18 Day Ruru Tour | Auckland to Christchurch | Stray Highlights
- Get up to 10% cash back when you book with us
- 17 nights high-quality twin share rooms
- Meals: 17x breakfast, 1x lunch, 4x dinner
- Visit the geothermal magic, Geyser by Night, in the dark within Te Puia
- Cycle the Old Coach Road Heritage Trail for incredible scenery and NZ history
- Jump on the high country 4WD Eco Safari in remote Blue Duck Station
- Immerse yourself in NZ 'Must Do' - Milford Sound Day Trip including a scenic road trip and cruise in Fiordland National Park
- Travel by private, air-conditioned bus
- Knowledgeable English-speaking guide
Want to secure your spot on this adventure with a low deposit from only $400 per person? Contact us or send us a chat to find out how!
What's Excluded
What to Expect
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 10% Cashback Deal?
What is the 10% Cashback Deal?
You score up to 10% of your purchase value emailed to you as a one time code to use on your next adventure!
What is the accommodation like?
What is the accommodation like?
You'll stay in comfy 3-4 star hotels for most of nights and high country farm or scenic lodges close to waterfront or national park in our unique destinations. Hotel rooms are with ensuite, while shared facilities are in Strademark places. Upgrade to solo occupancy may be possible and subject to availability.
Is there an option to just pay a deposit to hold the spot?
Is there an option to just pay a deposit to hold the spot?
Yes! Please contact our helpful support team on support@backpackerdeals.com or see our live chat!
Who travels with Stray?
Who travels with Stray?
Stray attracts adventurous travellers from all corners of the globe with the majority from the UK, Europe and America. When we say “adventurous”, we don’t mean we expect you to do a bungy jump or even a 10 mile hike… but an open mind and a thirst for exploration is important! 75% of our travellers are travelling solo and some travel as part of a couple or group of friends.
What is the average age of Stray passengers?
What is the average age of Stray passengers?
Most travellers on our tours are aged between 20 and 50 although we have no maximum age because we believe age doesn't matter - it's all about attitude!
Is it okay to travel alone?
Is it okay to travel alone?
Absolutely! A lot of our travellers arrive alone, around 75% of our travellers are travelling solo, others are with friends or partners. It doesn’t matter because by the end of day one you have already made a great group of friends on the bus! (“Meeting liked-minded travellers” frequently is rated in the top 5 reasons to travel with us.)
Will there be wifi on the bus?
Will there be wifi on the bus?
No we don’t have Wi-Fi on our buses for a couple of reasons:
- It doesn’t work everywhere we travel so we could offer it but you still couldn’t access it everywhere and at a decent speed (that’s the same for other bus companies who promote they offer it).
- It discourages actual human connection. Share stories and make friends, be in the 'now'! This way your experience becomes even more memorable.
We recommend checking in with your mobile provider before you leave home to ensure that your device is internationally unlocked. That way you can pick up a local sim card when you arrive.
Prepaid SimCards with data plans provide faster and better coverage and data packages are flexible and affordable.
Will we be travelling everyday?
Will we be travelling everyday?
Not every day is a travel day. Our itineraries include non-travel days in a few locations along the way so you have time to do activities and explore each of these areas further (or of course just relax by the pool/beach/lake!)
What should I bring?
What should I bring?
You should bring a backpack or small/medium suitcase (up to 15kg) filled with…
- Your clothes with at least one warm jumper and a pair of trousers.
- Swimsuit / Towel
- Bug repellent
- Reef Safe Sunblock / Hat
- Day pack
- Water bottle
- Waterproof jacket (shell)
- Walking shoes/trainers
- Sarong/shawl
In winter (May - September) we also suggest packing a warm hat, jacket and light thermals or clothes you can layer, particularly for the South Island of New Zealand where it gets very cold.
You won’t be needing…
- Sleeping bag
- Pillow
- Blankets or sheets
Do I bring a suitcase or backpack?
Do I bring a suitcase or backpack?
Either is fine, it’s up to you! We ask that you bring only one main piece of luggage (backpack/suitcase) and a day pack.
We suggest travelling with around 23kgs of luggage. You'll only ever have to transport your luggage short distances but you need to be able to manage this yourself. If you are going to be travelling with a lot more than 23kg, then please let us know.
Do I need travel insurance?
Do I need travel insurance?
Travel Insurance is required when travelling with Stray. Your policy should cover you in case you get sick (COVID-19 or otherwise), lose an item(s) or miss your tour. We recommend reviewing your policy to make sure it has the applicable cover required including covid related claims.
We recommend looking at Allianz Insurance, but any insurance provider, as long as they cover for loss, accident, tour cancellations and medical is fine.
Are private rooms available?
Are private rooms available?
Stray carefully selects quality places as our accommodations included, no matter which is a hotel, resort, lodge, farming station or backpacker. This means our accommodations are popular and easy to be booked out by the time you travelling.
If you're a solo traveller and considering to have your own private rooms during the whole trip, or worrying about being paired up with a unknown stranger that might impact your travel experience, we would highly recommend you secure the private rooms at the time of booking.
Please note: Stray cannot guarantee room upgrade within 31 days of each departure. All requests will be subject to availability. If you wish to upgrade rooms after the trip starts, please ask accommodations at check in. You can be upgraded based on the availability and pay for the difference directly with the accommodations.
Is there internet at the accommodation?
Is there internet at the accommodation?
Yes, most places offer wifi. Some places offer it for free, others charge a small fee.
Do you have any pre or post accommodation recommendations that are close to the pickup locations?
Do you have any pre or post accommodation recommendations that are close to the pickup locations?
Sure, we do. In Auckland CBD, we recommend the 3 hotels below, about 5-10 minute walk to Stray pickup:
- Crowne Plaza Auckland (128 Albert St)
- The Grand by SkyCity (90 Federal St)
- President Hotel Auckland (27-35 Victoria St West)
- CityLife Auckland Hotel (15-25 Durham St West)
In Christchurch Central, we would recommend the below:
- Bealey Quarter (263 Bealey Avenue) - Stray groups stay here
- Salerno Motel Apartments (148 Bealey Avenue)
- The Salisbury Business Class (345 Madras St)
- Rydges Latimer Christchurch Hotel (30 Latimer Square)
How do I book activities?
How do I book activities?
There is so much to do! Feel free to ask your Guides for their personal recommendations.
New Zealand & Australia: You can book and pay for any activities as you go, through your Guide on tour.
How much should I budget for?
How much should I budget for?
Accommodation, some meals and the ferry are all included so you just need to worry about your additional activities and other meals.
Food: this comes down to you, so anywhere between $20 and 100 per day! We stop at supermarkets but there’s (almost) always an option to visit a restaurant or local café. If you’re lucky our drivers have even been known to cook a very impressive BBQ/spaghetti bolognese/roast/chocolate cake.
Activities: these vary wildly, from $25 to visit a museum to $399 to jump out of a plane!
Do I need cash?
Do I need cash?
You will find that New Zealanders barely ever carry cash, as 99% of shops, restaurants and even taxis will accept debit cards. However they won't always accept credit cards and it’s handy to always carry $50-100 to cover you for circumstances.
Europeans, please bear in mind that you'll need a MasterCard or Visa debit or credit card to be able to pay in shops. A Maestro Card isn't accepted in shops in New Zealand as it uses a different payment system in the back-end. However, you can use your Maestro Card to get cash from ATMs, just make sure you have set it to worldwide usage..
Do I need a visa?
Do I need a visa?
Most visitors to New Zealand need a visa or an NZeTA (New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority).
All visitors to New Zealand must carry a passport that is valid for at least three months beyond the date you intend to leave the country.
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Policies
A Refundable Booking is available at checkout. This will provide 100% refund for one of the many reasons included via our terms - including adverse weather, sickness or delays with transport.
All customer cancellation & refund requests are also subject to our website’s own refund conditions.