KEY POINTS:
As Australia gears up for a Papal visit, 4000 young Catholics will converge on New Zealand this week for a pitstop on their international pilgrimage.
About 4000 Kiwi Catholics will join that group - with visitors from the Americas, Europe, the Pacific and Africa - heading to Sydney for World Youth Day celebrations which run over six days next week. The city is expecting 400,000 people for some events and up to half a million for the final mass with Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 20.
Organisers say the Kiwi contingent will form one of the largest single groups to leave NZ for a non-sporting or non-wartime event. It is also Australia's largest event this year.
Pakuranga's Joanne van Heerden, 34, is hosting a group of 18-35 year olds from Qatar before she heads across the ditch.
Having international visitors here for religious, film, music, sight-seeing and community activities this week was an exciting start to her "pilgrimage", she said.
"It's just unreal, in just a few days we'll be leaving to participate in something that connects so many people from the church who have the same desire to be part of something bigger than themselves."
Mrs van Heerden is leading a group of 37 to Australia. She joked there was a growing terminology around the Pope's arrival at Sydney Harbour.
"They're starting to call it Super Thursday.
"We have this picture of Pope Jean Paul, in his Popemobile, and I'm hoping to get a picture of him during the boat-a-cade.
"That experience is going to be really special on the water with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background.
"It's so rare to get to see the Pope in our part of the world, we're just really looking forward to it."
In Auckland the international pilgrims will work on projects such as track building in the Hunua Ranges and cleaning up O'Neils Point Cemetery on the North Shore.
On Friday they will be formally welcomed at a civic reception at the Beaumont Centre at 10am, which will include an address by Governor-General Anand Satyanand.
Organisers say the service is open to all, but those wishing to attend should arrive early as large numbers are expected. Doors open at 9am.
WORLD YOUTH DAY IN SYDNEY
* Actually runs over six days from Tuesday July 15 to Sunday July 20.
* Australia's largest event.
* Up to 500,000 visitors are expected to descend on the city for Pope Benedict XVI's mass on Sunday 20.
* 4000 Kiwi Catholics aged 18-35 going.
* They'll be the largest Kiwi group to ever leave New Zealand for a non-sporting event.
* Highlight will be the Papal visit.
