Office and Mailing Address 44 Butler Street Opawa Christchurch New Zealand Contact Numbers Telephone +64 3 342 9433 Facsimile +64 3 342 9433 Mobile 021 1404345 Phil Robson Mobile 021 0542587 Louise Smith Email [email protected] Online www.totalrugby.co.nz Itinerary Specially Prepared for Dural Junior Rugby Club ‘Soak it Up’ 100% Pure New Zealand Rugby Tour 2015 WELCOME It is my pleasure, as Managing Director of Total Rugby, to welcome the Dural Rugby Club touring party to New Zealand. It is the game of rugby that has brought us together and Total Rugby will ensure that you will experience the very best of New Zealand’s rugby culture. Welcome, Haere Mai, and enjoy your stay. INTRODUCTORY NOTES Weather: July can be the country’s wettest month. Prepare for cold conditions too. Snow on the roads is not out of the question! (Do you know how to put chains on?!) Average Queenstown high in July is 10 degrees and the low is 1. Chch is 12 and 3. Grounds: Grounds could be okay but most likely wet and muddy. Come prepared with decent studs or you might find you can barely turn a corner! It may not be feasible to trade in your multi-stud boats but you may want to think about it. Game protocol: Most schools in New Zealand have their own haka and it is common practice for the host school to perform the haka for overseas visiting teams. This is meant as a challenge and it is up to the visiting team to accept it as they wish. Generally, the team facing the challenge will line up on their own 10m line and ‘front up’. This is seen as the most respectful. Three cheers are performed at the end of the match and players shake hands with the opposition. Mouthguards: Mouthguards are compulsory at all levels of rugby in New Zealand. The ref will inspect that you have a mouthguard at the start of the game. Rugby Rules: Crutch binding in the scrums and lifting in the line-out is permitted in New Zealand age group rugby. After match Arrangements: It is customary in New Zealand rugby to have an after match function for special visiting teams. It is a tradition we are keen to maintain. The after match is generally held at the host’s clubrooms or school. Speeches are made by the MC and respective captains. Often the visiting coach or manager is also invited to speak. There is always an exchange of gifts. This can take the form of a plaque/ pendant, club or school ties, player’s jersey, touring booklet, pins/badges, beanies or something else that has been prepared. Food is then served. Ice: Ice for sideline treatment of injuries is available from nearly all service stations and supermarkets. It is recommended that teams bring an insulated container for storing ice at matches. First Aid: It is not compulsory to have a first aid officer at every game as it is in Australia. Initial first aid is generally administered by coaching and/or management staff. Emergency services are available for more serious injuries. The emergency number in New Zealand is 111. There are after-hours medical services available in all main centres. Total Rugby will assist with coordinating medical services including physiotherapy. It is expected that tour groups will have their own travel insurance to cover medical expenses. Operators of tourist services have their own policies regarding health and safety and issues arising should be managed directly with them. Equipment: Total Rugby has a number of training balls available. We also have a number of drink bottle sets with a carry crate. Please make an early request for other specific equipment if required as it is possible to source a range of gear. Laundry: Coin operated laundry facilities are available at Tanoa Aspen Hotel and Kakapo Lodge. A full laundry service is provided at Adams House. We do recommend that everyone bring at least one towel with them. Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily throughout your itinerary. Breakfasts will be at your accommodation and are continental (typically cereal, toast and spreads, tea/coffee), lunches are packed and are provided at your accommodation to be collected each day as you leave breakfast, dinners are two course (main course and dessert) or buffet style. Whilst in Hanmer Springs dinner and breakfast will be at a local hotel. Security/valuables: This is your own responsibility. Valuables have been stolen before. Please never assume that it will be okay to leave valuables unattended or gear rooms unlocked. Every attempt will be made to assist you with your own security. Itinerary Times: All the times shown on this itinerary have been booked and confirmed with the accommodation providers and activity operators. For meal time changes please liaise directly with the hotel. If you wish to change timings for any activities or find you are running behind schedule please contact Total Rugby so that we can inform the operator Vouchers: On your arrival your tour leader will be given a voucher booklet containing the vouchers you will be required to hand over to our operators for the various activities included in your tour. Liaison: Total Rugby staff will be available 24 hours. Please use the cell phone numbers on this page. Our staff will not always be with you during your activities but we will check in with you each day, either in the evening to discuss the day’s events and go over the next day, or in the morning. Luggage: Due to coach luggage capacity it is requested that each person is limited to one suitcase andrews one carry-on bag. If your luggage is going to exceed this please advise Total Rugby prior to your arrival. Rugby Boots: New Zealand has very strict biosecurity regulations, during your flight please complete the Passenger Arrival Card supplied by the airline with care and ensure rugby boots are clean prior to your departure. Gear: We recommend everyone brings two towels with them. Towels are not provided at Adams House Swim wear and towel will be required for the Hanmer Springs Thermal Reserve Ski Day: Suitable jackets and pants are essential and can be hired on the mountain on the day and paid direct. Everyone will need a woolen hat/beanie and waterproof gloves. Jeans are not recommended. Sea Kayaking: Long sleeved thermal top, fleece, shorts or light pants e.g. quick drys, NO JEANS! Sunglasses, cap, running shoes or sandals, drinking water, camera and towel. RISK MANAGEMENT: You will be guided through our risk management procedures and policies on arrival. We do not provide travel insurance and the expectation is that you will have your own insurance to cover civil emergencies, accidents, lost or stolen property. MONDAY 29 JUNE SYDNEY/QUEENSTOWN 1425 Arrive Queenstown on Qantas flight QF121. On completion of customs and immigration formalities you will be met and welcomed by Total Rugby staff who will assist with your coach transfer to your accommodation. Your Pacific Tourways coach driver is Dawn Simpson who will be your driver through to Christchurch (mobile +64211220050) Check in to Tanoa Aspen Hotel where accommodation has been confirmed for 4 nights Accommodation: TANOA ASPEN HOTEL 139 Fernhill Road Queenstown Phone: 03 441 0097 Echoing an alpine atmosphere, Tanoa Aspen Hotel Queenstown offers comfortable accommodation set in an idyllic location with scenic views of Lake Wakatipu and the Remarkables Mountain Range Dinner at your accommodation this evening 1900 Dinner this evening at the hotel TUESDAY 30 JUNE QUEENSTOWN 0730 Breakfast at your hotel 0845 This morning transfer by coach to local grounds for a training session to be run by your own staff. 1045 Then head to Queenstown’s world famous gondola and its time to head up the mountain SKYLINE GONDOLA AND LUGE Reputed to be the steepest lift in the Southern Hemisphere, the gondola carries visitors high above Queenstown to the Skyline complex located on Bob's Peak. Numerous observation decks around the complex offer breathtaking views of Coronet Peak & The Remarkables, over Queenstown and across Lake Wakatipu to Cecil and Walter Peaks. Truly magnificent and awe-inspiring. Once you are at the top its time to hit the luge track - the scenery's a blur! Hurtle down a winding downhill track through the trees. Race through the bends, or pull in for a breather and enjoy the panorama. Burn it up on the advanced track or cruise sedately down the scenic track. Then hop on the chairlift and do it all again. Skyline Luge - it's 800 metres of fast-paced freedom.Once is never enough! Your package includes gondola, 2 luge rides per person and buffet lunch. Lunch is booked for 12:30pm in the Wakatipu Room on the 2nd floor Group Leader to present voucher Head down the gondola after lunch and its a short walk to the centre of Queenstown. You have a free afternoon, perhaps some time for souvenir shopping, transfer back to your hotel by coach late afternoon (please confirm time direct with your driver) 1900 Dinner tonight at Tanoa Aspen Hotel WEDNESDAY 01 JULY QUEENSTOWN 0800 Breakfast at your hotel. Please collect your packed lunches as you leave breakfast 0900 Depart by coach this morning for the nearby Shotover Jet base at Gorge Road, Arthurs Point for “the worlds most exciting jetboat experience”. Wrap up warm – hat, gloves, scarf, sunglasses and a jacket are essential!! SHOTOVER JET Take a unique breathtaking ride through the dramatic and narrow Canyons, and hold on tight for Queenstown’s only exhilarating full 360 degree spins.