Stray New Zealand Far and Wide - Freestyle Travel Pass

Stray New Zealand Far and Wide - Freestyle Travel Pass

Travel to the furthest reaches of New Zealand, from Cape Reinga (where oceans collide!) at the northernmost point, to the remote and rugged Stewart Island in the south. Explore as much as you can. This is our biggest pass available year round. With up to 12 months to travel, hop on and off as much as you like! See more wildlife, stunning rainforests and beautiful beaches. Do more for local communities, wildlife conservation, and get further off the beaten track! This pass has it all.

Itinerary

Day 1: Auckland to Paihia

Stop At: Paihia Harbour, Paihia New Zealand
Depart Auckland northbound for the relaxed seaside town of Paihia, gateway to the beautiful Bay of Islands.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 2: Cape Reinga Day Trip

Stop At: Cape Reinga Rd., Cape Reinga New Zealand
Make the big day trip to the very top of the country! See the Tasman and Pacific Oceans clash at Cape Reinga, the northernmost point of New Zealand. Go sand surfing on some NZ’s biggest dunes, take a walk in a native kauri forest and see 90 Mile Beach. Return to Paihia.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 3: Paihia to Auckland

Stop At: Auckland Domain, Park Road, Auckland Central, Auckland New Zealand
Spend the morning further exploring Paihia. Opt to go skydiving or do the Hole in the Rock dolphin watching cruise, before we head back to the bright lights of Auckland in the afternoon.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 4: Auckland to Hahei

Stop At: Ocean Beach Road, Hot Water Beach New Zealand
Depart Auckland for two nights at pristine Hahei beach on the Coromandel Peninsula, renowned for its natural beauty. From here you can hike to world-famous Cathedral Cove, visit Hot Water Beach to dig your own spa bath in the sand, or opt to take a guided boat or kayak tour.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 5: Non Travel Day Hahei

Stop At: Cathedral Cove Walk, 65 Grange Rd S, Hahei 3591 New Zealand
You have a free day in Hahei to explore the sights at your own pace. Take a guided kayak to Cathedral Cove, walk the scenic track or relax on the beach.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 6: Hahei to Rotorua

Stop At: Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3007 New Zealand
We’ll check out a few local attractions as we drive towards Rotorua. Upon arrival in the afternoon, you’ll have time to explore Rotorua’s sights or opt for white water rafting!
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 7: Non Travel Day Rotorua

Stop At: Rotorua i-SITE Visitor Information Centre, 1167 Fenton Street, Rotorua 3007 New Zealand
Discover an area rich in Maori heritage, adventure activities and bubbling geothermal wonders. There is plenty to do here: go ziplining through native bush or zorbing, visit Hobbiton, Wai-o-tapu geothermal park, or take a truly unique guided jet boat adventure to bathe in a hot waterfall.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 8: Rotorua to Lake Aniwhenua

Stop At: Murupara School, 84 Pine Drive, Murupara 3079, New Zealand
Squeeze in one final Rotorua activity in the morning before we venture well off the beaten track to Lake Aniwhenua, a special immersive cultural experience you won’t find anywhere else.

See more: Meet a respected Maori Guide and view NZ’s oldest Maori rock carvings at a sacred archaeological site. Learn about Maori traditions, local history and enjoy a sumptuous feast of ‘Hangi’, cooked underground!

Do more: Leftover Hangi is packaged and delivered to community members in need. Sometimes it is donated to elderly people in the area or during the school term donations go to the children at the local school. Meet the children and participate in an inspirational program aimed at driving cross-cultural education in an otherwise isolated part of NZ.

Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 9: Lake Aniwhenua to Blue Duck Station (via Taupo)

Stop At: Lake Taupo, Taupo New Zealand
See the mighty Huka Falls and take your chance to skydive over Lake Taupo. Journey to one of the most remote parts of the North Island for a two-night stop in an unforgettable location. Blue Duck Station is a working high-country farm as well as an environmental conservation leader.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 10: Non Travel Day Blue Duck Station

Stop At: Whakahoro Camping Ground, Retaruke 3990, New Zealand
Today is yours to fill with any activity that takes your interest! Jump on a 4WD adventure tour to learn about the station’s interesting settlement history and current conservation efforts. Don your cowboy hat for a guided horse trek or kayak on the river through bush clad valleys and lush green hills.

See more: See the three peaks of Mount Ruapehu, Mount Tongariro, and Mount Ngauruhoe from ‘The Top of the World’, the highest point of the station.

Do more: Assist with the farm’s pest control efforts by going on a guided hunt and bring back dinner!

Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 11: Blue Duck Station to Raetihi (via Tongariro)

Stop At: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Off State Highway 48 Mangatepopo Valley, Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park New Zealand
Tick off a true NZ highlight by hiking the epic Tongariro Alpine Crossing, considered one of the world’s top one-day walks. Traverse volcanic peaks (including the real ‘Mt Doom’), see craters and turquoise lakes that you’ll remember for a lifetime. Recover from your hike in a cozy historic lodge in Raetihi, with friendly farm animals, a pamper room and spa bath with mountain views.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 12: Raetihi to Wellington

Stop At: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, 55 Cable St, Wellington 6011 New Zealand
Travel to the lively capital city, home to New Zealand’s parliament and the iconic Beehive building, as well as a thriving arts, craft beer and café culture scene and Te Papa National Museum.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 13: Wellington to Marahau (Abel Tasman)

Stop At: Abel Tasman Coast Track, Harvey Road, Marahau, Abel Tasman National Park 7010 New Zealand
Those in Wellington cruise across the Cook Strait and through the magnificent Marlborough Sounds, to meet the Stray group in Picton. 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 14: 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 15: 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
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 16: 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 and surrounding rainforest at your own pace. We highly recommend the heli-hike, which takes you up onto the glacier itself!
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 17: 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 18: Wanaka to Queenstown

Stop At: Queenstown Hill, Belfast Street, Queenstown 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 19: 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 20: 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.
Duration: 2 hours

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

Day 21: 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 22: Stewart Island/Invercargill 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 23: 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 24: 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 25: Rangitata to Christchurch

Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
Experience 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.

Day 26: 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 27: Kaikoura to Wellington (via 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, whilst those heading for the North Island board the ferry to cross the Cook Strait. Arriving in Wellington early evening, head out to explore the capital city’s funky nightlife scene.
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 28: Wellington to Auckland (via Raetihi)

Pass By: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Off State Highway 48 Mangatepopo Valley, Whakapapa Village, Tongariro National Park New Zealand
On the express journey back to Auckland we’ll stop in Raetihi to drop off those who wish to hop off for another chance to do the Tongariro Crossing. We arrive back in Auckland early evening. We hope you’ve had a blast on your Stray adventure!

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