And, after turning out for Edinburgh this season, the Scot has got a taste for top-level rugby and wants to ensure he has every opportunity to break into the first team next year.
McQuillin has made the trip to New Zealand before as a teenager but this time he is expecting a lot more hard-work as he battles to establish himself in the Edinburgh set-up.
"It's back to Christchurch but, while the last trip was more of a holiday, this is serious improvement stuff," he told the Scotsman.
"I'm going to be training with professionals at the Canterbury rugby academy in the hope of coming back and really pushing for a starting place with Edinburgh.
"It's going to be a mountain of hard work in New Zealand but I intend to make sure things get even harder when I return."
While the youngster has had limited opportunities thus far at Edinburgh - making two appearances off the bench against Ulster and Treviso - he has been keen to soak up the all the experience that he can.
"Although I didn't get on at Scarlets, it was a valuable experience travelling with the team, being on the pitch, warming up beforehand," he said.
"When it came to making a first appearance in a home game [against Ulster] I was better prepared.
"Nerves came partly from coming off the bench with a few minutes to go against top players but more because I didn't want to make any mistakes.
"(Coach) Alan Solomons is very disciplined about his systems and Omar (Mouneimne) the defence coach is a stickler.
"I knew about ten minutes beforehand I was going on when I got the call to warm up and there was a lot to remember. It can be a bit hectic at times learning calls and, while you just want to go out and play, it isn't about yourself so much as being part of a unit working together in scrums and line-outs."
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