Game day guide: All Blacks vs Italy

The compact central business district makes it easy for sports fever to spread. Between Courtenay Place and Hnry Stadium, you won’t be able to miss revelling fans clad in black. Here’s how to take it all in during game day before the All Blacks face off against Italy on 11 July. 

You’ve got a big day ahead of you, and trying to tackle an action-packed rugby match without caffeine is unthinkable. Don’t worry, you’re spoiled for choice with loads of options in Wellington’s central city. 

• Swimsuit — Small spaces with big personalities. There are four locations across the city. Peruse the sport pages while you enjoy your brew and filled baguette. 
• Flight Coffee Hangar — With enough space to park a small aeroplane, it’s perfect for the whole team. Coffee and a bacon butty make it the breakfast of champions. 
• Pravda — Pravda means ‘truth’ in Russian. The truth is, you’ll come for the coffee and stay for the famous cheese scones and grandiose setting.

Continue the search with this guide to coffee in the capital. 

For peak performance at the big game, you’ve got to get the body ready. All that jumping up and down in your seat requires calf muscles of steel. Enjoy the fresh air, take in the views, and get your steps in with a stroll along Wellington’s beautiful waterfront. 

Another option is to hop on the Wellington Cable Car and head to the top of the Wellington Botanic Garden. From there you can wander back down through the gardens or trek through native bush on one of the trails. For iconic views, take the bus or drive to Mount Victoria and take in the city in a 360-degree panorama. 

With Italy in town, it would be rude not to experience a bit of their culture. When it comes to pre-match Italian cuisine, there’s no shortage: 

• Scopa — Head to Cuba Street for top-notch, wood-fired pizza. If there’s a chill in the air, the hot chocolates are so thick you can eat them with a spoon. 
• Napoli — Run by a former international footballer, this spot has sport running through its veins. Enjoy pizza, pasta or even Italian cocktails. 
• 1154 Pastaria — This casual pasta spot is fast, fresh, and fun. Merging modern flavours with traditional techniques. Get some hearty carbs before the game.   

Now you’re suitably fed, it’s time to talk tactics. Head down nearer to the stadium for a bevy at one of these spots: 

• Bin 44 — Queens Wharf on the waterfront is famous for its craft beer and smoked meats. Choose from 22 craft beer taps and enjoy a brew with a sea view. 
• Thistle Inn — It doesn’t get more traditional than this 1840s spot. Soak up Wellington’s colonial history (and a beer) with Hnry Stadium within sight. 
• The Backbencher Gastropub — Another pub with a storied history, Backbencher is opposite Parliament, filled with politician puppets and hearty kai . 

The moment is here. Take the famous walk from the waterfront along to Hnry Stadium with your fellow rugby fans. Once you’re inside the stadium concourse, there are plenty of options to keep you fuelled up. Take your seat and get ready for 80 minutes of pulsating rugby action.