Stray New Zealand North to South - Freestyle Travel Pass

Stray New Zealand North to South - Freestyle Travel Pass

If you want to visit both islands and get a real New Zealand experience, but you don’t need to return to Auckland, the North to South will take you from Auckland to Christchurch on the most epic route possible! You’ll bounce between iconic destinations, stunning remote spots and places you’ll never forget. With 12 months to travel, we encourage you to hop on and off in your favourite places, and explore more of the places you love!

Add on the Far North, Deep South or Waves & Caves to see even more!

Itinerary

Day 1: 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 2: Non Travel Day Hahei

Stop At: Cathedral Cove Walk, 65 Grange Rd S, Hahei 3591 New Zealand
Today is yours to explore this beach paradise at your own pace!
Duration: 12 hours

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

Day 3: 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 4: 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 5: 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 6: Lake Aniwhenua to Blue Duck Station (via Taupo)

Stop At: Lake Taupo, Taupo Marina 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 7: Non Travel Day Blue Duck Station

Stop At: Whakahoro Camping Ground, Retaruke 3990, New Zealand
Today is yours to explore this high country farm. 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 8: 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 9: 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 10: 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 11: 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 12: 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 13: 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 14: 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 15: 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 16: 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 17: 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 18: 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 19: Rangitata to Christchurch

Stop At: Christchurch Cathedral, Cathedral Square, Christchurch New Zealand
Finish your journey 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. We hope you had a blast on your Stray adventure!
Duration: 12 hours

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