Stray New Zealand Big South - Freestyle Travel Pass

Stray New Zealand Big South - Freestyle Travel Pass

Explore the entire South Island in a loop. From the wild and beautiful landscapes of the Far South to the sunny golden shores of the Abel Tasman National Park, you’ve got the South Island covered! You'll see highlights like Milford Sound and Franz Josef glacier, as well as getting off the beaten track and seeing some untouched parts of NZ. With up to 12 months to travel, we encourage you to hop off and explore the places you love, and hop back on when you're ready to keep going!

Itinerary

Day 1: Christchurch to Kaikoura

Stop At: Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway, 40 Fyffe Quay West End, Kaikoura 7300 New Zealand
Depart Christchurch northbound for the picturesque coastal town of Kaikoura, famous for being a marine mecca. Here you can go whale watching, dolphin spotting, see Kekeno (NZ Fur Seals) or go fishing for tasty Blue Cod with a local fisherman.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 2: Kaikoura to Picton

Stop At: Picton Sound, Picton New Zealand
Walk the Queen Charlotte Sound View track in Picton. South Island Freestyle passes spend the night in Picton, so you can relax and soak up the views of the Cook Strait and surrounding sounds.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 3: Picton to Marahau (Abel Tasman)

Stop At: Abel Tasman Coast Track, Harvey Road, Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park 7010 New Zealand
Next stop: two nights in Marahau, right on the edge of the spectacular Abel Tasman National Park.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 4: Non Travel Day Marahau

Stop At: Abel Tasman Coast Track, Harvey Road, Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park 7010 New Zealand
Spend a full day exploring this stunning coastal region on foot, by sea or from the air. Hike, kayak, sail or take a water taxi to get a taste of the park’s natural golden sand beaches and brilliant blue waters.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 5: Marahau to Franz Josef

Stop At: Franz Josef Glacier, Glacier Access Road Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef, Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu) New Zealand
Josef A breathtakingly scenic drive down the ‘wild’ West Coast takes us along untamed coastline. Stop to visit the naturally formed Pancake Rocks and blowholes and historic mining towns, before arriving in Franz Josef, a quaint alpine town, home to the Franz Josef Glacier!
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 6: Non Travel Day Franz Josef

Stop At: Franz Josef Glacier, Glacier Access Road Westland Tai Poutini National Park, Franz Josef, Westland National Park (Te Wahipounamu) New Zealand
Enjoy a free day to explore the glacier.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 7: Franz Josef to Wanaka (via Fox Glacier)

Stop At: Wanaka New Zealand
Can’t get enough of glaciers? Hop off at nearby Fox Glacier or continue with the group to Wanaka. We’ll make a few stops along the way to see some regions most scenic spots: the amazing mirror-like Lake Matheson, Thunder Creek Falls and the Blue Pools.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 8: Wanaka to Queenstown

Stop At: Kawarau River, New Zealand
Kick start your day in with a brisk hike, an early morning skydive or learn to fly a stunt plane over Wanaka. Before arriving in Queenstown we’ll stop at Kawarau Bridge, the world’s first commercial bungy jump site, for your chance to take the big leap of faith!
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 9: Non Travel Day Queenstown

Stop At: Queenstown Hill, Belfast Street, Queenstown New Zealand
Enjoy two nights in the ‘Adventure Capital of the World’ and pack in as many adrenaline activities as you dare! Queenstown is also known for great nightlife any night of the week, with plenty of excellent restaurants, pubs and live music to check out.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 10: Queenstown to Gunn's Camp (via Milford Sound)

Stop At: Milford Sound, Te Anau, Fiordland National Park 9679 New Zealand
Milford Sound is one of NZ’s most famous destinations, sometimes referred to as the ‘Eighth Wonder of the World’. Take an afternoon boat cruise around Milford Sound to soak up this jaw dropping untouched world. Look out for native seals, penguins and dolphins.

See more: Stay in a historic camp in the Hollyford Valley, created for the hardy men who built the roads here. Enjoy an evening under the stars, spot glow-worms in the bush and listen for kiwi bird calls in the night.

Duration: 2 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 11: Gunn's Camp to Invercargill/Stewart Island

Stop At: Stewart Island Backpackers, 18 Ayr Street, Stewart Island 9818, New Zealand
We’ll travel ‘Down Low’ to the very bottom of the country. You have the option to stay on the mainland in Invercargill or take a ferry to Stewart Island, New Zealand’s third largest island, known for its native birdlife. It could be your best chance to see a kiwi bird in the wild!

See more: When the solar winds are right, between March – September, you might be lucky enough to see the Aurora Australis (the Southern Lights)!

Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 12: Invercargill/Stewart Island to Queenstown

Stop At: Queenstown Hill, Belfast Street, Queenstown New Zealand
Spend the morning exploring the island before catching the afternoon ferry back to the mainland. Reunite with those who stayed in Invercargill and swap stories on the express trip back to Queenstown.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 13: Queenstown to Aoraki/Mount Cook

Stop At: Aoraki Mount Cook National Park Visitor Centre, 1 Larch Grove, Mt. Cook Village, Aoraki Mount Cook National Park (Te Wahipounamu) 7999 New Zealand
Mount Cook is a hiker’s paradise and a South Island highlight! Choose from a range of tracks in the gorgeous Hooker Valley with outstanding views of NZ’s tallest mountain. As it grows dark, head outside for some of the country’s best stargazing.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 14: Aoraki/Mount Cook to Rangitata (via Tekapo)

Stop At: Rangitata Rafts, 53 Waikari Road, Peel Forest 7992, New Zealand
Travel through landscapes made famous by the ‘Lord of the Rings’ films. Visit Lake Tekapo, a favourite photo stop, then arrive in Rangitata, Peel Forest in the afternoon. In summer there is the option for a top-notch Grade 5 white water rafting experience on the Rangitata River.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.

Day 15: Rangitata to Christchurch

Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
Finish your Stray adventure in a city where old meets new as Christchurch continues to rebuild after the devastating 2011 earthquake. Wander the laneways, discover creative street art and see New Zealand’s most modern architecture alongside some of its oldest buildings.
Duration: 12 hours

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.