maybe $20 would justify it, but $75?! Crazy! And that's not the only place they bring you where you have no choice. It's a huge tourist trap that you can't get away from if you still need the transportation.
They did get us a whole $3 off in only a few of the hostels, but you can find coupons for $3 off in almost any free guide book.
I think Stray is an alright idea, but it is so extremely unorganized, and so stupidly expensive with continuous costs after you buy the ticket. I believe that anyone who buys a Stray ticket is being ripped off as a vulnerable tourist. I only wish I could be at least partially reimbursed for this terrible experience.
PLEASE DON'T GO WITH STRAY!
By Disappointed from - 04 Feb 2012
Hi everyone,
I travelled the Maximus Pass for six weeks in November and December and I have really mixed feelings about Stray.
First of all I have to say that I had a really great time, the drivers were awesome and me and my friend had so much fun with the other passengers. We saw so many beautiful places and I did so many things where I would have never thought that I would ever do them before. It was the time of my life! :D
But I have to say organising everything really sucked! :( First of all, we bought the Maximus Pass when Stray still had the winter timetable. We started our trip in Auckland and went to the Stray office there just to find out that they cut Dunedin out of the route without even informing is. But Dunedin was one of the reasons why my friend and me chose Stray and not another bus company, so we were really annoyed.
Second thing that didn't work at all was the online booking. We couldn't book a single bus on the webside, it always said that the busses were full even though the people at the Stray office told us that there are seats left. So we had to write emails to the Stray office and they had to book the busses for us.
We spent almost the whole first day of our travel in the Stray office in Auckland just to organise our trip!
This thing with hopping off the bus if you really like a place and decide to stay there longer didn't work at all. The busses were way to full for that, so we had to book our whole route in advance and couldn't spontaneously decide to stay longer somewhere. But that wasn't that bad for us because the way we did it was just right.
So organising sucked, but travelling was great!
So if you're fine with not going to Dunedin (by the way, we took the Naked Bus from Invercargill and back to go there for three days because we really wanted to see it. It's definitely worth that!) travelling with Stray is the best thing you can do in New Zealand!
Cheers!
By Katja from Germany - 03 Feb 2012
Hi there
I'm doing the short max pass throughout March starting in Auckland on the 3rd. Anyone else doing NZ in those few weeks? I'm English but have been backpacking Oz for the past 2 years...
By stacy from Australia - 31 Jan 2012
Hey Everyone!
I'm travelling from auckland to Christchurch on the Moe pass, leaving on the 10th of January. I am travelling on my own and just wondered if anyone else is joining the tour around the same time? It would be good to hear from anyone that is, I am really looking forward to meeting people on my travels!
By Amanda from UK - 07 Jan 2012
I've not yet started my trip with Stray but im already a bit dissapointed at the Stray booking system and the help (or lack of help) from the support/reservations people at Stray. It all seems very complicated and if it doesnt work now, how will it then proceed during the travel?...
By dissapointed from - 05 Jan 2012
I did the Maximus Pass in New Zealand and had the time of my life. I have nothing but fond memories as I reflect on my time spent on Stray. I would highly recommend it to anyone trying to figure out what to do in New Zealand. You are able to see so much of the country that you may not have seen on your own When you are travelling alone it is such an amazing way to meet people who have similar interests as you. The drivers are pretty awesome too, and know a lot about the country. You can always count of the drivers for a good story, a good laugh and a great time.
I stumbled upon stray by chance and I'm so glad I did.
Thanks Stray, you blew my mind.
By Jess from Canada - 22 Dec 2011
Hey, I will travelling on the bus from 24th Dec starting from Auckland. Anyone else beginning that time? Hope to meet some cool people to spend Christmas with!
By Rich from England - 12 Dec 2011
I had the best two months with Stray, I went on the maximus pass and got to see the best parts of New Zealand. I loved my drivers because they made the experience that much more fun by telling of all the myths and legends of the country. The best part for me was Queenstown and The Bay of Islands because of the awesome nights out and beautiful scenery. I loved the fact of meeting loads of backpackers on the way, it's great when you meet new people and end up travelling together, i did this with 3 backpackers, an American, German and French person, it's funny how countries come together, just a shame I couldn't stay with them. All in all, I had a trip that felt like a dream......come true! The only thing they should change is the travellers' login part it might need a little updating ;-) Thanks Stray you guys are awesome! x
By Lizzie Mounter from England - 07 Dec 2011
I was on the Stray bus "Peter Pass" tour for a week in October. I am in New Zealand for a year (originally from Scotland) and it was one of the best decisions i've made. I had no idea what I was letting myself in for!! I met some pretty amazing people and some that will be close friends for a long time. Most people on the bus were staying on much longer than me and I was just dissappointed that I couldn't join them! The experiences would not have been the same if I had to partake in them alone, and the drivers made everyone comfortable and were so funny. One of the best times of my life. I will be doing it again!!
By Amy from Scotland - 06 Dec 2011
Hi guys,
Am travelling from the UK and not sure what the best way to deal with money in NZ would be (I'll be there for a month), obviously I don't want to carry too much around... is it best just to pay by credit/debit card as I go or withdraw cash (this will have a charge though I guess)... would be interested to know what your experiences are/any advice you have!
Thank you :)
By Rhianna from United Kingdom - 28 Nov 2011
Traveling on stray starting in jan to early feb. was wondering if anyone from the us has looked into getting a cell phone while in New Zealand and what has been found. Any advice?
By Danielle from US - 26 Nov 2011
Traveling on the Short Dave pass from December 18th to the 31st. Anyone going to be doing this one as well? Very excited to finally make it to New Zealand, this has been a long time coming.
By Megan Thomas from USA - 21 Nov 2011
Hey Everyone!
I'm taking the short max pass from auckland on the 4th of December and I'll be traveling on my own. I'm 22 and I've been living in hawkes bay teaching at a high school. I'm really ready to see everything and meet some fellow travelers!
-Scott
By Scott from USA - 18 Nov 2011
Hi there
I have managed to get 5 weeks off and so am venturing to NZ for a tour for 4 weeks!! I am travelling on my own and so am wondering if anyone else is planning to do the Short Max/Max pass from 2nd January?
It would be good to hear from anyone that is and anyone with any tips on best places to spend a few valuable spare days :)
I am 35 and its my first time travelling and so I am really keen to meet people on my travels!
By Verity from UK - 17 Nov 2011
Possiblyoneof the best things i have ever done. I startedon the max pass from Auckalnd and spent four weeks touring both north and south islands. The bus was amazing great bunch of people and the drivers are beyond good. Had chooks and whales for most of the trip and wouldnt change anything for the world. Cheers Guys!!
By ALex from England - 13 Nov 2011
I'm in NZ for one year, and have travelled round much of the North Island over the last three months.
I'm currently based in Welly, looking to take in the vibrant capital and earn some cash. My time with Stray (coming right from Cape Reinga right down to Welly) was amazing. I was with them through Aug and Sept, and I did some incredible things with my Stray Family; white water rafting, Maori experience, gumboot-throwing secret hotsprings (as recommended by our driver, Gutsy), the Blue Duck Lodge, the Tongariro Crossing, and eventually Welly.
I look forward to the South Island leg of my Stray journey, which I plan to do after the summer. I will spend my Christmas and New Year in the capital (my first hot Christmas ever as a Brit!) and see how it goes, but my first plan after Welly is getting back on that Stray bus!
By Rich Fox from England - 13 Nov 2011
I travelled with Stray during September 2011 and it was one of the best months of my travels. They are a fantastic company to travel with, everything seems to have been thought of and Nat our driver was so much help and really went above and beyond what her job was as well as being great fun and good company.
Im 25 so was looking for a company that was more about seeing the places and doing things than 24/7 partying and Stray really delivers this. Most people on the bus were 23-35ish and so wanted the same thing.
Stray takes you to some great places that you might not necessarily see if travelling on your own. The hot springs after a morning rafting were perfect and Gunns Camp was definitely something different! I can not recommend them highly enough! Thanks for an amazing time in New Zealand.
By Emily from England - 07 Nov 2011
Hi. I went to Auckland in August 2011 and I visited the north island of NZ with stray. I had to say that it was so worth it. I visited places that I would not have never gone without stray. I saw things that I will never forget.
I particularly like Maketu (the Maori cultural stay). Learning the haka and mingling with the Maori was fantastic.
We even went to a farm where there were no phone signal, internet and newspaper. It was a perfect moment cut form the hectic world.
I definitely recommend you to travel with stray. The guides are extremely friendly and always try their best to please you.
By David Lan from Mauritius - 07 Nov 2011
My travels with Stray were the best travels I had in New Zealand. You get to know nice people, and make friends. You see the most beautiful places of New Zealand. It's just the best way to travel.
By Isha from Netherlands - 05 Feb 2012
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