Stray Passengers Find Love on the Bus

We always like to hear that our travellers had a fantastic time with us and made heaps of friends! But finding the love of your life on the bus is truly special. Here’s an email we received this week… Congrats guys!

Hello Stray…. Five years ago I was travelling around Australia and New Zealand with my two Dutch (me Dutch as well!) friends. In New Zealand, we decided to travel and explore the islands by Stray. This turned out to be the best decision of my life!!

Ben and Diane

The group we met on the bus was from all over the world and they were all great people. We were driven by Sandy, Lucky and another guy (sorry can’t remember his name, he drove us on the south circle to Invercargill). We did all the activities we could do and had a party every night.

We had such an amazing time! Among them was Ben Sharples and after a holiday love on the Stray bus, we decided that we wanted to keep seeing each other. So Ben moved to The Netherlands for me and after three and a half years he proposed to me! Last August the 30th we got married in Gouda, The Netherlands. We since have moved to the UK (where Ben is from) and are very happy together!

Quite often we say “what if we didn’t get on that Stray bus?”, so we thank you so very much for bringing us together! We hope to return one day to beautiful New Zealand!!

With love,

Diane Sharples- van der Hoeven

Getting married!
Getting married!

Vegas

With the group whilst in Barrytown with Stray!
Fancy dress with the Stray group whilst in Barrytown!
Raglan
Diane and Ben’s Stray group at Raglan
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Travel Mate (guest blogger)

Have you travelled on a Stray tour in New Zealand, Australia or Asia? How about creating a blog post about your experience? Or are you a frequent traveller and want to add your travel knowledge to our travel blog? Get in touch. We welcome relevant guest posts.

These New Zealand tours will depart soon!

New Zealand is a tiny country that packs a scenic punch! Explore New Zealand the 'Stray' way - getting further off the beaten track, seeking out one-of-a-kind experiences and meeting a bunch of epic fellow adventurers.
All tours are Stray Journey small group tours!

Wanderlust - See it All in NZ

24 days - starts & ends in Auckland

On this trip, you get the best combination of nature, relaxation, beautiful scenery and adrenaline. In 24 days, you will experience beautiful nature consisting of rainforests, mountains and volcanoes.

Takahe - South Island Tour

11 days - starts & ends in Christchurch

From the golden sands of Abel Tasman National Park to the West Coast’s glaciers and rainforests, the party and adventure capital of Queenstown, to the “Roof of Aotearoa” Mt Cook National Park.

Ruru - All of NZ Tour

18 days - starts in Auckland, ends in Christchurch

Hike some of New Zealand’s best tracks, kayak at sunrise, taste a delicious traditional hangi meal, bathe in a hot thermal stream surrounded by native bush.

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