Tauranga children got the first glimpse of The Wiggles' nationwide ‘Apples and Bananas Tour' at Baycourt this morning.

The entertainers, along with friends Dorothy the Dinosaur, Waggs the Dog, Henry the Octopus and Captain Feathersword, began their nationwide tour from July 2-16 with a performance in Tauranga this morning.

Captain Feathersword with The Wiggles Anthony Field, Emma Watkins, Simon Pryce and Lachy Gillespie at Baycourt today. Photo by: Tracy Hardy.

Yellow Wiggle Emma Watkins says the tour features a mixture of classics, including ‘Fruit Salad Yummy, Yummy' and new songs such as ‘Do the Propeller'.

'My favourite Wiggles song changes all of the time at the moment - its ‘Hey Waggs' which is off our new DVD Wiggle House.”

Emma is the first-ever female Wiggle introduced to the group and says it's quite an honour.

'We've seen a lot of girls wear big yellow bows, bows on their shoes and big tutus. I think the dressing up factor is quite prominent at the moment.”

The Wiggles originally formed in Australia in 1991 and are this year celebrating their second year anniversary as a newly-formed group.

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field says the new Wiggles bring a fresh, new life to the group, with creative ideas and energy that encompass the original Wiggles ethos of good quality early childhood entertainment.

'The last year was very hard just re-establishing ourselves. We were touring everywhere and in the last year since we've been on television, children have really taken to the new Wiggles.”

Anthony is the only founding Wiggle, previously performing with original Wiggles Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt.

'I absolutely love the new Wiggley team. I get lots of emails and text messages from Greg and Murray and Jeff, and they're all so happy that The Wiggles are continuing – and continuing in such a great, positive way.”

As an early childhood teacher, Anthony says The Wiggles have always come from a young learning perspective, helping make their songs so catchy.

'The tradition has continued over the years - that we come from a child's perspective. We think about what's important for children, what makes children happy and what they're interested in.

'That's where the songs have come from. I think they're catchy as well and great melodies.”