The Whakatāne High School sports tour to Australia was once again an overwhelming success.

The school took 59 students and seven adults, representing four sports, on the sports tour to the Gold Coast in the July school holidays.

This was the second sports tour to Australia after the school took 88 students and 11 staff in 2024.

The team stayed at the Gold Coast Performance Centre, an expansive facility in Runaway Bay that caters to large groups and the Gold Coast community.

Director of sport Ben Sexton said the students were provided with fabulous opportunities.

“Students had the opportunity to mix with USA track and field Athletes, a UK netball team and a school rugby team from Brisbane, who were all staying on site.”

Over the course of the tour, the Whakatāne High School sports teams engaged in a comprehensive development programme at the performance centre, featuring high-intensity interval training, speed and sprint mechanics, baseline fitness testing, performance metrics, a Zumba class, hot and cold pool contrast therapy, and a Brazilian jiu-jitsu session covering grappling and self-defence.

Sexton said the second trip went superbly.

“It was a great experience for everyone who went – as a coach, supporter or player.”

Alongside these sessions, students enjoyed leisure activities including trips to Harbourtown for shopping, an outing to Dreamworld, a SkyPoint observation deck visit, watching the Gold Coast vs Collingwood AFL game, and an evening at the Australian Outback Spectacular show.

The off-field highlight was attending the State of Origin match at Suncorp Stadium alongside 52,000 fans.

It was an epic experience to be part of, and regardless of which team people were supporting, everyone had a great time, Sexton said.

He was pleased with how the Whakatāne High students conducted themselves throughout the trip.

“The tour featured numerous competitive fixtures across all sports. All games were played in a friendly manner and gathered good support on the sideline as Whakatāne High School had many family members and some Whakatāne expats come and support.

“Whakatāne High would like to acknowledge all the schools and clubs for hosting our teams and making us feel welcome,” Sexton said.

The four sports that competed were

Rugby: WHS secured a 34-17 victory against the Nerang Bulls after trailing 12-10 at halftime.

In a friendly touch match against St John’s Anglican College, WHS ran out comfortable winners. In their final match of the tour, WHS defeated the Coomera Crushers 34-12.

Football: WHS played Ormeau in three 30-minute periods, losing 3-0 in the first third, winning 1-0 in the second third and dropping the final third 2-1 for an overall aggregate score of 5-2 to Ormeau.

Against a skilled St John’s Anglican College team, WHS lost 8-0.

Netball: WHS split into two teams against Robina State High School, dropping the first match 32-11 and the second 43-22.

Robina had played against the WHS Prem and Junior Prem teams at the start of the term in Whakatāne, so it was rewarding to travel to Australia and play them on their home court.

At the Coomera Netball Club mini-tournament, WHS won three games and lost two games. Against St John’s Anglican College, WHS was defeated by 20 goals.

Basketball: WHS fell 54-41 to the Tweed Valley Volcanoes despite leading after the first quarter.

In a rematch against St John’s Anglican College from 2024, WHS was defeated by the exact same scoreline, falling 54-41.