India Cricket Tour In Wellington 2026: Basin Reserve Test And Te Aro Stay

Why This India Tour Is A Big Deal For Wellington

India's visit is a 12-match, multi-format tour: five T20 internationals, five one-day internationals and two Tests, running from late October to the start of December. Wellington gets one of each format, which is unusual. Most cities on a tour see one or two games; Wellington fans can watch a night T20, a Saturday ODI and a five-day Test without leaving the city.

Demand has been strong from the start. When the Cricket Nation member pre-sale opened in late August, New Zealand Cricket reported 26,000 tickets sold in the first 48 hours, a record for the organisation. It named the Wellington T20 and ODI at Hnry Stadium and the opening Test at the Basin Reserve as early strong sellers. General public sales opened on 7 September.

India also brings one of the world's most passionate travelling crowds. Expect a lively, mixed atmosphere, with local fans in black and visiting supporters in blue, plenty of noise, and a city that is busier than a normal November week. That is part of the fun, but it also means accommodation and restaurant tables near the grounds can fill quickly around match days.

The Wellington Match Dates At A Glance

These are the details published on the official New Zealand Cricket ticketing pages at the time of writing. Start times are listed as approximate and can change, so check your ticket and the NZC site in the week of the match.

The rest of the tour moves around the country. The T20 series opens at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on 22 and 24 October, the ODIs also visit Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga, and the second Test is at Hagley Oval from 27 November to 1 December. If you are planning a longer New Zealand trip, Wellington sits neatly in the middle of the schedule.

Later in the summer, the WHITE FERNS play Bangladesh at the Basin Reserve on 15 December (T20I) and 18 December (ODI), and the BLACKCAPS return to the Basin to play Sri Lanka in an ODI on 19 January 2027, according to WellingtonNZ's summer cricket listing.

Tickets, Prices And Where To Sit

New Zealand Cricket's season FAQ says adult tickets for international matches start from NZ$35, with concession prices for children, seniors and students. Exact prices depend on the match and the area, and are shown when you choose seats on the NZC ticketing site, so check there for the Wellington games.

For the Test, NZC says tickets for one or more sessions are available at the box office on the day, subject to availability, which suits a flexible Test week. Members of NZC's free Cricket Nation programme save 15 per cent on adult and family tickets. Wheelchair-accessible seating, with an option for an accompanying guest, can be booked through the regular ticket process or NZC's accessibility booking line listed on each match page.

The Basin Reserve: Why A Test Here Is Special

The Basin Reserve is one of the most loved cricket grounds in the world, and a Test there is a different experience from a stadium game. It is a ground of grass banks, an old pavilion and a big open sky, set right in the middle of the city.

Its history is part of the charm. The site was once a swamp or lagoon. The 1855 Wairarapa earthquake raised the land and partly drained it, and prisoners from the Mount Cook Gaol began levelling it in 1863. The first recorded cricket match was played there on 11 January 1868, and New Zealand's first home Test against England began at the Basin on 24 January 1930.

Heritage New Zealand recognises the Basin as the country's oldest first-class cricket ground. The pavilion is a registered Historic Place, and the wider ground has been a registered Historic Area since 1998. Traffic flows around all four sides, so the whole ground is effectively a giant roundabout where Kent and Cambridge Terraces meet Adelaide Road.

For India fans, the Basin has a famous memory. In February 2014, Brendon McCullum scored 302 against India here, the first Test triple century by a New Zealand batter. Plenty of locals still talk about where they were sitting that week.

India At The Basin: The Test Record

NZC's official records list eight previous India Tests at the Basin Reserve, going back to 1968. The home side has the better of it, but the ground has produced memorable days for both teams.

That is five New Zealand wins, one India win and two draws. Wellington's wind can make a real difference to the bowling, which is part of what makes a Test here so watchable.

Getting Into The Basin: Gates, Buses And Parking

The Basin Reserve has two main entrances. The C S Dempster Gate is the north entrance, at the top of Kent Terrace. The John R Reid Gate is the south entrance, at the bottom of Adelaide Road. Arriving from Te Aro, the Dempster Gate on Kent Terrace is usually the natural choice.

There is no on-site parking at the ground. The Basin's own visitor page points people to public parking in the city centre and to buses that stop on Kent Terrace to the north and Adelaide Road to the south. Metlink (0800 801 700) has timetables. If you arrive by train, Wellington Railway Station is a walk through town or a short taxi ride away.

The easiest option of all is to stay close enough to walk. From the Jessie Street area of Te Aro, the Basin is about 600 metres in a straight line, so you can walk to the ground in the morning, head back at lunch if you want a quiet hour, and walk home at stumps without thinking about parking or rideshare surges.

On Test days, gates open at 9.30am and play is scheduled to start at 11am. Getting there between 10am and 10.30am gives you time to claim a good spot on the bank before the first ball.

What You Can And Cannot Take Into The Basin

The Basin Reserve publishes its own entry conditions, and they are more relaxed than the big stadium in some ways and stricter in others. Read them before you pack.

Food vendors operate on site on match days, so you do not have to bring everything. Many regulars bring a homemade lunch, snacks and a thermos in a soft chilly bag, then buy a hot drink or a treat at the ground.

You, your bags and your belongings may be searched on entry, during the day and on the way out. Banned items are confiscated, so leave the umbrella and the deck chair at your accommodation.

The New Zealand Cricket Museum At The Basin

Inside the Museum Stand at the Basin is the New Zealand Cricket Museum. New Zealand Cricket says the museum is open during every cricket match at the ground, and on Sundays from 11am to 2pm, with free entry on Sundays.

The collection holds more than 20,000 objects, papers, photographs and other memorabilia. It is a good place to spend a rain delay, the lunch break or a slow session when the game is drifting.

The Museum Stand itself has a story. It opened in 1925, was closed in 2012 after being declared earthquake-prone, and reopened in 2020 after strengthening. Sitting in it during a Test is a small piece of New Zealand sporting history.

If the museum matters to your trip, check the NZ Cricket Museum website before your visit, because hours on match days are not spelled out on the official page.

Hnry Stadium For The T20 And ODI

The two white-ball games are at Hnry Stadium, the new name for the stadium many people still know as Sky Stadium. It is at 105 Waterloo Quay, near the railway station, about 10 km from the airport.

The stadium's own advice is to walk. The elevated Fran Wilde Walkway runs 650 metres from Wellington Railway Station to the stadium with harbour views, and takes about five to ten minutes. From Te Aro, the listing for City Tree Hutt B puts the stadium at about a five-minute Uber or a 25-minute walk. Walking along the waterfront to the station, then up onto the walkway, is a pleasant way to arrive.

Rideshare and taxi drop-off is at ground level next to the pedestrian ramp. The stadium warns that taxis and shuttles cannot use the upper plaza for at least 30 minutes after an event, there is no rank for pre-ordered taxis, and pick-up points can move to Bunny Street, Hinemoa Street or Thorndon Quay for big events. After a sold-out night match, walking back into town is often quicker than waiting for a car.

Stadium parking is limited, event-day pricing may apply, and gate sales are card only. If you are staying in the city, there is little reason to drive.

Hnry Stadium Entry Rules Are Stricter

Do not assume the Basin rules apply at the stadium. Hnry Stadium's entry conditions are tighter, and the differences catch people out.

Pass-outs do not apply at every event, so if you leave, you may not be able to get back in. Eat before you go or plan to buy food inside.

Flying In: The Airport Express Into Te Aro

Many visitors for the India games will fly into Wellington, and the Metlink Airport Express (AX) is the simplest way into town. Metlink says it runs between the airport and Wellington Station via Kilbirnie, Hataitai, Courtenay Place, Manners Street, Willis Street and Lambton Quay, seven days a week, every 10 to 20 minutes for most of the day, taking about 25 to 35 minutes depending on traffic.

The listing puts the airport about 15 minutes' drive away, so a taxi or rideshare is the other easy option, especially late at night after a delayed flight.

Spending A Full Test Day On The Grass Bank

A Test day is long. Play runs from 11am, with lunch and tea breaks, until stumps in the early evening. Thinking ahead turns it from a test of endurance into one of the best days you will have in Wellington.

Start with seating. A low beach-style seat that meets the 300mm rule makes the bank far more comfortable than sitting on damp grass. A small cushion or picnic rug works too.

Then think about layers. Wellington in spring can swing from bright sun to a cold southerly in an afternoon. A hat and sunscreen for the morning and a warm jacket for the final session is normal. The Basin's free Wi-Fi on the banks, introduced in 2023, means you can follow the scorecard or check the radar as you go.

Finally, be flexible. If play is delayed by rain, the Cricket Museum, a nearby cafe or a quick walk back to your apartment can fill the gap. One of the big advantages of staying in Te Aro is that you are never stuck at the ground waiting.

Pukeahu, Te Papa And Other Things Near The Basin

Pukeahu National War Memorial Park is a few minutes on foot from the Basin Reserve. The park is open to everyone, and the National War Memorial, with its Carillon tower (opened 1932) and Hall of Memories (opened 1964), is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 12pm to 4pm, according to Manatū Taonga. It is a quiet, reflective place for a morning walk before the Saturday or Sunday session.

Te Papa, the national museum at 55 Cable Street, is open daily from 10am to 6pm. General admission is free for New Zealanders and people living in New Zealand. International visitors aged 16 and over pay NZ$35, and some exhibitions have their own charges. It is ideal for a rest day, a wet morning or the day after the Test.

City Gallery Wellington has Cornelia Parker: Cold Dark Matter on from 10 October 2026 to 7 March 2027, per the WellingtonNZ events listing, if you want something completely different from cricket.

And if you are in town on Sunday 22 November, the Wellington Phoenix play Macarthur FC at Hnry Stadium, with kick-off at 3pm and gates at 2pm. Cricket fans who want a second sport that weekend could watch the morning Test session and still make it to the football.

Diwali And Other Events Around The Tour

If you come for the T20 week, Wellington's Diwali Festival of Lights is on Sunday 25 October 2026, from 2pm to 8.30pm at TSB Arena and Shed 6 on the waterfront, with free entry, according to Wellington City Council. With India in town that week, it is a festive way to spend the Sunday before the Tuesday night T20.

The Wellington Phoenix also play at home on Sunday 25 October against the Central Coast Mariners, kick-off 3pm, and on Sunday 29 November against Adelaide United, kick-off 3pm.

Other dates in the same window, from the WellingtonNZ events calendar, include Stan Walker: A Symphonic Experience at TSB Arena on 20 November and Dermot Kennedy at TSB Arena on 27 November. The Royal New Zealand Ballet's 2026 season runs at the St James Theatre until 7 November.

Event details change, so confirm dates and times with each organiser before you build a trip around them.

Eating And Drinking Around Match Days In Te Aro

Te Aro has plenty of places to eat, and on match days it gets busy. Cuba Street, Courtenay Place and the streets between them are packed with cafes, bars and restaurants within walking distance of both the Basin and the waterfront.

For an early Test start, a coffee and breakfast close to where you are staying is the easy option. Moore Wilson's, the food market on the corner of Tory and College Streets, showed a 7.30am opening on its website when we checked, and is a good place to stock up on fresh produce, deli food and snacks for a homemade chilly-bag lunch. Remember the Basin does not allow commercial takeaways like fast-food chains or pizza, so a picnic you have put together yourself is the way to go.

After stumps or after the night T20, Courtenay Place and Cuba Street are full of bars and restaurants, and the listing puts the city's entertainment hub about five minutes' walk away. If you want a table for a group after a big match, book ahead, because India fans and locals will have the same idea.

On Sunday mornings, the Harbourside Market runs from 7.30am to 2pm on the corner of Cable and Barnett Streets beside Te Papa, with fruit and vegetable stalls, food trucks and food vendors. It is a good breakfast stop before the Sunday session of the Test on 22 November.

Why City Tree Hutt B Suits A Cricket Weekend

City Tree Hutt B is a one-bedroom apartment for up to two guests on a quiet road off the main road in Te Aro. For cricket, location is the main point: the Basin Reserve is a short walk away, and the listing puts Hnry Stadium at about a five-minute Uber or a 25-minute walk, with the waterfront and Te Papa about a 10-minute walk.

The apartment has a queen bed, an open-plan living room and a fully equipped kitchen with a fridge, oven, two-element cooktop, microwave, dishwasher and coffee machine. That makes it easy to pack your chilly-bag lunch in the morning and cook a simple dinner after a long day on the bank.

For a Test-week stay, the practical details matter. There is a washing machine and clothes dryer, heating and air conditioning for changeable spring weather, ultra-fast Wi-Fi for following the other games on the tour, and a smart TV in both the lounge and the bedroom. Self check-in with a lockbox is from 3pm, and check-out is by 10am.

Moore Wilson's is listed as a two-minute walk, and Prefab cafe is directly across the road for your first coffee. Stays of three nights or more come with a free $50 voucher for Ernesto's Cafe and Bar, and five-night stays get a 5% discount, which suits a full five days of Test cricket.

The apartment does not have its own parking. The listing notes paid council street parking nearby and the 70 Tory St Garage about five minutes' walk away. For a cricket trip, you are unlikely to need a car at all.

Who This Cricket Stay Works Best For

This is a stay for two. It suits a couple who both love cricket, a parent and adult child on a bucket-list Test trip, or two friends flying in for the India series. It is also a good fit for one keen fan who wants a quiet base to come back to after a loud day at the ground.

Visitors from Australia or further away can make a bigger trip of it, combining the Saturday ODI and the Test with a few days of Wellington in between. The weeknight T20 on 27 October suits locals and short-break visitors who can fly in for two or three nights.

If your group is larger than two, each of you will need your own accommodation, so look at nearby options early. The apartment's maximum occupancy is two guests.

Children and infants are welcome under the house rules, and a porta cot is available on request and subject to availability, but space is set up for two guests in total.

Three Sample Wellington Cricket Itineraries

The T20 Short Break (Monday 26 To Wednesday 28 October)

Arrive Monday afternoon, check in from 3pm and walk to Cuba Street for dinner. Spend Tuesday at Te Papa and on the waterfront, eat early, then walk to Hnry Stadium for gates at 6.30pm and the 8pm start. Walk back into town after the game, then enjoy a slow Wednesday breakfast before check-out by 10am.

The ODI Weekend (Friday 6 To Sunday 8 November)

Arrive Friday, stock up at Moore Wilson's and take an evening stroll along the waterfront. On Saturday, have a long late breakfast, explore Te Aro, then head to the stadium for gates at 1.30pm and the 3pm start. On Sunday, visit the Harbourside Market from 7.30am before you head home.

The Test Week (Wednesday 18 To Monday 23 November)

Arrive Wednesday so you are settled before the first ball. Walk to the Basin each morning for the 11am start, picnic on the bank and visit the Cricket Museum in a break. Use the weekend for Pukeahu, the Harbourside Market and, if you like, the Phoenix on Sunday afternoon. A five-night booking qualifies for the listing's 5% discount and the Ernesto's voucher.

What To Pack For Wellington Cricket

For the Basin, pack a low seat that meets the size rule, a soft chilly bag, a reusable water bottle up to 1.5 litres, a thermos, sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses. Add a warm, windproof jacket and a packable rain layer, because umbrellas are not allowed.

For Hnry Stadium, pack lighter. Bring one small soft bag that fits under your seat, a water bottle up to 1 litre and a jacket for a cool evening by the harbour. Leave the chair and thermos at the apartment.

For the apartment, there is no need to bring towels or bed linen, which are provided, along with shampoo, conditioner and body wash. Comfortable walking shoes are the most useful thing you can bring, since you will be on foot most of the trip.

Finally, make sure your phone is charged with your digital tickets downloaded, and consider a small power bank for a long Test day.

Booking Tips For A Busy Cricket Month

Book accommodation as soon as you have tickets. With record ticket sales for the tour, the weekends around the ODI and the Test are likely to be the busiest, and a central location is worth securing early.

Read the cancellation policy before you commit. For City Tree Hutt B, cancellations more than 14 days before arrival are refunded in full less a $100 cancellation fee, cancellations more than 7 days before arrival get 50% back less the same fee, and there is no refund within 7 days. Weather can affect play, so factor that into your plans.

When you are ready, you can check live availability and prices on the City Tree Hutt B listing, see all stays on the WTP Holiday Homes booking page, and read more local trip ideas in the WTP Holiday Home Guides.

Before Leaving Home: Your Wellington Cricket Check

Ready to plan your trip? Check dates for a walk-to-the-Basin stay at City Tree Hutt B and book direct with WTP Holiday Homes.