Backpacking in New Zealand on a Stray Bus
YOUR QUESTIONS
Browse through and read comments posted by other Stray travellers - or leave your own.
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Latest Traveller Questions:
I'm flying to Chch this Saturday (12th March) and arrive at 9pm. I'm booked on the Stray bus on Sunday morning so I need accommodation for the Saturday night. Has anyone found any (at a reasonable price)? Or is it easy enough to just turn up at the airport and find some?
Cheers.
By Leo from UK - 07 Mar 2011
I'm planning to get Short Ron Pass, so would appreciate if the awesome Stray Team can help clarify some/lots doubts below:
1) Can I hop-on hop-off at Wanaka, because I don't see Wanaka in the Short Ron map?
2) For overnight stops, is it compulsory to stay with Stray's accomodation? How far away I can go for my own accomodation (let's say Dunedin is a big city, I might stay at an accomodation *just* outskirt of the city but the address still in Dunedin)?
3) Can I ask the bus driver to have very short stops at some off-the-beaten places that are not covered in the itinerary? e.g. Mirror Lake in Milford Sound Road, Purakaunui Falls in Catlins, Nugget Point walk in Otago etc (all less than 1/2hr walk)
4) Is the Summer 2011 timetable still valid for travel in April 2011 (autumn)?
5) Is Stray contactable 24hrs everyday?
Thanks in advance for answering the questions above. Cheers!
By tkl from - 04 Mar 2011
I've try to book the patch pass since yesterday but failed. It showed booking error. I will start the trip to New Zealand 10 days later. When will the boooking system available? Or can I book it at the airport?
Thank you.
By Rita from Hong Kong - 02 Mar 2011
Can I book the pass by the tourist information at Auckland airport?
Maybe I will join 2 passes. Can I book the second one by the driver?
Thank you!
By Rita from Hong Kong - 01 Mar 2011
Hi,
I would like to spend a night in Whakahoro. Should I stay in the National Park overnight as it seems that the bus schedule does not fit. When I'm back from Whakahoro, should I wait in the National Park till midday for the bus to Auckland? ( I should have done the crossing on that time)
By Lisa from HK - 27 Feb 2011
I will be arriving in Auckland on the 23rd March and I am just wondering how long in advance I need to book a pass and also if I could just arrange it when I arrive or is it better to book before landing?
Many thanks
Karen
By Karen O Sullivan from Ireland - 24 Feb 2011
Hi Stray,
I've booked a Max pass starting April 7th and I have to be back in Auckland by May 8 so I have 31 days to complete the Max pass. So I have a few extra days and am trying to decide where to spend them! I think I want to spend an extra day in/around Mt Cook to do some of the treks, and maybe also do Fox glacier (as well as Franz Josef). Any other places you would recommend to stop? Is it worth doing both glaciers? At this time of the year are the buses less busy (i.e. I could just hop off without booking far ahead to be able to get back on the bus)?
Thanks so much for your help!
By Jen from Canada - 22 Feb 2011
Hi Stray,
I've booked a Max pass starting April 7th and I have to be back in Auckland by May 8 so I have 31 days to complete the Max pass. So I have a few extra days and am trying to decide where to spend them! I think I want to spend an extra day in/around Mt Cook to do some of the treks, and maybe also do Fox glacier (as well as Franz Josef). Any other places you would recommend to stop? Is it worth doing both glaciers? At this time of the year are the buses less busy (i.e. I could just hop off without booking far ahead to be able to get back on the bus)?
Thanks so much for your help!
By Jen from Canada - 22 Feb 2011
Hi Stray,
This might be a stupid question, but I'm not quite sure how the 'unlimited travel' mentioned in the Terms and Conditions work: do I have to pay extra to get a pass (I'm looking at the Stray Everywhere) with 'unlimited travel' or is it always included (but only available when there's space, etc)?
Thanks in advance!
Meike
By Meike from Netherlands - 22 Feb 2011
Hi,
I'm planning spending august in NZ, but I don't know how hard may the weather get in the Southern Island.
I mean, my choice would be a Max or a Maximus pass, but would yu recommend me getting a Short Bret or Short Maximus instead?
By Donna from - 21 Feb 2011
Hi,
I might purchase the "Stray Everywhere" pass. I want to do a good amount of surfing. Will this trip have many opportunities for it?
By Joe from SA - 20 Feb 2011
Hi,
I have few questions about accomodation. The driver will book it for us.What kind of accomodation it is?
We will join the willy pass. Can I know which accomodations you will book for us? Can I book another accomodations by ourself? Do you provide door to door pick up?
By Rita from - 19 Feb 2011
Hey guys,
Could I please get your honest opinion and answers? I would like to travel NZ for about a month. I would like to see almost everything possible in NZ and also engage in all fun activities. I am not looking for a bus pass full of drunk people looking to get hammered every night (although occassionaly would be fine with me). I would like to travel with people who are coming for the scenerery and what not. Is stray travel my best option or possibly Magic bus? I've already ruled out kiwiexpirience. Thanks.
By Josh Yoo from USA - 19 Feb 2011
I want to pay cash for my stray pass. Where in Auckland can I buy my stray pass in person.
By Southside Johnny from - 17 Feb 2011
Hi!
I'm traveling with the Short Arthur pass in May and I have a little question about the stop in Queenstown:
I know that we leave Makarora at 9.30 AM to go to Queenstown. Do you know what time we arrive to Queenstown? I really want to go and do the Nevis 134 m bungy jump, but I'm worried that there won't be enough time to do that since we leave Queenstown on the morning next day.
Thanks for helping!
By Johanna from Sweden - 16 Feb 2011
Hi!
I'm traveling with the Short Arthur pass in May and I will stay an extra day in National Park and go up to Auckland on Friday 13th of May. I want to know what time we arrive in Auckland? I need to book a flight back home and want to know if it's too risky to book a flight that leaves 00:25 on saturday 14th.
Thanks a lot!
By Johanna from Sweden - 16 Feb 2011
I have a few questions about the Stray Everywhere pass that I am about to go on. First of all, I know that the accomodation is taken care of by stray on all the overnight stops if that is what you want to do but if you decide to stay in a location longer than one night are you able to stay at the same hostel or campground? Especially in peak season is that easy to do? Also I counted the overnight stops and it doesn't equal 35 days of travel? Does that pass give you extra days assuming you will be staying in places for more than one night? And finally do you need to book ahead for the ferry or any other activity that you plan to do along the way or do the stray guides take care of all of that? Thank you for your time hopefully you can answer my questions.
By Caleigh Davis from USA - 14 Feb 2011
hey.
I will be in NZ between 2.3. and 6.4.2011 and I'm thinking about ordering a pass to see the most I can of the north and south island. which one would you suggest?
I'm also wondering how much time I will need to come into the New Zealand time (I'm coming from Germany, so the jetlag will be huge). will one day in auckland be enough? and at which place does your bus leave in auckland?
thanks for your help.
sina
By Sina from - 06 Feb 2011
Hey! I am planning on backpacking New Zealand for 3 months. I would like to go with a tour company, but I'm a little confused about the hop-on hop-off deal. The pass is good for 12 months, but I the max pass is 35 days?
I guess I'm just curious if I have to stay on the itinerary or if I can just stay somewhere for a few weeks then hop back on the bus to the next stop?
Thanks for your help!
-Kristi
By Kristi from USA - 03 Feb 2011
Hey
I am travelling together with my girlfriend and wanted to ask whether it would be possible to merge the two accounts together? So that i just have to edit our trip one time for us both.
Thanks
By Felix from Germany - 07 Mar 2011
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