The average class size is 5 to 7 students. There will never be more than 10 students in one class. A small class means that you get more personal attention and learn more.

Our students come from all over the world. Most of them come from Asian countries (especially Japan). Other countries include mainly European, Middle Eastern and South American countries.

Yes, if you have booked an activity course with privately arranged activities. Please tell us about your plans before the start of your course, so we can organise this for you.

If you join the Friday afternoon activities as part of the General/Intensive English course, activities will change every week. The longer you stay, the more different activities you will do of course.

How is the weather in Whitianga?

Summer: the sun is strong and it can get very warm, but rarely above 30°C. Sometimes it is very windy and it can rain too. It gets cool at night.

Winter: the weather can be very mixed. Sun, wind, rain...but no snow. We sometimes get frost at night.

Sunny days can be beautiful and warm. The average daytime temperature is usually around 15°C.

For summer and winter we recommend shorts and T-Shirt, a light jacket, long pants and a warm jumper for the evenings. Don't forget to bring your swim suit!

If you come here in winter you should also bring a thermal wear, a woolen hat and a scarf.

Yes, you will love it! Many people enjoy snorkelling and diving because the water is very clear. Surfing and body-boarding is also very popular, and of course, simply swimming.

The water temperature in summer is normally between 20°C and 25°C. In winter it cools down though.

If you are talking about Pachinko - no. However, one bar in town does karaoke once a week, and there are several karaoke bars in Auckland. Minimum age 18!

Most Japanese students enjoy the way how New Zealanders spend their free time and weekends, find it out!

How can I get around?

Is there public transport?

The public transport is limited. Therefore we encourage you to join the Friday afternoon activities, as they often go to places where it is otherwise difficult to get (beautiful beaches, mountains etc.).

Many host families provide bicycles or even take you on weekend trips. There is also a taxi company in town.

Sometimes, students or teachers also organise extra activities with private or rental cars at weekends.

Regular bus services connect Whitianga with other towns.

There is a cinema in town, many cafes, pubs and bars. Some Tuesday evenings we have our "International Coffee Club" where students (and others) come together to play table tennis, board and card games, or just sit together, talking, laughing and having fun. Students often organise parties of course.

If you are looking for nightlife, you can find it in one of the bars or pubs in town (but you must be at least 18 years old to go there - ID required). Often there are live bands playing or DJ music at weekends.

New Zealanders enjoy outdoor activities. Very popular is golf, rugby, soccer, water sports, horse riding, hiking...

If you are interested, you can join the local clubs, the fees are comparably low.

This depends on the contract/plan that you are on in your home country. Please ask your phone company.

It is simple and not expensive to buy a sim-card in New Zealand to get your own phone working on the New Zealand network. This is what most students do.

Please send us an email or use our contact form. We will do our best to answer any question.