It must be wonderful, at the end of a long trip, to emerge into the open and find people wearing your colours and singing songs of praise.

Peru arrived at Auckland Airport just after 8.30am on Tuesday, ahead of their World Cup qualifier against the All Whites in Wellington on Saturday.

Around 50 fans were there to greet them, clad in red and white, and they were singing and dancing for nearly two hours prior to the team's arrival. There were plenty of "oles" and plenty of smiles, and their passion was clear to see.

1 of 4 ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF The drums were beating for Peru at Auckland Airport. 2 of 4 ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Peru supporters gather at Auckland Airport to greet their team. 3 of 4 ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Peru football fans celebrate their team's arrival at Auckland Airport with dance. 4 of 4 ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Football fever hits Auckland Airport as Peru arrive.

Peru have opted to keep a low profile this week, basing themselves in Auckland, rather than in Wellington, in part because they couldn't find a suitable training ground in the capital.

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ABIGAIL DOUGHERTY/STUFF Peru supporters gather at Auckland Airport to greet their team.

It took nearly an hour for them to pass through customs once they touched down, having come straight from Lima on a charter flight that took a tick under 14 hours from start to finish.

Waving to their fans, and to the gathered media - a group which include several Peruvians, including one wearing a team shirt - the players and staff headed straight outside to the team bus.

The fans followed, singing and chanting - a couple banging drums - and a few even tried to hop on board to get a closer look.

STUFF Peru stand in the way of the All Whites' qualification for the 2018 World Cup.

They were denied, peacefully, and a line of security formed along the side of the bus. It never got heated, however, and the fans kept a respectful distance and allowed the bus to pull off.

Peru fans waiting to great their team in Auckland. pic.twitter.com/GjLN6TMJ7l — Andrew Voerman (@andrewvoerman) November 6, 2017

It wasn't a smooth getaway, as one member of Peru's party had been missed, but they quickly realised and had only gone about a metre before he was gathered up.

Once he was on board, the bus drove off, followed by a police car, to make the trip into the city, where the team are staying.

The fans sang until the bus was out of sight, buoyed by the appearance of their heroes, who hold the hopes of a country on their shoulders.

Peru are ranked 10th in the world, but haven't been to a World Cup since 1982, 35 years ago, and with only the 122nd-ranked All Whites to beat, fans and players alike know they won't get a better chance than this.

New Zealand Football chief executive Andy Martin had called for the country to make Peru's time here as difficult as possible, given that the opposite would happen in Lima, but that plea was widely derided, and there was no sign of anything like that on Tuesday.

The team passed through the airport smoothly, and will now begin their final preparations for Saturday's match.

They will train in Auckland on Wednesday and Thursday, though it is expected those sessions will be closed to the public.

Among those gathered to greet the team was Francisco Davila, who was born in New Zealand after his parents moved here from Peru early in the 90s.

He said he had never imagined Peru would one day play here.

"It's very special to me, because I've always been watching them since I was little, but for my Dad, it's more special, because they haven't qualified [for thr World Cup] for years."

Peru have been hit hard by the suspension of their star striker, Paolo Guerrero, following a failed drug test, but that hasn't dampened Davila's enthusiasm.

"I reckon it's going to be a very tough match, knowing that our striker's not here, but I reckon Peru will come away with a win."

Dale Warburton, a Wellington-based leader of the White Noise All Whites fan group said he had "never seen people so excited about arriving into Auckland".

"It's great to see those scenes at Auckland Airport.

"It really lays down a challenge for all New Zealand fans to match that passion on Saturday, both in terms of noise and colour.

"A spot at the World Cup next year could depend on it."

As they made their way to the airport in Lima, late on Sunday night (local time) Peru were given a raucous send-off, complete with flares.

There is no doubt that would have left them buzzing as they settled in for their long flight, just as there is no doubt they will have been left buzzing by the welcome they received.

In the corner of the airport where the fans gathered, there was a branch of a global fast-food franchise.

As one fan noted, responding to footage of the welcome on social media: "Wherever you go there will always be a Peruvian … and a McDonald's".