New Zealand
From the Basin Reserve to Hagley Oval, New Zealand combines world-class cricket with some of the most spectacular landscapes on earth.
Sports tours in New Zealand
Cricket in New Zealand
India tour New Zealand from October, Sri Lanka from January: the Basin Reserve, Hagley Oval, Bay Oval and more, built for your group.
The country
Where you’ll go
New Zealand is one of the most beautiful countries on earth. Snow-capped mountains and long beaches, fiords and volcanic plateaus: it packs an astonishing variety of scenery into two islands, and it is compact and easy to travel.
For cricket lovers it offers intimate grounds, passionate fans and a touring tradition that goes back more than a century. The Basin Reserve in Wellington is one of the most characterful Test grounds in the world, Hagley Oval sits in the park in Christchurch with the Southern Alps beyond, and Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui has the beach minutes away.
Most trips combine the cricket with the country around it: a Test in Wellington and the wineries of Marlborough, Hagley Oval and then Queenstown and Milford Sound, or a self-drive between the grounds. Tell us what you want and we build it around your group.
On the map
12 places to know in New Zealand
Hover over or tap a pin to explore.
Auckland
The City of Sails and the main international gateway, with Eden Park, volcanic cones and Waiheke Island.
New Zealand's largest city, built across an isthmus between two harbours and studded with volcanic cones. Waterfront dining at the Viaduct Harbour, the Sky Tower, island day trips to Waiheke and Rangitoto, and Eden Park, the country's largest ground.
The main international airport, with one-stop flights from London.
When to go
New Zealand through the year
The guide
The New Zealand guide
New Zealand has been on my cricket travel radar for years, and every trip confirms what I already knew: it's one of the finest places on earth to watch cricket. The grounds are intimate, the landscapes are extraordinary, and the welcome is genuinely warm. Whether you're watching a Test at the Basin Reserve with Mount Victoria behind you, or driving through the Southern Alps to Hagley Oval, every day feels like an adventure.
Travel notesEntry, health, money, phones, water, weather, getting around and time.+
Entry+
British passport holders do not need a visa to visit New Zealand for up to 6 months, but you must have a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) before you travel. Apply online or through the official NZeTA app and allow up to 72 hours. You pay the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy at the same time: a fee applies for both.
Your passport must have an expiry date at least 3 months after the day you plan to leave, and you need proof of a return or onward ticket. Complete the New Zealand Traveller Declaration before you arrive. Rules can change, so always check GOV.UK travel advice before you travel.
Health+
No vaccinations are required to enter New Zealand from the UK, and the country has an excellent healthcare system. Talk to your GP or a travel health clinic before you go about anything recommended for you.
UV levels in New Zealand are exceptionally high: strong sunscreen (SPF 50+) is essential, even on overcast days.
Money+
The currency is the New Zealand dollar (NZD). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted everywhere, including contactless. Tipping is not expected, but is appreciated for exceptional service.
Bringing food in+
New Zealand is strict about biosecurity: it is illegal to bring in most food products, and the fines are heavy. Declare anything you are unsure about on arrival.
Phones+
Check your UK provider’s roaming plan before you go. Or buy a local SIM card on arrival: they are sold at the airports. Coverage is good in cities and towns, but patchy in remote and rural areas.
Drinking water+
Tap water is safe to drink throughout New Zealand, and the quality is excellent.
Weather+
The cricket is played in the New Zealand summer, from November to March. Expect 20 to 28°C, but be prepared for changeable conditions: four seasons in one day is a genuine reality here.
Pack layers, a rain jacket and strong sunscreen.
Getting around+
Domestic flights connect all the main cities quickly. Self-drive is highly recommended: New Zealanders drive on the left, the roads are good, and the scenery between the cities is spectacular.
Wellington to the South Island is a short flight or a spectacular ferry crossing through the Marlborough Sounds, about 3 hours 30 minutes to Picton.
Time+
New Zealand is 13 hours ahead of the UK for most of the cricket season (November to March), and 11 to 12 hours ahead the rest of the year. New Zealand daylight saving runs from the last Sunday in September to the first Sunday in April.
Destinations in New ZealandWellington, Christchurch, Auckland, Rotorua and Hobbiton, the wine regions, Tongariro, Queenstown and Milford Sound.+
Wellington+
New Zealand's compact, creative capital: a city built around a harbour, with a food scene that punches well above its weight. It is walkable, vibrant and endlessly interesting, and home to the Basin Reserve, the country's most historic and characterful Test ground.
- Te Papa Tongarewa: New Zealand's national museum, free entry, world-class exhibits
- The Wellington Cable Car: up to the Botanic Garden, with harbour views
- Craft beer: Wellington is the craft beer capital of New Zealand, with dozens of breweries and taprooms
- Cuba Street: bohemian dining, cafés and street art
- Zealandia: a predator-free sanctuary with native birds, including kiwi
- The waterfront: a harbourside walk and restaurants, and the Weta Workshop
Christchurch+
The Garden City, beautifully rebuilt after the 2011 earthquake and now one of New Zealand's most exciting cities. Hagley Park is its green heart, and Hagley Oval sits within it: one of the most picturesque cricket settings anywhere in the world.
- Hagley Park: 165 hectares of gardens, walking trails and the Botanic Gardens
- Punting on the Avon, through the city centre
- The Christchurch Gondola, to the top of the Port Hills for panoramic views
- Banks Peninsula: the harbour town of Akaroa, French colonial history, and swimming with dolphins
- The International Antarctic Centre: life on the ice
Auckland+
New Zealand's largest city: the City of Sails, built across an isthmus between two harbours and studded with volcanic cones. It is the main international gateway, with waterfront dining, island day trips and Eden Park.
- The Sky Tower: a 328-metre observation tower with panoramic views, and the SkyWalk and SkyJump if you dare
- The Viaduct Harbour: waterfront dining, bars and the New Zealand Maritime Museum
- Waiheke Island: a 40-minute ferry ride to wineries and beaches
- Rangitoto Island: a volcanic island hike with harbour views
- Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki: New Zealand's largest art collection
Rotorua and Hobbiton+
Rotorua is a geothermal wonderland: bubbling mud pools, erupting geysers and Māori cultural experiences. The Hobbiton Movie Set in Matamata is just 45 minutes away, a must for Lord of the Rings fans. Easy day trips from Auckland or Hamilton.
The wine regions+
Marlborough for world-famous sauvignon blanc, Hawke’s Bay for reds and chardonnay, Central Otago for exceptional pinot noir, and Waiheke Island for Bordeaux-style blends. New Zealand wine is world class, and the cellar doors are outstanding.
The Tongariro Alpine Crossing+
One of the world's great day hikes. The 19.4 km crossing traverses volcanic landscapes, emerald crater lakes and steaming vents in the heart of the North Island. Allow 7 to 8 hours. A bucket-list experience for fit walkers.
Queenstown+
The adventure capital of the world: bungee jumping, jet boats, skiing in winter, and wine tours in Central Otago. Set on the shores of Lake Wakatipu with the Remarkables as a backdrop, Queenstown is spectacular in every season. Allow 2 to 3 nights at least.
Milford Sound+
A day trip from Queenstown or Te Anau. Cruise through the fiord past towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and rainforest, and watch for dolphins, seals and penguins. One of New Zealand's most iconic experiences.
By road it is about 5 hours from Queenstown, or 2 hours 30 minutes from Te Anau, so many visitors stay a night in Te Anau.
Booked with confidence
Follow On Tours is the tour operator for your trip. You book with us and pay us: one contract, one point of contact from your first question to your flight home.
We are a member of ABTOT, number 5718. If we were to become insolvent, ABTOT cover provides a refund if you have not yet travelled. This covers non-flight packages.
Depending on your arrangements, our trusted local team is there to deliver your trip and help with anything you need while you're away.
Questions
New Zealand with Follow On Tours
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Join the FamilyYour financial protection
Follow On Tours Limited is a member of the Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust (ABTOT), membership number 5718, and holds bonds A60089 and A60090.
The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 for Follow On Tours Limited, membership number 5718, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for:
Non-flight packages
ABTOT cover provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled or repatriation if transportation was included in your package. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Follow On Tours Limited.
In the unlikely event that you require assistance whilst abroad due to our financial failure, please call our 24/7 helpline on 01702 811397 and advise you are a customer of an ABTOT protected travel company.
You can access The Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018 here: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2018/634/contents/made
You can find out more about ABTOT here: https://www.abtot.com/