Transport > New Zealand & Pacific Islands > New Zealand > Bus and coach travel > Backpackers coaches > Stray Bus
Stray Bus
Stray Travel (tel (03) 309 8772) is the newest of the three big backpacker coach companies and they have the newest fleet. They have an excellent coverage of the South Island including the Catlins and Milford Sound on their standard passes (other backpacker coach operators sell these as an additional add-on pass). However they miss out on Mount Cook and their coverage of the North Island is more limited, for instance they do not go to Hawkes Bay or the Taranaki region; but they include Raglan, which the other coach companies miss out on.
Stray have an emphasis on active outdoor activities such as walking and spotting wildlife, so they may not be the best option if this isn’t your thing.
Like Kiwi Experience, Stray’s passes have cute names that don’t give you any clue where they go. The ferry between Wellington and Picton is not included in Stray passes.
National passes
Passes covering both North and South Islands include:
Arthur
The Arthur pass includes the bottom half of the South Island including Christchurch, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Queenstown and the Catlins; it also includes Kaikoura and Picton plus Wellington and Auckland in the North Island. You can upgrade to the TranzAlpine train over Arthurs Pass for an additional $85.
Start Christchurch; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Curio Bay, Kaikoura, Makarora, Queenstown, Tuatapere and Wellington
Price $950
Minimum trip 15 days
Short Arthur
The Short Arthur pass is basically the same as the Arthur Pass but with travel only as far south as Queenstown. It includes Christchurch, Greymouth, Franz Josef, Queenstown, Kaikoura and Picton on the South Island plus Wellington and Auckland in the North Island. You can upgrade to the TranzAlpine train over Arthurs Pass for an additional $85.
Start Christchurch; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Auckland, Christchurch, Curio Bay, Kaikoura, Makarora, Queenstown, Tuatapere and Wellington
Price $675
Minimum trip 10 days
Bret
Bret covers all the South Island, plus Wellington and the central North Island. The pass includes Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, the west coast between Westport and Haast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill, through the Catlins to Dunedin, then up the east coast and across to the North Island. On the North Island, it covers travel from Wellington to Taupo, Raglan, Waitomo, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua and Auckland.
Start Christchurch; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, cultural stop (north of Rotorua), Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Hahei, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Picton, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Te Anau, Wellington
Price $1125
Minimum trip 25 days
Short Bret
This pass covers covers the South Island north of Queenstown and the central North Island. Destinations include Christchurch, Kaikoura, Picton, Nelson, Abel Tasman National park, the west coast between Westport and Haast, Wanaka and Queenstown in the South Island. On the North Island it covers travel from Wellington to Auckland stopping at Taupo, Rotorua, Raglan and the Waitomo Caves.
Start Christchurch; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Barrytown, Franz Josef, Hahei, Makarora, Maketu, Marahau, Picton, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo and Wellington
Price $850
Minimum trip 20 days
Dave
Dave includes all the South Island, plus the drive between Wellington and Auckland on the North Island.
Start Christchurch or Picton; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Picton, Queenstown, Te Anau, Wellington
Price $905
Minimum trip 20 days ex Christchurch, 18 days ex Picton
Short Dave
The Short Dave pass is similar to the Dave pass except it doesn’t include the bottom of the South Island. It goes to destinations on the South Island north of Queenstown and on the North Island includes the direct route between Wellington and Auckland.
Start Christchurch or Picton; finish Auckland
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Picton, Queenstown, Wellington
Price $630
Minimum trip 15 days ex Christchurch, 13 days ex Picton
Max
Max is a very extensive pass that goes to all Stray destinations south of Auckland.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, cultural stop (north of Rotorua), Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Hahei, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Ohakune, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Te Anau, Wellington
Price $1200
Minimum trip 24 days
Short Max
Short Max is similar to the Max pass, but it doesn’t go any further south than Queenstown. In other words it goes to all Stray destinations between Auckland and Queenstown.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Hahei, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Ohakune, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Wellington
Price $925
Minimum trip 19 days
Maximus
The Maximus pass is Stray’s most extensive year-round pass. It includes travel throughout the North and South Islands from Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island to Invercargill at the bottom of the South Island.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Curio Bay, Franz Josef, Hahei, Kaikoura, Makarora, Maketu, Marahau, Paihia, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Tuatapere and Wellington
Price $1375
Minimum trip 28 days
Moe
Moe covers the North Island between Auckland and Wellington with stops at Raglan, Waitomo, Hahei, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro National Park. On the South Island, it covers transport from Picton to Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, the west coast between Westport and Haast, plus Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill, through the Catlins to Dunedin and up to Christchurch.
Start Auckland; finish Christchurch
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Maketu, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Hahei, Invercargill, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Ohakune, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Te Anau, Wellington
Price $1050
Minimum trip 21 days
Short Moe
Moe covers the North Island between Auckland and Wellington with stops at Raglan, Waitomo, Hahei, Rotorua, Taupo, Tongariro National Park. On the South Island, it covers transport from Picton to Nelson, Abel Tasman National Park, the west coast between Westport and Haast, plus Wanaka, Queenstown, Te Anau, Milford Sound, Invercargill, through the Catlins to Dunedin and up to Christchurch.
Start Auckland, finish Christchurch
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Maketu, Dunedin, Franz Josef, Haast, Hahei, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Ohakune, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Wellington
Price $775
Minimum trip 16 days
Stray Everywhere
The Stray Everywhere pass is Stray’s most extensive pass but it only operates during summer. It goes everywhere that the Maximus pass goes with thye addition of the East Cape.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Auckland, Barrytown, Christchurch, Curio Bay, Franz Josef, Hahei, Gisborne, Kaikoura, Makarora, Maketu, Maraehako Bay, Marahau, Paihia, Queenstown, Raglan, Taupo, Tongariro National Park, Tuatapere and Wellington
Price $ 1614
Minimum trip 31 days
North Island passes
Passes covering the North Island only include:
Go East
This add-on pass can be added to any other pass that goes through Rotorua. Go East and goes to the East Cape and Gisborne. It only operates during summer.
Start/finish Rotorua
Overnight stops Hicks Bay, Rotorua, Tatapouri
Price $295
Minimum trip 3 days
Jackson
Jackson is an excursion from Auckland to Paihia in the Bay of Islands.
Start/finish Auckland
Price $105 ($90 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 1 day
Jill
This pass covers most major destinations between Auckland and Wellington including stops at Raglan, Waitomo, Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Taupo, Ohakune and Wellington.
Start/finish Auckland
Overnight stops Hahei, Maketu, Ohakune, Raglan, Taupo
Price $465 ($435 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 7 days
Patch
This excursion to the Northland region visits Whangarei, Paihia in the Bay of Islands, Kiatia and includes a drive on the 90 Mile Beach to Cape Reinga at the tip of the North Island.
Start/finish Auckland
Overnight stop Paihia
Price $195 ($180 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 3 days
Peter
This pass visits Raglan, Waitomo, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Taupo and Ohakune (near Tongariro National Park). From Ohakune you have the option of taking an express coach to Wellington or back to Auckland.
Start Auckland; finish Auckland or Wellington
Overnight stops Hahei, Maketu, Ohakune, Raglan, Taupo
Price $360 ($345 HI/YHA, ISIC, VIP)
Minimum trip 6 days
Tom
This pass covers the central North Island including Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula, Rotorua, Taupo, Raglan and Waitomo.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Auckland, Hahei, Maketu, Raglan, Taupo
Price $285 ($270 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 5 days
South Island passes
Passes covering the South Island only include:
Burt
The Burt pass focuses on the bottom part of the South Island and includes Queenstown, Milford Sound, Invercargill and the Catlins.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Price $315
Minimum trip 3 days
Q
The Q pass covers travel on the southern half of the South Island. It includes an express coach across Arthurs Pass to Barrytown on the West Coast and then travels down the coast to Wanaka and Queenstown, to Te Anau (with an excursion to Milford Sound), down to Invercargill, through the Catlins and back up to Christchurch. You can upgrade to the TranzAlpine train over Arthurs Pass for an additional $85.
Start/finish Christchurch
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast, Invercargill, Queenstown and Te Anau
Price $740
Minimum trip 12 days
Short Q
The Short Q pass is the same as the Q pass, but without any travel south of Queenstown. It includes an express coach across Arthurs Pass to Barrytown on the West Coast and then travels down the coast to Wanaka and Queenstown and then heads back up to Christchurch. You can upgrade to the TranzAlpine train over Arthurs Pass for an additional $85.
Start/finish Christchurch
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast and Queenstown
Price $465 ($450 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 12 days
Ron
Ron includes both the east and west coasts and covers the whole South Island including Nelson and Abel Tasman National Park, the west coast between Westport and Haast, Wanaka, Queenstown, Milford Sound, the Catlins and Christchurch.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast, Invercargill, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Queenstown, Picton and Te Anau
Price $835
Minimum trip 17 days
Short Ron
The Short Ron pass goes everywhere that Ron goes except the north east coast between Christchurch and Picton. In other words it covers all the South Island except Kaikoura.
Start Picton; finish Christchurch
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast, Invercargill, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Queenstown, Picton and Te Anau
Price $780
Minimum trip 15 days
Sally
Sally starts in Queenstown and includes Milford Sound, Te Anau, Invercargill and then travels through the Catlins to Dunedin and back to Queenstown and up to Christchurch.
Start Queenstown; finish Christchurch.
Overnight stops Dunedin, Invercargill, Te Anau
Price $375 ($360 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 5 days
Willy
This pass includes the east coast of the South Island between Christchurch and Picton, then heads to Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park and down the west coast to Wanaka and Queenstown with an express coach between Queenstown and Christchurch.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast, Kaikoura, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Queenstown and Picton
Price $535 ($500 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 12 days
Short Willy
This pass starts in Picton and heads to Nelson and the Abel Tasman National Park and down the west coast to Wanaka and Queenstown with an express coach between Queenstown and Christchurch. It is basically the Willy pass without Kaikoura.
Start anywhere; finish where you started
Overnight stops Barrytown, Christchurch, Franz Josef, Haast, Marahau (Abel Tasman National Park), Queenstown and Picton
Prices $495 ($480 HI/YHA, Nomads, VIP)
Minimum trip 10 days
