Tours Tour Itinerary USA based teams Day 1 Depart LAX to Wellington via Auckland flight time 12 hr Day 2 Arrive in Wellington, New Zealand's capital city and home of the Hurricanes S12 team. You will be met at Wellington Airport and escorted to your Hotel Here you will be allocated rooms on a share twin basis. Once settled into your rooms we will hold a team meeting to answer any queries and inform tour members of responsibilities, local customs and the following day's events. The evening will allow for plenty of free time to recover from your flight or to experience Wellington's notorious nightlife. Day 3 Day 3 promises to be one of the highlights of the trip for you. An Early rise for breakfast where immediately after we will be transferred from our hotel to the Inter Islander ferry to cross the Cook Strait. The Cook Strait separates the North Island from the Mainland of the South Island. During our crossing you will experience the Marlborough Sounds, which is the perfect introduction to New Zealand's world re-known scenery. After the ferry crossing we will arrive at Picton, board our coach and depart for Nelson, which will be our base for the next few days. Upon our arrival into Nelson we will be welcomed at the Whakatu Marae (Maori Meeting house) where we will experience an authentic customary welcome by local Maori (indigenous) elders and enriched with Maori history, culture and customs. A Maori Hangi (feast) will be prepared for us then finishing with the traditional farewells. After the Marae we will be taken to our Home for the next few days The Luxurious Rutherford Hotel - home for the All Blacks and Super 12 teams when they are in Nelson. While at the Rutherford Hotel you have been allocated your own team room with unlimited Internet access, TV/video, message board and plenty of lounge chairs to stretch out on. After room allocation, players will be given the opportunity to stretch out with a light training session. We will have our daily team meeting to inform you of tomorrow's activities prior to heading into downtown Nelson to celebrate formally your arrival in New Zealand. Breakfast and Dinner provided. Day 4 After Breakfast we have plenty of time to relax before an 11am start to your rugby seminars or sight seeing for the supporters. For the players and any other interested members the 4 x 30 min seminars will be held at the newly opened Devine Fitness Gym only a stone's throw from our hotel. Seminars have been designed specific to rugby players focusing on for example - Nutrition, Speed/Strength, Injury reduction/rehab, Goal setting and time management. Local top referee Fred Kramer is also at our disposal to clarify the different rule variations that you can expect while here in New Zealand. The first class gym facilities are also available to tour members when and if required. For the supporters a guided tour of the local brewery has been arranged with plenty of sampling in store. The afternoon will be free to prepare for tonight's game against local opposition. After the game and after-match formalities, the night is ours to celebrate. For players a cooked Breakfast, pre-match meal and a light after-match meal is provided. For supporters a cooked Breakfast and light after match meal is provided. Day 5 After breakfast we will have a short recovery session, game de-briefing and video analysis. A light lunch will be provided at 11.00am prior to our departure around the world re-known Nelson wine region. This afternoon will also include a Helicopter flight over the Abel Tasman National Park for a coffee or beer at the Awaroa Lodge. After the wine trail a free evening is planned to relax and recuperate or if some wish to continue partying, the bars are only 3 minutes walk from our hotel. Cooked breakfast and a light lunch are provided. Day 6 Today is the day you begin to experience "real" kiwi lifestyle with an introduction to sheep shearing and taste local wild food delicacies. After breakfast we depart for the New Zealand's best-kept secret the "Wild West Coast". Our journey will take us via Murchison where you will experience 1st hand, sheep shearing after which the local Murchison RFC will provide a Kiwi wild foods meal, tasting all of the local delicacies available including Venison, Wild Boar and if you are lucky some rare mountain oysters, all washed down with plenty of kiwi beer. While in Murchison we have also been invited to meet at the local school for a 10 a side game against local opposition - possibly ideal for those not involved in the 1st tour match also a great opportunity to meet with local school children. At approx 3pm we will depart for Westport via a few country watering holes and natural wonders such as Hawke's Crag. Once arriving in Westport we will go straight to our accommodation, settle in and then make our way to the Black and White Hotel for the welcoming party. Cooked Breakfast and meal are provided. Day 7 Today you will be taken through some of New Zealand's harshest but scenic backcountry from the sea right up to the mountain snow line. After breakfast OutWest Tour's 4x4 Uni-Mog will escort us on a guided history lesson that will take us across the Mackley River through to the Buller Gorge where on the way we will experience the country that New Zealand was built on. Visit old and current gold and coal mines before finishing off with a Kiwi BBQ at Bernard and Bev's farmhouse. Lunch and Dinner are provided - remember to bring plenty of film, as you will need it. Day 8 An early rise for breakfast before being picked up by Buller Adventure Tours to venture up the Mighty Buller River where we will jump into White water rafts and make our way down the Buller Gorge white water rapids - lunch is provided. This afternoon will be time for relaxation and a chance to look around and take in some Westport shopping before our game against local opposition. After some pre-match carbo-loading we begin our final preparations for the big game against a local selection team. After the match and post game formalities the fun begins with a pub-crawl and other events along the main street of Westport (notorious for it's West Coast pub's and hospitality). Breakfast, lunch and after match meal provided with players pre-match carbo-loading provided. Day 9 A Chance to catch our breath with a sleep in before slowly making our way back to Nelson. Upon our arrival in Nelson back at the Rutherford Hotel, rooms will once again be allocated and then the rest of the day is free. Cooked breakfast is provided (for those able to gather enough strength after last night's events.) Day 10 Today will allow you plenty of free time to wander through Nelson shopping area and visit any sites that you wish to see or take in any last minute sight seeing. Scenic Helicopter Flights are available on request. Tonight will be your last night in New Zealand and fittingly we must celebrate/commiserate with a farewell party and court session at the Hotel before making the most of Nelson's nightlife. Cooked breakfast with smorgasboard evening meal provided. Day 11 Breakfast and prepare for departure from Nelson airport to Wellington where we will connect with your final plane back home to the USA. Your package includes: Return airfares from LAX to New Zealand Departure taxes Full medical and travel insurance from your departure until your return (please note the insurance includes a refund policy should team members be unable to make the tour at the last minute due to unforeseen circumstances) All accommodation Daily cooked breakfast *Lunch and Dinner where specified NZ Internal travel transfers Inter Island ferry Maori Welcome and Feast White Water rafting Out West Tours 4 wheel drive tour Wine Trail Helicopter Flight over the Abel Tasman National Park Brewery tour Wild Foods Feast Sheep Shearing Pub Crawl 2 -3 games against local opposition Rugby specific seminars Tour kit can include - Gilbert Rugby balls, Tour Rugby Jersey, Shorts, Socks, Polar Fleece, Anorak, kit bag, Beanie, rugby boots for players and running shoes for supporters, polo shirt All training equipment is provided Tour Guide 2 per 25 people