WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARRIVE
Pre-departure Information
There are some important things that you need to know before you arrive, so we have put all of this information together in our pre-departure handbook. Please click on the pre-departure button below:
Arrival & Pickup Information
Once you advise us of your flight arrival details, we will arrange for you to be collected by either your Agent, or a Hobsonville Point Secondary School staff member. If you are being collected by your Agent or school staff, they will be waiting in the public arrival area. When you arrive at Auckland airport go through Customs with your luggage. As you walk through the automatic arrival gate, turn left and you will see the public arrival area. Please look for a sign with your name on it.
Settling in
When you first arrive in New Zealand you will feel tired from both travelling and culture shock. You might also forget some of your English. This is normal. The weather and food are very different, the customs are different, and you must speak in a new language. It is normal to feel tired when you first arrive in New Zealand. Here are a few tips to help you settle in:
Try not to have long afternoon naps if you are jet-lagged. Staying up and going to bed in the evening helps jet-lag more than napping.
If you feel homesick, try to create a routine in your new home. This could be going for a daily walk or writing in a journal.
Keep busy - talk to your host family and take part in daily life. Sitting in your bedroom alone will make homesickness worse.
In the first month the English overload can be exhausting. Follow a good sleep routine. Go to bed earlier and put your cell phone away so you are not tempted to use it late into the night.
New Zealand is a multicultural country and people from all over the world choose to come and live here. Everyone is equal, and we show respect to people of all ages. We hope you feel very welcome here too.
HOMESTAY HANDBOOK
This booklet is for our International Students who live in a homestay. It will help you to understand how to live with a family in New Zealand. It will also help you understand what you can expect and what is expected of you during your homestay experience. Please read it carefully and ask for help if you need anything explained.
Orientation
On your first day at our school you will have orientation. Orientation includes the following:
School tour
English language assessment (if required)
IT session (logging into the school network and wifi)
A slideshow to cover important information and expectations. Click below to view the orientation slideshow.
Transport
Hobsonville Point is located in Auckland and has close access to motorways and is served by public buses and a commuter ferry which also runs on the weekend. You can get to Hobsonville by bus, car and ferry. It takes approximately 50 minutes to bus to Hobsonville off-peak from the City Centre and around 25 minutes by ferry.
There is a bus service provided by Auckland Transport that connects to the northern busway linking Hobsonville Point to the City Centre and Albany on the North Shore (The number 12 bus). There is also a local bus service to Westgate which connects to the Landing and the ferry wharf. You can download and view the current bus and ferry timetable by clicking here Auckland Transport website.
As there are so many amenities near Hobsonville our students do not often have a need to go into the City Centre unless they want to go for a visit with their homestay family or friends. If students do visit the city, we ask that they do not go alone and return to their homestay before dark. While Auckland is a relatively safe city, public transport is not so safe after dark.
There is a shopping centre, medical centre, movie theatre, restaurants, supermarkets, cafes and plenty of shops at Northwest and Westgate which is a short bus or car ride from the suburbs surrounding Hobsonville Point Secondary School.
To take the bus or ferry students will need to either buy an AT HOP Card or use their credit card to tap on. Our buses are cash free. To receive a student discount, student must have a registered At Hop card and apply for the concession with their student number. Usually an agent, International team member or their homestay can assist them with the registration process.
Things to do in the local area
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Catalina Bay Farmers Market
Open Saturday - Sunday
8:30am - 2:00pm
The Catalina Bay Farmers Market is an artisan market selling fresh local farm produce, breads, meat, cheese, organics, coffee, honey, and flowers, to name just a few!
https://www.catalinabay.co.nz/farmers-market -
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Hobsonville Point Coastal Walkway
The amazing coastal walkway is a 5km, almost flat, looping track that hugs the peninsula’s shoreline and then cuts across the township from coast to coast. It passes through several neighbourhoods as well as the bustling waterfront at Catalina Bay and peaceful bush-clad gullies. With opportunities for rest and relaxation, play and picnics, history and harbourside views, it delivers an experience that is unique to this place.
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The Didsbury Art Trail
Experience larger-than-life public artworks from some of New Zealand’s top artists on the Didsbury Art Trail. This approximately 5km walk winds its way along picturesque coastline and through parks and beautiful streetscapes, taking in unique heritage sites and urban design features along the way.
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Cafes & Restaurants
There are a number of great places to eat in Hobsonville Point. 25ml is the closest cafe to school and is very popular with the local community.
Click the link to find more places to eat/drink nearby.
https://hobsonvillepoint.co.nz/visit/retail-and-restaurants/
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Local Parks
There are a number of local parks to explore.
Click below to see a map and short description of the various parks nearby.
Helpful Sites
Tourism New Zealand
Information about tourism in New Zealand
Discover Auckland
NauMai NZ
NauMai NZ is an official Government website for International Students currently studying in New Zealand and for International Students who are about to arrive in New Zealand to start their study. The site can be found here:
https://naumainz.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz/Everything you need to know about studying in New Zealand, including the New Zealand Education system can be found here:
https://www.aucklandnz.com/study-work-and-live/study