Its said rugby is not a game but a religion in New Zealand and as such religious indoctrination starts almost as soon as a toddler can run. From about 5 years of age upward young Kiwis start their rugby training which means that at High School level the game is pretty professional stuff.

The Classic New Zealand High School Rugby Tour is designed for schools and clubs that take their rugby seriously but also want a tour that provides fun and zest along the way and a chance to see some of New Zealand magnificent scenic attractions.

Most New Zealand schools are eager to host visiting groups and provide billets either on a reciprocal hospitality basis or else out of straight enthusiasm to share the spirit of the game.

Our classic rugby trail provides for games and billeting with selected New Zealand high schools along popular tourist routes and adds a worthwhile cultural and geographic flavour to the tour. It is a basic plan from which we are happy to develop your own ideas tuned to a flexible budget and time span to suit a tour group's needs.

Teams are matched as far as is possible based on age and expertise, and coaching by professional sports administrators is available as an extra service on request. Please note our rugby season is opposite from that of the Northern Hemisphere and tours planned for New Zealand school holidays may experience difficulty obtaining school billeting.

The Classic High School Rugby Program

Day 1

Arrive at Auckland New Zealand's largest city built around about 40 dormant or extinct volcanoes you will be met on arrival by an ETI representative and commence City Orientation tour including a call at Eden Park, scene of many All Black victories. See also the volcanic crater of Mount Eden, the Auckland Museum and Kelly Tarltons Aquarium where you will walk under sharks, and Antarctic World to see a replica of Captain Scott's Antarctic Hutt and ride in a "snow mobile" to see live penguins. Lunch at McHughs restaurant by the beach opposite Rangitoto Island Auckland's newest volcano. Dinner and 1 night at the First Imperial Hotel

Day 2

Breakfast at your hotel then transfer to Tiritiri Island by coach and ferry for a guided tour of this wild life heritage run by the NZ Department of Conservation which is rich in endangered native bird life. Depending on the season bring your bathing costumes for a swim at one of its safe sandy beaches. Transfer back to Auckland and meet your 1st host school. Commence billeting, dinner with host families

Day 3

Breakfast at your homestay, meet at the school with your rugby buddy and commence full day activities training and game at the school. Return to your homestay for the night. NO BUS SERVICE.

Day 4

Breakfast at your homestay meet at the school and then transfer to your 2nd host Auckland school to commence full day activities training and a game. Return to your homestay tonight.

Day 5

Breakfast at your homestay meet at the school and transfer to Waitomo Caves (Optional extra Black Water Rafting), then BBQ lunch at Roselands Farm Restaurant then transfer to Rotorua the centre of Maori culture in New Zealand. Hangi (Maori dinner), 1 night and concert at your hotel Lake Plaza. Try the hotels own thermal pools or walk to Polynesian Pools (about 5 minutes plus entrance fee) and enjoy the larger pool.

Day 6

Breakfast at the hotel transfer for full day sightseeing including New Zealand Maori Institute of Arts and Crafts and Whakarewarewa Thermal area with its bubbling mud and geysers. See Rainbow Trout Hatchery and Farm Show, take lunch at the Gondola restaurant and enjoy 5 luge rides. Visit Rotorua Museum for its realistic presentation of the massive Mount Tarawera eruption in 1886, which devastated a vast area around Lake Tarawera. Transfer to your 3rd host school and meet your billets

Day 7

Breakfast at your host's home transfer to your 3rd host school to commence a full day activities training and a game. Return to your homestay tonight.

Day 8

Breakfast at your 3rd host home then transfer to Lake Taupo, New Zealand largest large bigger than Singapore Island. The lake itself is a huge crater left after one of the world's largest ever volcanic explosion millions of years ago. Experience the exhilarating Huka Jet boating and optional Prawn Farm before continue travel South to Wellington and meet your 4th host school and stay at homestay tonight

Day 9

Breakfast at your homestay then meet at the school for a game and commence half day in Wellington sightseeing including the Cable Car, Mount Victoria and Te Papa National Museum then return to homestay tonight

Day 10

Breakfast at homestay then meet at the school before fly to Queenstown. Transfer and sightseeing on arrival. Having a BBQ lunch at Walter Peak Station after a cruise on Earnslaw Dinner at a Chinese restaurant. Accommodation - 2 nights at hotel

Day 11

Breakfast at hotel transfer to Milford Sound, Fiordland and aboard a cruise at Fiordland then return to Queenstown. Tonight dinner is your own arrangement. Stay at Hotel

Day 12

Breakfast at the hotel then transfer by coach see Mount Cook and Lake Tekapo to Christchurch meet 5th host school stay homestay tonight

Day 13

Breakfast at homestay, then transfer to your school with your rugby buddy to commence a full day activities, training and a game. Return to homestay for dinner and the night. NO BUS SERVICE.

Day 14

Breakfast at the host school then transfers to Antarctic World and then airport and fly back to Auckland for last night and dinner at hotel

Day 15

Fly home

Options and Alternatives

Alternative 1

Day 2 Alternative breakfast at your hotel then transfer to the Bay of Islands for sightseeing, see Waitangi Treaty House and take Fuller 'Hole on the Rock' cruise on the Bay of Islands, or swim with the dolphins option, stay with 1st host school for the night

Day 3 Breakfast at homestay transfer to school with homestay buddy and commence training and game. Then transfer to Auckland to meet your 2nd host school commence training and game activities

Alternative 2

Omit Wellington and Taupo, fly direct from Rotorua to Queenstown and reduce the tour by days

Full package in either youth hostel or standard hotel, included:

Accommodation in Youth Hostel or Hotel

• AUCKLAND
  Hotel (twin share) - 1 night with cooked breakfast
  Host School (twin share) 3 nights with dinner & breakfast
• ROTORUA
  Hotel (twin share) - 1 night with cooked breakfast
  Host School (twin share) 2 nights with dinner & breakfast
• WELLINGTON
  Host School (twin share) 2 nights with dinner & breakfast
• QUEENSTOWN
  Hotel (twin share) - 1 night with cooked breakfast
  
• CHRISTCHURCH
  Host School (twin share) 2 nights with dinner & breakfast
• AUCKLAND
  Hotel (twin share) - 1 night with cooked breakfast
  

Meals

• Set menu dinner at hotel - in Auckland and Queenstown
• Lunch at McHugh
• Cooked or Continental BF - in all cities
• Waitomo - Lunch at Roselands Farm
• Rotorua - Lunch at Gondola Restaurant
• Wellington - Light lunch at Te Papa
• Queenstown - Lunch at Walter Peak Station
• Milford Sound - Cruise Lunch

Events, Sightseeing and Attractions

Auckland

Sightseeing includes American Cup Village, One Tree Hill, Kelly Tarlton, Waitakere Ranges (Atakari) or Tiritiri Matangi Island, Sailing on Pride of Auckland Yacht

Waitomo Glow Worm Cave

Glow worm cave

Rotorua

Gondola ride + 5 luge rides; Rainbow Springs - Trout, Bees World and Farm Show, Whakarewarewa Thermal area plus visit Maori Arts and Craft Village, Rotorua Museum - with its exposition of the Mt Tarawera eruption.

Wellington

Visit the Nation Museum - Te Papa, Ride on the famous Cable Car to view the harbour, Mt Victoria and Hutt Valley

Queenstown

Cruise on Earnslaw Cruise to Walter Peak farm for lunch, Milford/Doubtful Sound Cruise

Christchurch

Antarctic Museum

Coach Bus

All transport by either on the 19 seats or 24 seats bus with a friendly and experience driver.

Meet and greet at the arrival

ETI representative will 'meet and greet' you at the international airport. Free assistance while the group is in NZ.

Optional Services

• Mobile phone rental from ETI
• Mobile Rental for the whole trip of 10 days in NZ with $50 time limit on the phone (call charge of NZD$1.00 per minute to anywhere in NZ, and to overseas at normal international phone rate). Once the $50 been used up, you can recharge your mobile with your credit card.
• Accommodation at Youth Hostel or Standard Hotel or similar is based on multi/twin share for all adults in standard rooms