About Us
Sporting Tours™
Owned by Chris Hammonds, a sports nut with a passion for travel.
Set up to combine his love of sport, and his successful travel agency, Sporting Tours™ was a natural progression. Sporting Tours™, has successfully hosted tours since the Hong Kong 7s in 1997, FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010, Sub agents to the Rugby World Cup in 2003, 2007, 2011 and of course the popular Melbourne Cup.
Many of the tours are hosted by experts of the game, providing extra value and behind-the-scenes access to the stars. The team’s knowledge of the industry and love of sports has helped them learn exactly the sorts of service sports fans demand when paying their hard-earned money on what for many is the trip of a lifetime.
If it is following the Black Caps, All Blacks to South Africa, or the Tall Blacks to the world basketball champs, Sporting Tours™, has the team to back up your play.
Our Team
Chris Hammonds
CEO
An avid sports fan, in particular anything featuring NZ Events attended include:
Rugby World Cup 1991 UK Ireland and France
Rugby World Cup 1999 ¼ finals to final Tour leader for 80 people.
Rugby World Cup 2003 Australia
Rugby World Cup 2011 New Zealand, Tour Leader RWC Cruise to Wellington for two semi finals
Bledisloe Cup 2007 MCG Melbourne, numerous Eden Park Bledisloe Cups and test matches
All Blacks V Argentina Buenos Aires 2016 Tour leader
FIFA World Cup South Africa 2010
Melbourne Cup Tour leader from 2016 to present
Email: chris@sportingtours.co.nz
Darren Driver
General Manager
Darren is a sports enthusiast and loves all things soccer and motor racing. He supports Arsenal, but we will forgive him for that!
If you are thinking about a trip to a sporting event, be sure to touch base with him.
Email: darren@sportingtours.co.nz
Ben Holmes
Sports Travel Consultant
We would like to introduce Ben, the newest member of the Sporting Tours team.
Ben’s Tourism background includes organising tour group on-site logistics in the Canadian Rockies, and in major city stopover sites across Europe (Paris, Florence, The Austrian Alps, and Amsterdam). Most recently was on the road as a Senior Driver/Guide between Australia and New Zealand for G Adventures and National Geographic Journeys
A keen sportsperson, with specific interest in Rugby, Football, and Tennis.
Email: ben@sportingtours.co.nz
Kel Munro
An avid horse racing fan, and 2019 will be his 39th Melbourne Cup tour.
Kel is our Melbourne Cup specialist who has a vast knowledge of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Sporting Tours has announced that Mondo Travel are now an authorised partner.
Whether it’s a private box at Stadium Australia or a blanket on the ground at the Basin Reserve, contact info@sportingtours.co.nz and the team will make sure you’re there in time for kick off