Guide to New Zealand – England Cricket Tour (2019)

After an exciting but drawn Ashes series, England head to the other side of the world to face New Zealand. If the series serves up any of the drama that was on offer during the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final between the two nations, we’ll be in for a real treat.

The Tour to this scenic country will take place over five weeks across October, November and December 2019, consisting of four Tour matches, five Twenty20 International’s and two Test matches. The last time England toured New Zealand in 2018, the Kiwi’s won the two match Test series 1-0, whilst England won the five match ODI series 3-2.

Please read on for a full guide to the 2019 England Tour of New Zealand, including travel and venue guides.


New Zealand Country Information

Capital – Wellington

Currency – New Zealand Dollar ($/NZD)




Source: ExchangeRates.org.uk

Official & Recognised Languages – English, Māori

Population – 4.5 million

Time – GMT+12/GMT+13 (Summer)


Getting to New Zealand & Visa

The remote North and South islands that make up New Zealand are 2,000 kilometres east of Australia across Tasman Sea and 1,000 kilometres south of the Pacific islands of New Caledonia, Fiji and Tonga.

There are six international Airports across New Zealand (Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Hamilton, Queenstown, Rotorua & Wellington), however Auckland and Christchurch are currently the only two that connect directly with countries other than Australia or Fiji. Flying from the UK will have at least one stopover, sometimes two.

Thinking of going to New Zealand? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-8904330-13542533

Entry Requirements & Visas

Entry requirements for New Zealand vary between countries, with over countries having a visa-waiver agreement. Further information is available on the New Zealand Immigration website here.

Citizens of UK do not require a visa and can stay in New Zealand as a visitor for up to 6 months. Further information is available on the UK government website here.


Getting around New Zealand

New Zealand has an extensive travel network that makes the country easy to navigate and explore.

Air – Most of New Zealand’s major towns have an airport, allowing quick inter-city and inter-island travel if your short on time.

Thinking of flying across New Zealand? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-8904330-13542533

Bus – Bus travel across New Zealand is a relatively easy and efficient, albeit time consuming method of seeing the country. The most extensive and reliable company is InterCity, which has buses running across both the North and South Island.

Car Hire – Hiring a car is a relatively inexpensive way of travelling across New Zealand, meaning you can dictate your own itinerary and pace. There are many companies offering car hire and can be found across most major towns, with one-way hire often available.

Thinking of hiring a car in New Zealand? Search & book through Skyscanner here.

Ferry – Flying is quicker but catching the ferry across the Cook Strait between the North and South island is cheaper and much more scenic. There are two companies offering this service between Wellington and Picton, both costing approximately the same – the Interislander Ferry or the Bluebridge Ferry.

Train – There are three inter-region scenic journeys across New Zealand – the Northern Explorer between Auckland and Wellington, the Coastal Pacific between Christchurch and Picton and the TranzAlpine between Christchurch and Greymouth.


City & Venue Guides

Auckland

10th November 2019 (14:00): 5th T20I – New Zealand v England

The last T20 International of the series is held in New Zealand’s most populous city of Auckland. With a population of over a million, the city still maintains a relaxed vibe, whilst the wider area offers an array of beautiful beaches, regional parks and islands.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Auckland by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Auckland Airport is the largest and busiest airport in New Zealand, with domestic and international flights to nearly 50 destinations across Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and Asia. This includes an indirect fly to London Heathrow, via Los Angeles.

The most convenient way of reaching the Airport is the SkyBus which runs to Auckland ($17 one way) and North Harbour ($24 one way) in about 50 minutes.

Thinking of going to Auckland? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Auckland (SkyCity Coach Terminal) to most of the North Island, and indirectly to the South Island.

Go Kiwi depart from opposite the Ferry Building on Quay Street and has a daily shuttle to the Coromandel Peninsula.

Train – The Northern Explorer departs from Auckland Strand Station at 7:45am on Monday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s, arriving at Wellington at 6:25pm. The train travels through Papakura, Hamilton, Otorohanga, Tongariro National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu.

Venue Guide – Eden Park

A guide to visiting Eden Park, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

Being the most populated city in Auckland, you’d expect a fair amount of choice of activities, and the city and region doesn’t disappoint:

  • Sky Tower – Sitting at 328 metres tall, Sky Tower is the Southern Hemisphere’s tallest freestanding structure. Fantastic views are on offer from the observation deck, or for those seeking more of a thrill – the SkyWalk or SkyJump could be for you.
  • Devonport – A short ferry trip from the city, the suburb of Devonport offers a variety of antique, gift and book shops, as well as a number of cafes and restaurants. The Victorian and Edwardian buildings sit below Mount Victoria, offering views across the harbour to Auckland CBD.
  • Auckland Museum – Well worth a visit is Auckland Museum, easily spotted sitting upon a grassed plinth in the Auckland Domain. The museum offers a variety of displayers on Pacific Island and Maori artefacts, natural history and military history.
  • Hauraki Gulf Islands – The nearby Hauraki Gulf Islands give the Bay of Islands a run for there money, and some are just minutes from the city. Waiheke Island is perhaps the most well known, offering beautiful beaches and top class restaurants.

Christchurch

1st November 2019 (14:00): 1st T20I – New Zealand v England

The opening match of the Tour takes place in Christchurch, New Zealand’s third largest city which is undergoing huge redevelopment following the 2011 earthquake.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Christchurch by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Christchurch International Airport is located 12km north of the city, being the second busiest in New Zealand after Auckland. The airport has links to domestic cities in the country, as well as further afield to Brisbane, Dubai, Gold Coast, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Nadi, Singapore and Sydney.

The Purple Line (Airport to Sumner via Avonhead) runs from the airport directly to Hagley Oval, if you hop off at the Christchurch Women’s Hospital Outpatients. Alternatively bus route 29 runs from the airport to the city. Tickets cost $8.50 one way or $15 return.

Thinking of going to Christchurch? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Auckland (Armagh Street) to most of the South Island, and indirectly to the North Island.

Train – There are two scenic rail journey’s from Christchurch railway station – The Coastal Pacific running daily between September and April, leaving Christchurch at 7am and arriving into Picton at 1:15pm, running via Rangiora, Kaikoura and Blenheim. The TranzAlpine runs daily all year round from Christchurch at 8:15am to Greymouth, arriving at 1:05pm via Rolleston, Darfield, Springfield, Arthur’s Pass, Otira and Moana.

Venue Guide – Hagley Oval

A guide to visiting the Hagley Oval, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Christchurch Botanic GardensNew Zealand’s largest inner-city park offers over 30 hectares of floral delights alongside punt boats meandering along the Avon River.
  • Cathedral Square – Located in the heart of the city, Christchurch Cathedral was a much loved symbol of the city but was badly damaged in the 2011 earthquakes, with questions still remaining over its future.
  • International Antarctic CentreChristchurch is known as being a gateway to the Antarctic, the centre gives visitors the opportunity to see penguins up close as well as learning about the continent.
  • Orana Wildlife ParkNew Zealand’s only open range zoo includes the opportunity to jump in a cage for an up close lion encounter.

Hamilton

29th November-3rd December 2019: 2nd Test – New Zealand v England

The second Test match and last match of the Tour is in Hamilton, located on the banks of the Waikato River in the North Island.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Hamilton by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Hamilton Airport is located about 15km south of Hamilton. The Airport is solely used for domestic flights and has regular flights to Christchurch, Gisborne, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Tauranga and Wellington. The closest international airport Auckland, about a 90 minute drive to the North of Hamilton.

Hamilton can be reached from Hamilton Airport by shuttle bus which costs $30 and takes approximately 20 minutes, or a taxi costs $50/$60 and also takes about 20 minutes.

Thinking of going to Hamilton? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Hamilton (Hamilton Transport Centre) to most of the North Island, and indirectly to the South Island.

Busit! serves the region of Waikato, running from Hamilton Transport Centre to Cambridge, Ngaruawahia and Raglan.

Train – Hamilton’s Frankton train station is on the Northern Explorer route between Auckland and Wellington, running on Monday’s, Thursday’s and Saturday’s. The train travels through Otorohanga, Tongariro National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu on its way to Wellington, leaving at 10:15am, or via Papakura on the Auckland line leaveing at 4:30pm.

Venue Guide – Seddon Park

A guide to visiting Seddon Park, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Hamilton Gardens – Spread over 50 hectares, Hamilton Gardens is made up of a number of different gardens featuring themes from across the world.
  • Waikato Museum – The Waikato Museum features five different main themes – an art gallery, science gallery, Maori treasures, history of Hamilton and an exhibition on the Waikato River.
  • Hamilton Zoo This zoo features over 500 different species and offers behind the scenes guided-tours.

Mount Maunganui (Tauranga)

21st-25th November 2019: 1st Test – New Zealand v England

The 1st Test of the Tour see’s Mount Maunganui host its first ever Test match. Named after the 232 metre hill that dominates the skyline, this enclave is part of greater Tauranga in the wonderful Bay of Plenty.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Mount Maunganui by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Tauranga Airport is located just 3 kilometres from Bay Oval and 6km from Tauranga. The airport is a small regional airport with flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The closest international airport Auckland, about a 90 minute drive to the North of Hamilton.

With the airport being less than 10 minutes away from both Tauranga and Mount Maunganui, taxi is the best choice of getting to the Airport and will be relatively inexpensive.

Thinking of going to Tauranga? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-8904330-13542533

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Tauranga/Mount Maunganui to most of the North Island, and indirectly to the South Island. The Twin City Express runs twice daily from Monday to Friday between Tauranga/Mount Maunganui to Rotorua via Te Puke.

The City Link (CL) bus runs from Tauranga CBD to Mount Maunganui in about 15 minutes.

Venue Guide – Bay Oval

A guide to visiting Bay Oval, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Mauao/Mount Maunganui – Climbing the mountain takes about an hour return but it is steep. However there are wonderful views on offer of the harbour, beach and Pacific Ocean.
  • Beaches – Mount Beach offers some of the best surf in New Zealand, with an artificial reef recently installed to offer consistently perfect waves. Ocean Beach, located away from the Mount offers a quieter stretch of sand.
  • Hot pools – There are a number of naturally heated salt water pools in Mount Maunganui in order to take a long relaxing soak.
  • Swim with Dolphins – Several companies in Tauranga offer Dolphin-spotting tours, with the opportunity to swim with them once you’re up close.
  • McLaren Falls & Kaimai Mamaku Forest Park – The local scenic spots are located just a few miles outside of Tauranga.

Napier

8th November 2019 (18:00): 4th T20I – New Zealand v England

Hosting the fourth Twenty20 International in the series, Napier in Hawke’s Bay is stuck in the 1930’s, featuring beautifully restored Art Deco buildings after a massive earthquake in 1931.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Napier by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Hawke’s Bay Airport is located just 6 kilometres north of Napier. The airport just has regular domestic flights to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The closest international airport’s are either Auckland or Wellington, which are both about a 4 to 5 hour drive from Napier.

A taxi or shuttle bus service will likely cost about $25 per journey.

Thinking of going to Napier? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Napier (Clive Square Bus Stop) to most of the North Island, and indirectly to the South Island.

Venue Guide – McLean Park

A guide to visiting McLean Park, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Marine Parade – This 3km stretch of seafront is a scenic bridge between Napier and the Pacific Ocean featuring an array of family friendly activities including gardens, mini golf, skate park and the National Aquarium of New Zealand.
  • Explore Hawke’s Bay – Take the time to explore the Hawke’s Bay area, famed for its wineries and landmarks including Cape Kidnappers, Lake Waikaremoana and Te Mata Peak.

Nelson

5th November 2019 (14:00): 3rd T20I – New Zealand v England

Hosting the third Twenty20 International, Nelson is the geographical centre of New Zealand, located at the top of the South Island and is one of the sunniest cities in the country.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Nelson by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Nelson Airport is located south of Nelson CBD and about 5km north of the Saxton Oval. The Airport is solely used for domestic flights and has regular flights to Auckland, Blenheim, Christchurch, Kapiti Coast, Palmerston North and Wellington. The closest international airport on the South Island is Christchurch, about 5 hours drive away or Wellington which is a ferry ride away on the North Island.

A taxi costs €25 to reach Nelson CBD or the Saxton Oval, or there is a shuttle bus service for about €20.

Thinking of going to Nelson? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus – InterCity has buses running from Nelson (Bridge Street) to most of the South Island, and indirectly to the North Island.

Venue Guide – Saxton Oval

A guide to visiting Saxton Oval, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Art – Nelson is home to a number of creative people and has an array of galleries, including Jens Hansen, maker of the ‘One Ring’ from the Lord of the Rings films.
  • Tahunanui – This suburb of Nelson offers an amazing beach and a number of family friendly activities on or along the waterfront.
  • Abel Tasman National Park – Just an hour from Nelson, the smallest national park in New Zealand packs a lot in, with the coastal track being one of New Zealand’s most beautiful walks.

Wellington

3rd November 2019 (14:00): 2nd T20I – New Zealand v England

The third T20 International of the series takes place in Wellington, the capital city of New Zealand and the world’s windiest city.

Accommodation

Use TripAdvisor to find some great places to stay in Wellington by clicking here.

Getting there & away

Airport – Wellington Airport is approximately 10km from the Westpac Stadium. The international airport is the third busiest in New Zealand and mainly has flights to domestic airports and Australia, from where you can connect to the rest of the world.

The airport is only accessible by road, with the Airport Flyer bus being the easiest option.

Thinking of going to Wellington? Search & book your flights through Skyscanner here.

Bus –  InterCity has buses running from Wellington (Platform 9, Wellington Railway Station) to most of the North Island, and indirectly to the South Island.

Ferry – The scenic North to South island ferry runs through the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton in about 3 to 3.5 hours. There are two companies offering this service, both costing approximately the same – the Interislander Ferry or the Bluebridge Ferry.

Train – The Northern Explorer departs from Wellington Railway Station at 7:55am on Wednesday’s, Friday’s and Sunday’s, arriving at Auckland at 6:50pm. The train travels through Papakura, Hamilton, Otorohanga, Tongariro National Park, Ohakune, Palmerston North and Paraparaumu.

The Capital Connection is a weekday commuter service running from Palmerston North at 6:15am via Shannon, Levin, Otaki, Waikanae and Paraparaumu to Wellington, arriving at 8:20am. The reverse journey leaves Wellington at 5:15pm, arriving at Palmertston North at 7:20pm.

Venue Guide – Westpac Stadium

A guide to visiting Westpac Stadium, including history, travel and ticketing information is available by clicking here.

What to do

  • Cable Car & Wellington Botanic Gardens – First opened in 1902, the cable car climbs the hill from Lambton Quay to Kelburn and offers wonderful views across the city. The Wellington Botanic Gardens are at the top, with 25 hectares of floral splendour.
  • Mount Victoria – East of the city centre is another great lookout, upon the 196 metre high Mount Victoria which is accessible either by walking or by bus.
  • Te Papa Museum – The national museum of New Zealand is a wonderfully interactive place to visit, with exhibitions on Maori culture, natural, Pacific and New Zealand history.
  • Oriental Bay – Just under 2 kilometres from the CBD, Oriental Bay is a wonderful beach area of the city.

Squads

New Zealand T20I Squad – Tim Southee (c), Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Martin Guptill, Scott Kuggeleijn, Daryl Mitchell, Colin Munro, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner

England T20I Squad – Eoin Morgan (Middlesex) captain, Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Sam Billings (Kent), Pat Brown (Worcestershire), Sam Curran (Surrey), Tom Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Lewis Gregory (Somerset), Chris Jordan (Sussex), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Dawid Malan (Middlesex), Matt Parkinson (Lancashire), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), James Vince (Hampshire)

New Zealand Test Squad – TBC

England Test Squad – Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain, Jofra Archer (Sussex), Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire), Rory Burns (Surrey), Jos Buttler (Lancashire), Zak Crawley (Kent), Sam Curran (Surrey), Joe Denly (Kent), Jack Leach (Somerset), Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire), Matthew Parkinson (Lancashire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Dominic Sibley (Warwickshire), Ben Stokes (Durham), Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)


Tickets

Tickets for all of the Twenty20 Internationals and Test matches are available through Ticketek here. Tickets start from about $10 for Juniors and $50 for Adults.


Tour Schedule

Click on the links below for further information on each match.

27th October 2019 (13:00): 20-over Tour Match – New Zealand XI v England (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln) – England won by 6 wickets

29th October 2019 (13:00): 20-over Tour Match – New Zealand XI v England (Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln) – New Zealand XI won by 8 wickets

1st November 2019 (14:00): 1st T20I – New Zealand v England (Hagley Oval, Christchurch) – England won by 7 wickets

3rd November 2019 (14:00): 2nd T20I – New Zealand v England (Westpac Stadium, Wellington) – New Zealand won by 21 runs

5th November 2019 (14:00): 3rd T20I – New Zealand v England (Saxton Oval, Nelson) – New Zealand won by 14 runs

8th November 2019 (18:00): 4th T20I – New Zealand v England (McLean Park, Napier) – England won by 76 runs

10th November 2019 (14:00): 5th T20I – New Zealand v England (Eden Park, Auckland) – Match tied (England won the Super Over)

England won the T20I series 3-2

12th-13th November 2019: Two-day Tour Match – New Zealand XI v England (Cobham Oval, Whangarei) – Match drawn

15th-17th November 2019: Three-day Tour Match – New Zealand XI v England (Cobham Oval, Whangarei)

21st-25th November 2019: 1st Test – New Zealand v England (Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui)

29th November-3rd December 2019: 2nd Test – New Zealand v England (Seddon Park, Hamilton)

All times are local.

Last Updated on December 31, 2020 by Sports Tourist

Related Post

Leave a Reply