Basin Reserve (NZ)
Nestled beneath Mt Victoria on its east and the local Mt Cook on its west, the Basin Reserve is an island of cricket surrounded by a busy three-lane road which links with roads feeding to the city's eastern and southern suburbs, just a 20 minutes walk from the central business district of New Zealand's Capital city. To its south is the residence of New Zealand's Governor-General and one of Wellington's leading schools, Wellington College.
The oval ground has a capacity of around 13,000, with spectators accommodated in two grandstands and a grass bank on the eastern side of the ground, which is a natural sun trap while also providing shelter from the notorious southerly winds, which can be miserable for cricketers.
The National Cricket Museum is housed in the grandstand on the ground's western border. Built in 1923/24 the stand was located side-on to the original pitch block configuration at the ground.
However, a major realignment occurred in 1979/80. The grass bank on the eastern side, a terraced bank on the west and the impressive RA Vance Stand was built at the northern end of the ground. An impressive scoreboard dominates the skyline to the south. A public walkway between the ground's picket fence and the first block of bricked terracing surrounds the playing area.