Top 5 Cricket Stadiums in New Zealand

New Zealand, an island nation surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, has some mesmerising landmarks across the country. And cricket stadiums situated throughout New Zealand are among them.

These venues are the central attraction when New Zealand’s cricket teams are in action during the peak summer. Watching cricket matches at such venues is a surreal experience for any fan.

On that note, let’s look at the top 5 cricket stadiums in New Zealand.

Basin Reserve | Wellington

Basin Reserve is an integral part of New Zealand’s cricket history, as it is the oldest First-Class cricket stadium in the country. 

Mount Victoria and Mount Cook overlook the Basin Reserve situated in Wellington. The ground has a vintage stand on one side and a grass bank on the other, where you can lie down and catch some action.

Established in 1868, the Basin hosted its first match the same year and its first international in 1930, a Test between New Zealand and England. The ground can accommodate 11,600 spectators.

Hagley Oval | Christchurch

Imagine yourself walking into a park and coming across a cricket match happening in the middle of it. That’s Hagley Oval for you, which finds itself surrounded by Hagley Park in Christchurch.

Unlike modern-day cricket stadiums, Hagley Oval doesn’t have a lot of cement structure. It is open from all sides, with 18,000 fans enjoying the action from the grass banks.

The oval was opened in 1851, but it wasn’t until 1867, the ground hosted its first match. International cricket came ringing in 1969, as the Hagley Oval hosted a women’s Test between New Zealand and England.

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Seddon Park | Hamilton

If you are in a picnic mood and happen to be around Hamilton, then you should head towards Seddon Park. The stadium turns into a picnic atmosphere as it hosts a cricket game.

Seddon Park got its name after New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Minister, Richard Seddon, though it’s now known as WestpacTrust Park.

With a capacity of 10,000 spectators, Seddon Park hosted its first international match in 1981, an ODI between New Zealand and India.

Bay Oval | Tauranga

Situated in Blake Park in Tauranga, Bay Oval is a 21st-century-built facility. Blake Park saw cricketing action between the 1950s and early 2000s but made way for the establishment of Bay Oval in 2005.

Bay Oval came up in 2007, and 7 years later, it was on the international cricket map. Its first international match was in 2014, an ODI between Canada and the Netherlands.

Bay Oval’s grass embankments can host up to 10,000 spectators at once.

John Davies Oval | Queenstown

The John Davies Oval, or Queenstown Events Centre, surrounds itself with a lake, a mountain range, and an international airport. This backdrop makes it a stunning venue to catch some action between bat and ball.

The John Davies Oval is beneath ‘The Remarkables’ mountain range, with Wakatipu Lake on one side and Queenstown Airport on the other. It’s a multipurpose facility opened in 1997, hosting cricket, rugby, tennis, and netball matches.

In 2003, the oval held its first international match, an ODI between New Zealand and India. The venue can accommodate 19,000 cricket fans.

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