Tours from Auckland - Unleash Adventure!
Welcome to Stray – Your gateway to experiencing New Zealand like never before. Starting your tour in Auckland opens up the door to unparalleled adventures, breathtaking landscapes, and a taste of the extraordinary.
Why Choose Our Tours from Auckland?
Small Group Tours
Start your journey from the vibrant city of Auckland with Stray Travel's small group tours of New Zealand. We aim to provide intimate and personalised travel experiences, you'll connect with like-minded individuals, forging lasting friendships while exploring the diverse wonders of New Zealand.
From Auckland City to the Southern Wonders – which tour to choose?
Getting a true taste of New Zealand's epic adventure means jumping aboard a full New Zealand tour of our country starting in Auckland. Whether you have 10 days or 24 days in our epic country, we have designed some mega road trips to get you inspired. To give you a little taster and a head start choosing the right tour, here are our top picks to help you narrow down your adventure.
Live Your Best Life or Crank up the Adventure?
There are two types of Stray travellers: the adventurous comfort lovers and the full-throttle adventure seekers.
Now let's get this straight… We all love a bit of comfort but if the energy & community vibe of hostel life is not your thing, we have the perfect choice of tour. Our Select tour range is designed specifically for our comfort lovers (we see you!). You stay in three to four-star accommodation to recharge your batteries at night, without compromising on the epic adventure during the day.
For our full-send adventure seekers, Stray’s Adventure Tours are the only choice to experience New Zealand backpacking at its best. Get amongst loads of great people and share the experience of a lifetime at some of New Zealand’s best hostels. It's the perfect option for the wallet as well as the storytelling.
How Far Do You Want to Go?
How far is far on a New Zealand tour? We might only have 5 million people (and 25 million sheep) but our country is like a supermodel… long and lean.
This country is blessed with endless incredible views and countless ways to get your adrenaline pumping, so it's hard to choose between places on the map. That's where we step in! We’ve specially concocted some killer trips to ensure your time here is the best. Here is our guide on picking the tour from Auckland that works best for you.
The Full On Kiwi Immersion: Both Islands of New Zealand Tours:
Commitment to Adventure: 18 to 24-day tours.
To get the full taste of everything this country has to offer, a head-to-toe adventure is the way ahead! That means exploring both the North and South Islands. From the big city vibe of Auckland in the north all the way to our deep south. We have a handful of options here so read on to work out what size fits.
The OG: The Kea Tour
Starting in a 24-day tour from Auckland City, think 24 days of full-on adventure around the entire country (well almost).
You land back in Auckland vibing after experiencing these beauties:
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Trekking across four volcanos
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Relaxing in at least five geothermal pools
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Living like a hobbit on a tour of the Hobbiton movie set
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Soaking up the sun on a minimum of three beaches
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Taking in the view around at least seven incredible lakes
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Filling your insta feed with content from three epic national parks
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Living it up in four of our best cities
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Two breathtaking boat trips and a canoe!
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Chase waterfalls, experience gorges and endless lush native forests
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Hiking a glacier (ice, ice baby!)
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Testing your adrenaline limits in the adventure capital of the world
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Stargazing up the largest mountain range in NZ
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The chance to see whales, dolphins, seals and penguins in their natural environment
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And part of our little UNESCO World Heritage gem - Milford South
Travel in Style: The Ruru Tour
North to South, East to West in style on the Ruru tour, one of our Select tours. It's 18 days of adventure and cultural immersion. This tour gives you the time to personalise your trip, with five free days along the route for you to go with the flow and make it your own.
Starting in Auckland you will experience:
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Your choice of adrenaline or self-care days in incredible destinations like Rotorua, Abel Tasman, Franz Josef, and Queenstown. Think soaking in a hot pool after breakfast and skydiving after lunch.
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Maori culture immersion, rich with history, storytelling, and bomb food.
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Relaxing in as many geothermal pools as you can fit in without missing your ride.
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A full-on authentic Maori cultural experience
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Immerse yourself into off-the-grid, sustainable living on a high country farm, dedicated to supporting the natural environment
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Relax taking in our oh-so-green landscape full of waterfalls, mountain gorges, and endless lush native forests on foot and the occasional cross-country cycle.
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Take in the countless incredible views and trek through three of our best national parks - one of them featuring not one but three active volcanoes!
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Live it up in our most vibey cities one day, whilst the next counting stars by a campfire (it's giving versatile!).
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Testing your adrenaline limits in the adventure capital of the world
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Stargazing up the largest mountain range in NZ
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Experience part of our little UNESCO World Heritage gem - by cruising through the Milford South.
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The chance to see dolphins, seals, and penguins in their natural environment.
The Short & Sweet Tours from Auckland
Commitment to Adventure: 8 to 11 days
Should your time on our shores be limited, we have some gems for you that still pack a punch. You have two choices:
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Adventure Tour: Get your geothermal on in your North Island adventure ending in Wellington.
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Select Tour: Explore from Auckland to Christchurch in style (and an epic train ride!)
Hihi North Island Tour - Adventure, ready, set, GO!!
Start your 10-day tour of the North Island off with a bang! Or at least a volcano… our North Land Adventure tour follows the same epic route southwards to Wellington as our legendary Kea tour.
The biggest buzz on this tour from Auckland are:
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Watching the sunrise on Hahei beach and soaking in the DIY hot pools on Hot Water Beach
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A tour of the Hobbiton movie set
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A fun-filled day and night in Roto-Vegas - our geothermal, adrenaline pumping North Island playground
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A full-on Maori cultural immersion experience
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As many soaks in hot pools as you can fit in without being left behind…
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Bush walks through gorges, native forests and waterfalls as well as an epic trek through Tongariro National Park
By the time you get to Wellington, be ready for some big city vibes and the rest is all up to you. Wellington has an international airport and is the gateway to the South Island. If you still have the travel bug and are left wanting more, it's surely just a simple email to the boss saying you’ll be back in two more weeks.... right?
The Kereru - Auckland to Christchurch Tour
For our comfort-loving Stray travellers, the Kereru tour features some of the sweetest bits of our Ruru journey. Throughout your time travelling from Auckland to Abel Tasman, our tours give you time to ground or to push your limits.
Our 11-day North to South Island tour features:
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Your choice of adrenaline or self-care days in Rotorua and Abel Tasman. From hot pools and geysers to incredible walks to adrenaline sports.
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The Lord of the Rings experience at Hobbiton along the way.
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Maori culture immersion, rich with history, storytelling, and delish food.
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Off-the-grid, sustainable living on a high country farm dedicated to supporting the natural environment
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Green, awe-inspiring landscapes full of waterfalls, mountain gorges, and endless lush native forests on foot and the occasional cross-country cycle.
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Beaches that will fill your camera roll!
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Treks through two of our best national parks - one of them featuring not one but three active volcanoes
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Live it up in vibey cities one day, whilst the next counting stars by a campfire.
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And one total gem - the TranzAlpine train through gorges, rivers, and mountains to our final destination Christchurch
Only Got Eight Days? We Have You Covered!
If you are even shorter on time, wave goodbye to your new mates when you get to Wellington after 8 days on our Pukeko tour. Same legendary North Island adventure, minus the Abel Tasman and TranzAlpine delights!!
Auckland Day tours
If you are waiting to start your small group tour or have a couple of days to kill after arriving back here is our go-to of day tours from Auckland city.
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From Downtown Auckland you can jump on a ferry to Waiheke Island for a wine-lovers tour of some great wineries. The island has a lovely warm climate and its perfect for sipping something special and enjoying a vineyard lunch.
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Also from Downtown Auckland there are a multitude of other ferries to the Coromandel peninsula, Auckland's North Shore beaches and Rangitoto Island (the dormant volcano in the middle of the harbour)
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Just a couple of hours drive south of Auckland is the Waitomo glowworm caves. This full day tour through the Waikato to the Waitomo caves can also be combined with a visit to the Hobbiton movie set- and for the most adventurous try black water rafting.
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Auckland's West Coast is a surfers paradise with beaches like Piha fully kitted for that spontaneous surf. There are many exceptional bush walks in the west as well for nature lovers
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If you have a little more time take a couple of days to relax in the Bay of Islands - here you can enjoy day trips to the Waitangi treaty grounds, and the famous Hole in the Rock cruise.
Why the #StrayWay?
With Stray Travel, you won't just explore the landscapes; you'll also immerse yourself in the rich culture of New Zealand, guided by the friendly locals who call this place home.
Our guides know the secret places and local people to connect you to, and always love taking our guests off the beaten track.
Your Adventure Awaits
Whether you're a thrill-seeker, nature enthusiast, or cultural explorer, the #StrayWay guarantees an authentic and unforgettable Kiwi adventure.
Book your Stray Travel experience today, starting from Auckland, and discover New Zealand in a way that's as unique as you are. Embrace the extraordinary with Stray – Where Adventure Knows No Bounds!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start a Stray Travel tour from a city other than Auckland?
Yes, you can start a Stray Travel tour from a city other than Auckland, such as Christchurch, Wellington or Picton, providing flexibility to your travel plans.
What kind of accommodations can I expect on the North Island tours?
You can expect a range of accommodations on Stray Travel tours, including 3-4 star hotels, picturesque lodges near waterfronts or national parks, and options for single occupancy upgrades, all ensuring a comfortable journey. We have two types of tours Select and Adventure. Select tours are centred around our creatures of comfort including all those 3-4 star stays along the way.
If you're up for maximum traveller experience our Adventure tours get you right into the heart of our backpacking community staying at hostels along the way.
How does Stray Travel handle unpredictable weather during tours?
Stray Travel handles unpredictable weather during tours by designing flexible itineraries that can accommodate changes and offering a mix of activities to ensure a great experience, regardless of the weather!
Are Stray Travel tours suitable for solo travelers?
Absolutely! Stray Travel tours are perfect for solo travelers who want to meet new friends and explore New Zealand in a small group setting. It'sa great way to socialize and make the most of your adventure!