Thousands of Highlanders fans lined streets for a victory parade in central Dunedin in honour of the Super Rugby champions.
The team left the Dental School about noon and were led by the Kaikorai Brass band down George St on the back of utes to celebrate winning the final against Hurricanes on Saturday.
Island drummers set up on George St to make the boys feel welcome.
A huge cheer went up as the team arrived in the Octagon about 12.20pm.
Earlier, Dunedin mayor Dave Cull said the victory parade would be the start of a week of festivities.
Highlanders general manager Roger Clark simply described the season and the welcome home as the ''ultimate''.
''It's been something that's been building for five years in my view and the boys have put it together this year,'' Mr Clark said.
More than 2000 fans turned up at Dunedin Airport to welcome them home yesterday morning.
Hagley Oval has a new head groundsman ahead of the first test of the summer.