Fiji team arrive at Ohope

The Fijian rugby team may have arrived to a cooler climate but their accommodation offers some familiarity - they are beside the white sands of Ohope.

The squad arrived to a warm welcome in Auckland yesterday afternoon and drove last night to Ohope Top 10 Holiday Park where they will stay until Monday.

The team have booked out the park's 5-star apartments at its Surf and Sand Conference Centre and other apartments at the main holiday park.

"We're rapt to have Fiji," park operations manager Justine Knowles said.

"It's exciting for our team. We've made the grounds look their best. It's been a buzz."

Fiji have brought 46 people with them including the playing and coaching staff and a medical team. After Ohope they will move on to Mt Maunganui for the final preparations before their first game - against Namibia at Rotorua International Stadium on September 10.

"I think it's so they can get serious from day one," Mrs Knowles said of the team's decision to stay in Ohope.

"They're training and energising. We've had the New Zealand Sevens stay here and they've used the beach and harbour area for training, so they probably will too. We have [12ha] over the two sites."

She said there weren't many other people booked in so they would have the run of the resort.

They were due to arrive last night for a dinner and today were expected to host an open training at Rugby Park in Whakatane.

The camp came into the Rugby Cup radar about three years ago. Mrs Knowles said there was a meeting in Whakatane with Toi-EDA, the economic development agency, and they put their hand up as an interested accommodation provider.

They were booked for the Cup in December.

The holiday park is hoping to book another rugby team for December but Mrs Knowles said she could not say which team as nothing had yet been agreed.

Fiji are due to train at Rotorua Boys' High School ahead of their campaign-opener.