Backpacking in New Zealand on a Stray Bus
YOUR QUESTIONS
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Latest Traveller Questions:
Hi,
A few Questions:
1) Does the Q Pass run everyday, if not, which days does it not run?
2) I am thinking about taking the train from Christchurch to Greymouth as the first leg of the Q tour. I will be coming from Turangi or Taupo. What\'s the best way to get to Christchurch from either places?
By Aaron from USA - 12 Feb 2009
I am thinking about booking Arthur.
1) Does it leave Christchurch everyday?
2) The travel plan says the bus is back to Auckland by 6PM. I have international flight at 10:45PM. Am I going to make the flight?
By Aaron from USA - 11 Feb 2009
On the free days in Abel Tasman & Franz Josef is your accomo guaranteed for both your arrival night and the 2nd night?
By Carrie from UK - 11 Feb 2009
hi there, please can we ge some info:
myself and four friends are hoping to do the 3 day bay of islands and beach tour in begining april 2009.
we have 3 questions:
1. in the patch pass is the price including accomodation or just the bus?
if not do we book the accomodation ourself?
2. will the snorkelling and dune surfing be on then (autumn timetable)
3. is there a website where we can get the prices of the day activities in Paihia do we need to book these in advance?
thanks for your help,
eileen x
By eileen from scotland - 10 Feb 2009
Hello, I\'ll b in Auckland as from March 23rd and have booked 2 nights in Hahei and also would like to go to Rotorua/Te Puia. How does the pass work? Is there a pass that could work 4 me?
By Cristina from Brazil - 08 Feb 2009
Hey,
I already did the Patch and Tom Pass Tours. How is it possible to book the two Tours a second time? I wanna do them with my friends again.
Greetings,
Uwe
By Uwe Knoerle from Germany - 07 Feb 2009
Hi, I am coming to NZ for about 21 days in August this year. I am interested in the Stray pass but not sure which one to chose. I really want to do lots of hiking, biking, kayaking etc but am worried that a lot of this won\'t be available in the winter season. I know Tongiraro is possible to do in WInter. How about Abel Tasman? Franz Josef Glacier hike? Milford Sound Track? Will rafting and kayaking still be available? Any cycling?
By beccy from UK - 03 Feb 2009
On the site it mentions walking shoes, are these absolutely essential or is it fine to do the walks in trainners as i currently don\'t have any walking shoes-?
Also how long are the journeys on the bus, do we stay on the bus for long or are they generally only a couple of hours between places?
Cheers
By James from United Kingdom - 02 Feb 2009
The passes prices include the accomodations? Or is only the transport on your buses and we organize for the accomodations?
By Joana from Portugal - 01 Feb 2009
Yikes it is getting close to time to head to NZ and I have not decided on a rolled duffel and day pack v a big backpack. What is your rec? I was thinking it would be much easier to have a wheeled duffel that could hold plenty of stuff and when off the bus just leave it on and take the day pack versus always having to lug the big backpack. Which makes more sense? I am going to be doing one of the passes that works for 3 weeks.
Muchos gracias! can\'t wait to get over there.
By Nic Franklin from USA - 28 Jan 2009
i am only 18!! i am female!!
i want to go travelling around the south island by myself, is there many youngens like me out on there own? can i get off and find work for a couple of weeks??
By Alice from England! - 28 Jan 2009
I\'m heading over to NZ on my own on Feb 8th.
And yes, I\'m absolutely petrified!!!
I\'m looking at your coach trips and like the idea, but could you assure me that your hostels aren\'t just full of 18 year old kids?
I\'m 39 and very wary of being way too old to be there!!!!
By Gaynor from - 26 Jan 2009
I´ve got 40 days in NZ - would you recommand the \"Stray Everywhere Pass\" or is it too much, should i rather do a shorter trip (Maximus, Max)???
By Birgit from Germany - 25 Jan 2009
Hey, I am travelling by myself for a month in July this year.
I am currently weighing up the options of doing either a flexible bus pass with Stray (or Kiwi or Magic) covering both islands or doing a complete tour with accomodation and most food included with NZ Adventure Tours...
Originally I wanted the fleixbility I could get with the bus passes you provide, however when I tried to work out accomodation, food and entry prices for everything for the month it worked out quite expensive, so the package tour actually seemed a slightly cheaper option but I am in two minds about what to do.
How much do you think I need to budget doing it myself? I see $25 per night for accomodation, but food and entry fees? And if we do Milford sound boat trip for example or a Glacier Hike, is it all really expensive on top?
Thanks for any advice on this as I need to decide asap.
By Kemi from UK - 25 Jan 2009
I was wondering if it´s possible to do camping, like in South Africa most Backpackers had Camp Grounds. Does the bus stop at any places where you could camp or do you have to get there yourself (and are they far away from the other places where the bus stops)??
By Sybille from Austria - 24 Jan 2009
Hello :)
Im trying to sort something out for my daughter who is presently staying in Queenstown with family. She flew down to QT, but thought it would be nicer to see NZ by way of travelling back up to Auckland to catch her flight.
So, what pass would you recommend she get from Queenstown to arrive at Auckland. She could probably have about 14 - 16 days.
Many thanks
Sue -England
By Sue Harvey from England - 22 Jan 2009
Hi, Could I ask a quick question regarding the \"unlimited transport\"?
I have been looking at the passes, and like the look of the Moe pass. But Can I just ask if I am correct in thinking we could use this pass to travel from Auckland down to Christchurch, but could then make our own way back to Auckland, and re-use the pass to do some of the legs again (or all of them?) is that correct?
By John from England - 19 Jan 2009
Hi there,
I\'m just wondering how long in advance peeps normally book their bus\'s?
I did a hop-on hop-off type bus tour on the East Coast of Oz, and kinda found the whole thing quite stressful! We were always being warned about bus\'s getting filled up really quickly, so we were constantly booking ahead, nervously! I understand certain times are busy though, so would it be worth just booking all my bus\'s straight away, assuming how long i\'d want in each place? - I pretty much want to do it in the fastest time poss anyways, give or take a few days.
Really appreciate any help/opinions!
By Katie from Australia - 19 Jan 2009
Hi,
I have a couple of questions I hope you can help me with.
I´ve booked the Moe pass in february. I want to stay in Queenstown a couple of days longer than its \"included in the pass\". That means I need to book accomodation by my own, except from the first night, right? On the website your \"accomation deal\" is Base Queenstown, but at my travel itenerary it says Ì will be picked up from the hostel Aspen Lodge. Where will we live?
I will also spend a couple of days at Stewart Island. So I need to know what hostel we live at there too, so I can book some nights extra.
On my way back from Stewart Island it says in my travel itenerary that you will pick me up at Bluff Ferry Terminal at 09.00 AM (Sat. 21 Feb.). Does that mean I´ll take the ferry by my own and not with a new \"Moegang\" who spent the night at Stewart Island? And if so, is there a ferry going in that time in the morning so I will be in time for the pickup? (Cause I have read in a guidebook the ferry only goes three times a day.)
Thanks!
Jennie
By Jennie from Sweden - 17 Jan 2009
hi,
how old do i have to be to make a stray tour?
By lena from Germany - 15 Feb 2009
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