Basin Reserve is a cricket ground in Mount Cook, Wellington, New Zealand. It is one of the most popular and oldest cricket grounds in New Zealand. It is primarily used to host cricket matches. 11600 is the current capacity of the Basin Reserve cricket ground. Basin Reserve seating arrangement map helps in finding the seats. Cell0 Basin Reserve is the commercial name of the cricket ground after the naming agreement, and it is commonly referred to as the Basin.
Basin Reserve cricket ground was established in 1868 and it is the oldest cricket ground in New Zealand. It is the only cricket ground in the country listed with Heritage New Zealand. Basin Reserve cricket ground has undergone numerous renovations and expansions over the years. This stadium also used to host association football games, cultural events, concerts, and other events occasionally. It is one of the most popular venues in New Zealand to host cricket matches of international men’s and women’s teams.
The first international game at the Basin Reserve was played between England and New Zealand in 1930. The first one-day international match at this ground was also played between England and New Zealand in 1975. New Zealand national cricket Team of men and women uses Basin Reserve for their selected games. It has been the home of the Wellington Firebirds cricket team since 1873, and their home games are played here. It is also popularly known as Firebirds Stadium during the team’s games.
Hnry Stadium is another cricket stadium in Wellington. The stadium has a capacity of about 34000, and visitors often look for the Hnry Stadium seating plan. It is about 3 km from Basin Reserve.
Basin Reserve Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Stadium | Basin Reserve |
| Location | Mount Cook, Wellington 6021, New Zealand |
| Home team | Wellington Firebirds and Wellington Blaze |
| Established | 1868 (cricket ground) |
| Capacity | Approximately 11,600 |
| Stadium type | Historic outdoor cricket ground |
| Main stands | R.A. Vance Stand, Museum Stand and other pavilion-side seating |
| Cricket ends | Vance Stand End and Scoreboard End |
| Main viewing areas | Grandstand seats and grass embankments |
| Pitch | Central cricket wicket |
| Floodlights | No |
| Museum | New Zealand Cricket Museum, beneath the Museum Stand |
| Hospitality | Trish McKelvey Lounge and Norwood Room |
| Main entrances | C.S. Dempster Gate (north) and John R. Reid Gate (south) |
Basin Reserve Seat Map
The seating sections of the stadium are shown on the Basin Reserve seating arrangement map. The location of the cricket pitch, grass embankment, reserved seating, disabled seating, and premium areas are indicated on the map.
The map also shows entrances, nearby streets, and other amenities at the Basin.
The layout of the stadium shows the location of the family zone, museum stand, no alcohol zone, uncovered seats, main stand, and other areas.
Accessible seating is available at Basin Reserve Cricket Ground. Pre-booking is mandatory for the disabled seats before big events due to limited availability and high demand.
| Facility | Details |
|---|---|
| Wheelchair-accessible areas | Dedicated matchday wheelchair seating numbers and exact locations are not publicly confirmed |
| Accessible entry to the ground | Recommended wheelchair route via John R. Reid Gate, Rugby Street, on the south side |
| New Zealand Cricket Museum | Wheelchair-accessible entrance and wheelchair-suitable bathroom; located beneath the Museum Stand |
| Accessible function spaces | Trish McKelvey Lounge and Norwood Room in the R.A. Vance Stand |
| Step-free function access | Both function rooms are on the ground floor and offer disabled access |
| Companion arrangements | Confirm matchday seating and companion arrangements with Cricket Wellington |
| Accessible parking | No dedicated public matchday accessible-parking allocation confirmed; nearby street parking should be checked |
Premium category sections are listed below, and these are depicted on the Basin Reserve Cricket Stadium layout.
| Premium Area | Location and Features |
|---|---|
| Northern Hospitality Block | Northern end of the R.A. Vance Stand; shared hospitality space for up to 50 guests, with food, private bar and cricket viewing |
| R.A. Vance Members’ Section | R.A. Vance Stand; unreserved member seating with access to member facilities and Long Room, subject to availability |
| Trish McKelvey Lounge | Ground floor of R.A. Vance Stand; floor-to-ceiling windows, playing-field views and built-in bar |
| Norwood Room | R.A. Vance Stand, opposite the Trish McKelvey Lounge; flexible function room with ground views |
| New Zealand Cricket Museum | Beneath the Museum Stand; heritage exhibits and private group visits |
Basin Reserve Best Seats
The seat map of the stadium helps in choosing the best seats before booking. All the stadium stands with rows and numbers are indicated on the Basin Reserve layout.
The location of the entrances and other important areas are also shown on the map to help visitors choose the best sections.
| Seating / Viewing Area | Recommendation | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| R.A. Vance Stand – central seats | Choose | Best overall elevated view of the pitch |
| Museum Stand – central seats | Choose | Side-on cricket viewing and pavilion atmosphere |
| Grandstand seats near halfway between the wickets | Choose | Following batting and bowling action |
| Grass embankment near the centre of the ground | Choose | Broad field view and relaxed viewing |
| Grass banks along the boundary | Choose | Families and picnic-style viewing |
| Pavilion-side viewing areas | Choose | Convenient access to facilities |
| Extreme end-on positions | Consider avoiding for detailed cricket viewing | Less balanced view of the pitch |
| Very low boundary-side positions | Consider avoiding | Harder to follow action across the whole field |
Basin Reserve Events 2026
| Day and Date | Events | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday-Monday, November 19-23, 2026 | New Zealand vs India – 1st Test, Hero VIDA Test Series | International Test Cricket |
Basin Reserve Events 2027
| Day and Date | Events | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, January 2, 2027 | Wellington Blaze vs Otago Sparks – Super Smash | Women’s T20 Cricket |
| Saturday, January 2, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Otago Volts – Super Smash | Men’s T20 Cricket |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | Wellington Blaze vs Northern Brave – Super Smash | Women’s T20 Cricket |
| Monday, January 4, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Northern Brave – Super Smash | Men’s T20 Cricket |
| Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Wellington Blaze vs Central Hinds – Super Smash | Women’s T20 Cricket |
| Thursday, January 7, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags – Super Smash | Men’s T20 Cricket |
| Tuesday, January 19, 2027 | New Zealand vs Sri Lanka – ODI | International Cricket |
| Thursday, January 21, 2027 | Wellington Blaze vs Canterbury Magicians – Super Smash | Women’s T20 Cricket |
| Thursday, January 21, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury Kings – Super Smash | Men’s T20 Cricket |
| Monday, January 25, 2027 | Wellington Blaze vs Auckland Hearts – Super Smash | Women’s T20 Cricket |
| Monday, January 25, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Auckland Aces – Super Smash | Men’s T20 Cricket |
| Tuesday, February 16, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags – Ford Trophy | Domestic One-Day Cricket |
| Friday, February 19, 2027 | Ford Trophy – Elimination Final | Domestic One-Day Cricket |
| Sunday, February 21, 2027 | Ford Trophy – Grand Final | Domestic One-Day Cricket |
| Monday-Thursday, March 1-4, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Canterbury – Plunket Shield | First-Class Cricket |
| Wednesday-Saturday, March 10-13, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Otago – Plunket Shield | First-Class Cricket |
| Thursday-Sunday, March 18-21, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Central Stags – Plunket Shield | First-Class Cricket |
| Friday-Monday, March 26-29, 2027 | Wellington Firebirds vs Northern Districts – Plunket Shield | First-Class Cricket |
