Wellington Sports & Outdoors

This venue at Queen’s Wharf is Wellington’s largest indoor sporting stadium, and home to the Wellington Saints basketball team and the Capital Shakers netball team – if the latter change their name (what happened lately) I will almost certainly not get aware of it, as I am absolutely not interested in netball. I think they should play basketball if they want to be taken seriously in world sports ;-)

The venue hosts national and regional championships for basketball, gymnastics, volleyball and, as said, netball. During the week they also play football there – which now is correctly called football in New Zealand, and not soccer anymore because only Americans need the word soccer, the rest of the world calls their football American Football to distinguish it from the world’s biggest sport.

For a big international sporting event the venue holds up to 3635 spectators.

You get tickets at the Ticketek that is located inside the building.

The Wellington Phoenix are New Zealand’s only professional football team, playing in the Australian A-League.

They are the successors of the Auckland Knights who did not attract any supporters (ok, ok, a handful were there for most games…). The NZ football federation had to negociate with the Aussie federation to keep the license in NZ, and a rich business man named Tony Serepisos invested a lot of money to shift the team to Wellington in 2007, and keep the professional football business going. The national coach Ricki Herbert is also the coach of the Phoenix. Their fans call themselves Yellow Fever.

Although the Phoenix showed some great performances and were much stronger than their successor team, they ended up on the eighth and last place in the A-League, with five wins, five draws and 11 losses in 21 games, accumulating 20 points. The Perth Glory also had only 20 points but a slightly better goal difference.

The Phoenix play their home games in the same stadium as the Hurricanes, in the Westpac Stadium.

If you want a Phoenix shirt or any other memorabilia and fan articles, you can get this at the Phoenix retail store at the corner of Cuba and Dixon Streets.

Contact:

Phone (04) 894-3370
Email: enquiries@wellingtonphoenix.com
Club Website: http://www.wellingtonphoenix.com/
Fan Website: http://yellowfever.co.nz/

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Of course, the Westpac (Trust) Stadium is Wellington’s most important sports venue, as it is home to the Hurricanes, playing in the rugby Super 14 league.

It sits right on the Waterfront, past the Bluebridge and Interislander ferry terminals. Driving down the hill from Otari you immediately see why its nickname is Cake Tin.

The most convenient way to access it is from the Railway Station. You have access to a pedestrian walkway straight from the platforms. The ticket booths are at the end of the 680 metre long walkway. You have access to the stadium up to three hours before the event.

The stadium is a non-smoking area but has two smoking areas.

Tickets for the Hurricanes’ games cost from $ 10 to 53 (as April 2008).

Tickets available at Ticketmaster
Phone (0800) 111 999
www.ticketmaster.co.nz

The football team Wellington Phoenix also play at the Westpac Stadium. Capacity is 34,500 spectators.

Very limited parking space, so you better use public transportation and make the short walk from the Railway Station.

Photo 2 shows the stadium from the highway, with lots of ship containers.

Out near Wellington Airport is Miramar links. It's quite a tricky place to play, with narrowish fairways, and plenty of wind given its location. I found the first few holes a bit hard, but was okay from there.

A round is $60.

Equipment: Club hire is available, as are trundlers and carts.

There are plenty of rugby games held at this ground, the odd cricket game, as well as concerts and other events. If you're going to be in town, have a look to see if anything is on.

This photo is from a recent WWE event.

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The Westpac Trust Stadium (or 'The Cake Tin' as it it otherwise known by Wellingtonian's) is a great place to watch a Cricket ODI (One Day International). Just rock up there with a shine on from a Champagne Breakfast, by a few beers inside, put on your best sledging voice and have a great day out supporting the the 'Black Caps' (the New Zealand Cricket side). Actually the Cake Tin is a good cricket ground. Being surrounded by walls, the pitch remains in great shape, and the Wicked Wellington Wind is kept at bay, allowing the players to wave the wand, and others to swing the ball. We saw this recently with the last ODI being played a week or so ago against Sri Lanka. What a wonderful close game it was. NZL snuck ahead at the very end of the game to come away with a win.

However. If Cricket is not your cup of tea (yet how could it not be) and you find yourself in 'Welly' during the winter. The 'Cake Tin' is home to many fabulous rugby matches. Including the Super 14. The Stadium is home to the Wellington Hurricanes. Also test matches are played here too, allowing any punter the chance to see the Lions, England, South Africa, Australia or any other team that pits itself against the All Black (New Zealand) rugby machine.

Actually, in about 3 weeks (Feb. 3rd-4th 2006) The 'Cake Tin' is home to the IRB World rugby Sevens. Now that is a good couple of days.

Equipment: The Guff: Opened in December 1999, the Westpac Trust Stadium is the first purpose built multi-use sports stadium in New Zealand and provides a regional stadium adjacent to the CBD in New Zealand's capital. The stadium accommodates 34,500 people in a complete bowl set around an international 1 day cricket oval. The orientation of the oval, and the enclosed nature of the stadium, also provide close proximity to the international standard Rugby field for the winter sport codes. The stadium incorporates a roof over 70% of the seating area, further enhancing the sensation of proximity to the action and providing the highest standards of spectator comfort at any stadium in New Zealand. Holmes Consulting Group designed the structure to withstand the unusually high wind and seismic loads typical of New Zealand's capital city. The total project value was US$50 million and opened on New Years eve 1999.

Tenants: Wellington Hurricanes Super 14 and Wellington Lions RUC

Not quite the real thing but you'll have just as much excitement go karting in this indoor circuit. Race against friends / families with speeds of up to 30 km/h in this challenging environment. Minimum age is 9 years old & at least 1.2m tall (to be able to reach the pedals). There are two-seater bikes for the smaller kids. The cost is about NZD$25 for half an hour. There are many more options to choose from.

Hours:
9am-10pm Mondays to Saturdays
9am-9pm Sundays

If you have ever wanted the bungy experience without jumping, this could be it... for only half the price... Bungy Extreme is the ultimate in adrenalin rides. Up to 3 people are strapped into an open capsule which is connected to 2 bungy cords winched to two 40m crane towers. The capsule is then catapulted 55m into the air @ speeds of up to 160km/h in less than 2 seconds. It costs NZD$35 per person, NZD$15 ride again & NZD$20 video.