New Zealand is preparing to make the most of the tourism opportunities created by the British and Irish Lions rugby tour in June next year.

Tourism New Zealand has said it expects around 20,000 fans to accompany the visiting rugby team and follow as it visits areas such as Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington and Christchurch as well as those not so well-known to tourists such as Waikato, Manawatu, Taranaki, Otago and Southland.

Venues for parties are being arranged in each of the main regions and large screens will be set up so those fans without tickets can still watch the matches.

Planned events will include a British and Irish music festival, a veterans rugby match and a Lions Village.

The New Zealand Museum of Rugby in Manawatu will also be temporarily moved to a new venue in Palmerston North to be close to the match action.

“We know that for many of these visitors this will be the trip of a lifetime,” said Tourism New Zealand chief executive, George Hickton.

“We want to do all we can to ensure they get out to the regions and experience not just rugby but New Zealand’s wine, food, kiwi culture and landscape.”