The Vienna Boys Choir had only been in Dunedin for a few hours when their hijinks were attracting attention from the authorities yesterday.
Although it was not really their fault, to be fair.
The Otago Daily Times photographer was keen to get a photo of two of the boys throwing another boy into Moana Pool yesterday and the boys were only too willing to oblige.
But, then the lifeguards intervened, wagging warning fingers.
It was all in a day's work with the boys on tour, chaperone Andrea Zimmermann said with a sigh yesterday.
"There's never a dull moment.
"They're regular boys and they wouldn't be boys if they weren't rambunctious some times.
"They see a lot of the world and it's very exciting for them. But, we have to keep them busy with trips to beaches, cinemas, and zoos and things like that."
Ms Zimmermann was reluctant to share many stories.
"I don't want to tell tales on them, but bedtime is difficult sometimes. The adults want to have quiet time and the boys don't want to go to bed. They have lots of energy.
"You're on the road for such a long time together and it's 24 hours a day, seven days a week."
The 25-strong choir is made up of boys aged between 10 and 14 from nations including Austria, Ireland, Wales, Russia and South Korea. They all attend the choir's private school in Vienna.
"This is a long way from home for us. We've never travelled this far before. I don't think you can get any further from Austria than Dunedin," Ms Zimmermann said.
"One of the English-speaking choristers, Felix (13), said it was "a lot of fun" in the world-renowned choir.
"We're all good friends and I love the performing. My favourite song that we're doing in Dunedin is The Gypsy Life. I think New Zealand is the best country I've ever been to."
The choir does not release members' surnames.
Earlier, the boys were on the receiving end of some monkey business themselves.
They were met at Dunedin International Airport on Sunday night by Lima Dance Company artists Adolf Hoeft and Terara Tune, who are playing up as monkeys during the festival.
The pair decided to help out as baggage-handlers at the airport and bedlam ensued as they tried to match the boys with their bags.
The Vienna Boys Choir makes its Dunedin debut at 8pm today in the Regent Theatre.
