Guide to the 13 venues for the 2011 Rugby World Cup which opens here on September 9 with the final to be played on October 23.

EDEN PARK (Auckland)

Capacity: 60,000

New Zealand's premier rugby venue which will host the World Cup opening ceremony and 10 matches including both semi-finals and the final.

Eden Park, five kilometres (3 miles) from Auckland's popular waterfront entertainment area, has undergone a NZ $240 million (US$201 million) refurbishment.

It has a reputation as a fortress for the All Blacks who have not lost there since 1994. It is home to the Auckland Blues and hosted the opening match of the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

Auckland will host Australia, England, Fiji, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland and Tonga teams

NORTH HARBOUR STADIUM (Auckland)

Capacity: 30,000

North Harbour Stadium on Auckland's North Shore district is a multi-purpose stadium designed for rugby but which has also hosted a wide range of events including soccer and rugby league internationals as well as concerts.

The stadium is set within a 24-hectare park and is the base for the North Harbour side which is in the Blues catchment area and was formed in 1985 by clubs which broke away from Auckland.

Auckland's North Shore will host France, South Africa Japan, Namibia and Samoa.

NORTHLAND EVENTS CENTRE (Whangarei)

Capacity: 20,000

The stadium, home to the Northland provincial side, is a two-hour drive north of Auckland.

It regularly hosted visiting international sides in the amateur era. In 1956, when the Springboks scraped home 3-0 against North Auckland, heavy rain reduced the ground to a quagmire and buckets of water had to be supplied so players could wash the mud from their eyes during the match.

Whangarei will host Canada, Japan, Tonga.

WAIKATO STADIUM (Hamilton)

Capacity: 30,000

The home of the Waikato Chiefs, Waikato Stadium has been a regular Test venue since it opened nine years ago. Previously, as Rugby Park, Waikato beat the Springboks 14-10 in 1956 to record the first win by a New Zealand provincial side over South Africa.

Hamilton will host Fiji, Japan, New Zealand, Samoa and Wales.

ROTORUA INTERNATIONAL STADIUM (Rotorua)

Capacity: 26,000

Rotorua is New Zealand's unique thermal region with bubbling mud pools and steaming geysers, and is the heartland of indigenous Maori culture in the country.

The stadium hosted the 1987 World Cup play-off for third place when Wales beat Australia 22-21, and is a base for the Bay of Plenty rugby side which is a feeder to the Waikato Chiefs.

Rotorua will host Fiji, Ireland, Namibia, Russia and Samoa.

STADIUM TARANAKI (New Plymouth)

Capacity: 26,000

The stadium is a personal legacy of a local baker and philanthropist, Noel Yarrow, who was a passionate rugby supporter. It is home to the Taranaki team which feeds the Wellington Hurricanes franchise. It is a 30-minute walk from downtown New Plymouth one of the few cities in the world with the climate and facilities to ski and surf in the same day.

New Plymouth will host Ireland, Namibia, Russia, Wales and the United States.

MCLEAN PARK (Napier)

Capacity: 15,000

McLean Park is the base for the Hawkes Bay rugby team, part of the Wellington Hurricanes catchment, and is also a regular venue for cricket internationals. The ground has undergone extensive development in the lead up to the World Cup including a new grandstand and new lighting.

The city of Napier had to be substantially rebuilt after 1931 when a powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake shattered the area and killed at least 256 people.

Napier will host Canada, France and Japan.

ARENA MANAWATU (Palmerston North)

Capacity: 15,000

The stadium land, in the heart of Palmerston North city, was originally developed as a training ground for troops during World War II. In 1996 it was the venue for the first ever Super 12 match which was played between the Wellington Hurricanes and the Auckland Blues.

Palmerston North, a two-hour drive north of the capital Wellington, is the home of the New Zealand Rugby Museum.

The city will host Argentina, Georgia and Romania

WELLINGTON REGIONAL STADIUM (Wellington)

Capacity: 40,000

Wellington Regional Stadium is a purpose-built sports venue opened in 2000 and designed for international rugby, football and cricket matches.

It is home to the Wellington Hurricanes and due to its shape and silver-coloured walls the ground is affectionately known as "The Cake Tin".

The stadium is a 10-minute walk from Wellington's shopping and nightlife area and is linked to the central railway station with regular commuter services to neighbouring cities.

Wellington will host Argentina, Australia, Canada, Fiji, France, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Tonga, Wales and the United States.

TRAFALGAR PARK (Nelson)

Capacity: 18,000

Trafalgar Park, in the tourist city of Nelson at the top of the South Island, became the second home for the Canterbury Crusaders this year after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes ruined their stadium.

Nelson is the birthplace of rugby in New Zealand with the first game played between Nelson College and Nelson town in 1870.

The city will host Australia, Italy, Russia and the United States.

OTAGO STADIUM (Dunedin)

Capacity: 30,000

Otago Stadium is New Zealand's first fully covered stadium and was opened just a month before the start of the World Cup to replace Dunedin's "House of Pain" ground Carisbrook.

The city was founded by Scottish immigrants whose legacy remains with the naming of the local Super rugby franchise the Otago Highlanders.

Dunedin will host Argentina, England, Georgia, Ireland, Italy and Romania.

RUGBY PARK (Invercargill)

Capacity: 17,000

New Zealand's southernmost World Cup venue and the focal point for rugby in Southland which this year contributed about half of the Otago Highlanders squad. Invercargill is a three-hour drive from Dunedin.

Southland was the first South island province to win the Ranfurly Shield, the symbol of provincial rugby superiority in New Zealand.

Invercargill will host Argentina, Georgia, Romania and Scotland

New Zealand's second largest city, Christchurch, was allocated seven matches which were moved to other centres after Stadium Christchurch was severely damaged in the devastating February 22 earthquake.

Image: Getty