Day 1: Christchurch to Franz Josef (via Greymouth)
You’ll start your Stray trip, crossing the beautiful Southern Alps on route to the West Coast town of Greymouth to meet up with your Driver Guide and group. From here you’ll continue on with the Stray group to the town of Franz Josef, home of the mighty Franz Josef Glacier. Your Southern Alps transfer will be on the Atomic Shuttle Bus, unless you've opted to upgrade to the highly regarded TranzAlpine Scenic Train.
Please contact the Stray office at least 48 hours before departure to confirm your transfer details and departure times.
Day 2: Franz Josef
Enjoy a free day to get out and experience the Franz Josef Glacier, a true highlight of the West Coast. The best way to navigate the maze of ice and explore the incredible landscape on the Franz Josef Glacier is with a guided tour, which always ranks as a favourite activity amongst Stray travellers. Other options include visiting the glacial terminal face for some spectacular photos or one of the many excellent bush hikes in the region.
Day 3: Franz Josef to Wanaka
Its time to leave the West Coast behind - we stop in the morning for hostel pick-ups at Fox Glacier before heading to the amazing mirror-like Lake Matheson. Well travel inland through the mountainous Haast Pass and Makarora towards Wanaka. This is one of the most scenic drives youll ever do and well stop for plenty of photo ops as we drive from rainforests to mountains, through beech forest and past great lakes. Well pass by the beautiful Lake Hawea and arrive in Wanaka late-afternoon in time to enjoy this picturesque lakeside town.
Day 4: Wanaka to Queenstown
Kick start your day with a brisk walk up Mt Iron, an early morning skydive or learn to fly a stunt plane over Wanaka. At mid-morning well pack up and make our way to Queenstown, known in New Zealand as the Adventure Capital of the World and the spiritual home of bungy jumping. We stop on our way into town at Kawarau Bridge, the first commercial bungy jumping site in the world, for your chance to take the big leap of faith. Queenstown offers an optional big (make that huge!) night out with plenty of excellent restaurants, pubs and live music to check out.
Day 5: Queenstown
You need at least one free day in Queenstown to make the most of the wide range of activities on offer. With a buzzy night life, beautiful mountain scenery and an exciting outdoor lifestyle, its easy to understand why Stray passengers often hop off here to spend extra time exploring. Options include: bungy or swing, zipline tours, canyoning, jet boating, skiing, skydiving, local bush walks, or just enjoy the stunning scenery and do nothing.
Day 6: Queenstown to Aoraki/ Mt Cook
Today we head over the Lindis Pass through the beautiful Mackenzie Country and past picturesque Lake Pukaki on the way to our amazing stop at the base of New Zealands highest mountain, Aoraki/Mt Cook. We arrive in the early afternoon with time to do a 4WD & Argo Tour, check out the Sir Edmund Hillary Alpine Centre or do one of the many great short walks in the park. If you want to hop off the bus for a few days there are some incredible longer walks you can do (wed recommend leaving climbing Mt Cook to the experienced mountaineers though).
Day 7: Mt Cook (via Tekapo) to Rangitata
Leaving Mt Cook, we make our way through a landscape made famous in the Lord of the Rings films. We’ll stop to admire the turquoise waters of Lake Tekapo and the Church of the Good Shepherd – a famous photo stop. Relax in the Tekapo hot pools, go snow tubing or ice skating (winter only) or hike up to the Mt John observatory where you’ll witness stunning views of the lake from above. After lunch, we will continue to our overnight stop in Rangitata Peel Forest. Tonight, we’ll stay in one of Canterbury’s original sheep stations. Optional paid activities:Tekapo Hot Springs, Ice skating (April-Sept), Snow tubing (June-Sept) Free activities: Visit Lake Tekapo, Mt John observatory walk, Rangitata forest walks
Day 8: Rangitata to Christchurch
This morning, you will have the opportunity to sign up to a top-notch grade 5 white water rafting experience on Rangitata River, nestled under the foot of the Southern Alps or to explore the stunning Peel Forest scenery on horseback. Today marks the end of your Stray trip as we arrive in Christchurch - a city where old meets new, as an enormous rebuild continues following the devastating 2011 Earthquake. You will find some of New Zealand’s most modern architecture nestled next to some of the oldest with streets and lanes decorated in creative street art intended to bring cheer and colour to a city once buried in rubble. If you have free time in Christchurch, you can explore the city or get involved in one of the activities on offer. We hope you had a blast on your Stray adventure! Optional paid activities: Rangitata rafting, horse trekking Free activities: Explore Christchurch by foot check out the Cardboard Cathedral and inner-city street art
