The Highlanders hit the road for a month but coach Aaron Mauger is eyeing the trip as time to bond and get the team closer.
The side takes on the Blues in Auckland on Friday night before leaving for South Africa for games against the Bulls and Sharks.
Mauger said the Blues were not going to be easybeats on Friday night.
"The Blues have had a rough sort of month but they are always a dangerous beast. We look forward to recovering from this one and preparing for this game on Friday.
"Then we are on the road to Africa and spend some time together on the road."
Mauger’s side beat the Brumbies at home on Saturday night to sit seventh on the table, although the Highlanders have already had their two byes.
The side took a while to get going on Saturday night but came home hard, scoring four tries in the final 20 minutes.
"I thought we managed the game well. We asked for better management around our territory game and I thought we got that.
"The boys were still running hard at the end and that made a difference."
Going down to 14 men at one stage did not impact on the side and ended with winger Waisake Naholo scoring an intercept try — the classic 14-point try.
"I thought we defended well in that whole period and I didn’t feel we were under any strain. We forced them to make a play and that is what you want — to have a try-scoring defence."
The Highlanders had some innovative plays during the game — twice putting a winger on the side of the scrum and having a loose forward out in the backs to charge the ball up.
The scrum could have been better but Mauger said a technical adjustment by the front row helped it in the second half.
There were no major injuries although hooker Liam Coltman banged up his nose.
• In the curtain-raiser, Japan A beat the Highlanders Bravehearts 13-12, after leading 13-7 at the break.