Backpacking in New Zealand on a Stray Bus

Hey

I'll sleep at the base backpackers in Auckland. I booked the Peter Pass and now my question: Where is the nearest pick-up point for the tour?

Thanks and greetings to NZ!

By Tobi from - 27 Feb 2012

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Hey Stray Crew,
I stay at the moment by friends in Remuera. Could you tell me the nearest pickup point? I will travel on the short moe at 1th march , so I was wondering if you can say me the nearest point and time .

Cheers

Adrian

sry for double post

By from - 27 Feb 2012

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I have limited time and am thinking about doing the MOE in minimum time of 21 days in March/April. I heard that skydiving in Taupo is highly recommendable and would like to take that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. According to the schedule, we would arrive in Taupo at 3pm. Is it possible to do the skydiving that very afternoon without hopping off the tour or should I plan to stay in Taupo for 1 or 2 more days?

By Peter from Austria - 23 Feb 2012

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Hi Stray....

I'm starting my trip next month, short moe. It stops in Franz Josef for 2 nights, and as it is said that stray will only guarantee our first night, I tried to book myself a place to stay for a second night. The prob with Franz Josef is the dorm rooms at the rainforest is full on April 4th (my second night)...the best offer I can get now is to stay in its powered camper van site.

Is the camper van already parked, as I don't need to drive it? If I book for it does it mean I book for a car for myself? Is it far from the dorm area as I think I am gonna book for the dorm thru stray driver for my first night.

Thank you :)

By Nina from Indonesia - 22 Feb 2012

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Hello!

I'm doing the Short Arthur pass in a couple of weeks and have a few questions.

I'm planning on hopping off at the National Park and staying for 2 nights to hopefully do the crossing. As there isn't a compulsary night at the National Park, will I still be given the option of booking a hostel through the driver or will I have to arrange my own? Also will I be given the option of the crossing as an additional activity by the driver or will I have to organise the trek myself in advance?

In Queentown if I want to do a day trip to Milford Sound, will I also need to book this myself or will it be offered as an option through the driver?

Thanks for your help!

By Alice from - 21 Feb 2012

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hi, I have limited time to see as much as i can of New Zealand and im hoping to do the Short Moe In the 17 days back to back starting on April 24th. if I fly into Aukland on the 23rd, is that nights accommodation included for departure the next day? If not which hostel do I need to book in at? I'm interested to purchases the 5 nights accommodation vouchers aswell to use along the way, could you give me an indication of additional accommodation costs for the remaining stops (lowest dorm price) so I can work out some figures. Thanks :)

By Angela from Uk - 14 Feb 2012

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I'm planning a trip to New Zealand in November, but as I'll have limited time I really need to plan my flights and tour together to make sure I maximise my trip. Based on the current timetable, I think the Willy pass would be the best for me - can you advise when the timetable for November will be available?

By Laineee from UK - 13 Feb 2012

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Hello, I'm planning to travel in Nothern Island in the first week of October, and I need the Patch and the Piha passes. Will the timetables be the same as now at that time or there will be less buses? What about the weather in these zones in beginning of October?

By Angela from - 13 Feb 2012

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I'm flying into Auckland on the 12th of March and looking to do the Short Max starting some time that week. Will anyone else being doing the Short Max around that time? Will be travelling alone so hoping to meet people on my travels.

I'm English but have been on Oz for the past 18 months or so.

By Jemma from UK - 11 Feb 2012

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Hi,
I'm really interesting in booking a Short Bret Pass for May this year as I start in Christchurch and finish in Auckland. With the current offer of the Free Jack Pass it says it's valid with any national pass however, on the passes page unlike most of the other national tickets it doesn't state that you get a free jack pass with the short bret!?!
If I booked before the end of feb would the free jack pass be included? It would be a big tipping point as I'd love to go to the bay of islands too!
Thanks,
Rowena

By Rowena from U.K - 09 Feb 2012

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I'm thinking about a trip to NZ in july/august but I heard that's not the best time of the year because it rains a lot and can be very cold those days. Unfortunately I'm not able to visit during summertime. Can you tell me some more about what kind of weather I can expect when visiting NZ in july/august? I don't like skiing or snowboarding. Thank you!

By Fleur from Netherlands - 06 Feb 2012

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Hi

I will arrive on March 17th in Auckland and booked a hostel until March 20, which is a Tuesday. I actually want to do the Jack Pass and the Peter Pass, but i have to be in Christchurch on March 31st latest. Is this combination possible, because i got a bit confused because of the timetable!
I hope my chosen combination is possible!
Thanks for help!

Tobias

By Tobias from Germany - 01 Feb 2012

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Hi there,

I'm a bit confused by the information you provide regarding accommodation. You say that you guarantee the first night accommodation which is great but in your section about accommodation you say that 'you simply tell your guide your preference (twins, doubles, dorms ...) - we book it'.

So my question is do we have to inform the support team before our departure of our preference or is the accommodation already pre-booked and it is sorted out on our arrival?

I ask this because I am planning to spend a few extra nights at some of the stops and need to know whether I just have to book the extra nights I stay and whether to inform hostels that my first night has been pre-booked by Stray

Many Thanks

By Debs from UK - 01 Feb 2012

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Hi,

me and my boyfriend are going to NZ in June. We arrive in Christchurch 01Jun2012 at 11PM and our flight back to Brazil departs from Auckland 12Jun2012 at 04PM, so we have 10 days available .

What do you recomend for us? By the way, we prefer the south island.

Thanks!
Lorena.

By Lorena from Brazil - 31 Jan 2012

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Hi. I'm intending to travel from Christchurch to Auckland, starting on 28th Feb. I'm trying to decide between the Bret Pass or Short Bret Pass, and am uncertain at this stage whether I wish to do the extra 3 days (Queenstown to Invercargill / Stewart Island / Gunn's Camp) that the Bret Pass offers. If I were to book a Short Bret Pass and then decided I wanted to change to a Bret Pass, once the trip had started, would this be possible?
Many thanks, in advance, for your help!

By Ruth from UK - 31 Jan 2012

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Hello Stray!

If I wanted to do either the Routeburn or Kepler trek, would the bus be able to drop me off near the start of the trail? Or would I need to arrange my own transportation? How easy is it to get back on the bus, esp. if the trek does not end where it began?

Thank you!

By Ari from USA - 31 Jan 2012

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I have booked to do the Max starting on Feb 3rd, however how do you get online to check your bookings and to book future busses? Thanks

By helen from uk - 30 Jan 2012

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I have a few questions.

I am in Paihia now. I was planning on traveling independently throughout New Zealand. But the bus prices are kind of expensive.. I guess I want to know if I will get the most out of my money? Is a tour bus the best way to travel in NZ? I am a 27yr old female, traveling alone. I don't like the structured restrictions of tour buses... This seems fairly flexible though. I do like to party but I do like to do things independently. And there is a few things I would like to do- Waitmoto caves but with the Legendary Black Water Company. Is it possible to do that with them instead of the ones Stray has picked out? Also, is it fairly easy to book a bus?

I know these are a lot of questions, but I am super confused if I want to continue traveling alone or hook up with a tour bus. Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks :)

By from USA - 27 Jan 2012

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Hi! I'll be flying into Auckland on 2/24 and out of Auckland on 3/10. Looking through the site, Stray seems like just the thing I'm looking for! I need your help though. I'm suppose to meet up with some friends in Wellington for a few day (between 3/1 and 3/5). Would I be able to purchase the Short Moe, do the entire trip until Wellington, meet up with the Short Q trip in Christchurch, then just fly out of Queenstown? Not sure how flexible the "hop-on, hop-off" system is. Thanks in advance for your help!

By Donovan from - 27 Jan 2012

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I will be travelling on the Short Max dept Auckland in Jan 31st. I need to be back in Auckland by Feb 28th. I had planned to book ahead for all sectors so that I was sure I would see everything but be back on time for my flight out of Auckland! But I'm finding it hard to figure out where to stay for more than 1 night so starting to re-think booking ahead. At this time of year will I be ok to just book ahead every couple of days or do I risk not getting the bus/accomodation I want? Thanks!

By Jay from - 25 Jan 2012

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