Fans gear up for dream World Cup final trip

Sally Unka can't wait to cheer on the Black Caps at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday. Photo / Stephen Parker

Rotorua cricket fans are packing their bags for a trip of a lifetime to cheer the Black Caps on in the Cricket World Cup final.

The New Zealand squad made history on Tuesday night in a nail-biting finish beating South Africa to book a maiden final berth in Melbourne on Sunday. They will play the winner of tonight's match between Australia and India.

Sally Unka and her husband, Bay of Plenty Indians captain Sanjay, and two friends had bought their flights and match tickets in September last year - hoping that New Zealand or India would get through.

"We were already set to go but it's an absolute bonus that the Black Caps will be there," she said.

"We're just over the moon excited, we're buzzing that we're going to go see them. I was saying to my husband we should try and find out where they're staying in Melbourne."

Mrs Unka said it will be another nervous watch tonight as they hope India will join the Black Caps in the final. She said they didn't get to bed until 12.30am on Wednesday as the adrenaline was still running from New Zealand's tense finish.

"We were all jumping and yelling and rang our mate in Tauranga who is going over with us and all of us were on Facebook. We will definitely be buying Black Cap tops before we leave and will be cheering on both New Zealand and India equally in the finals if they make it."

Crispian Stewart is also counting down the days to see the national team in final's action. The Rotorua Lakes Council Events and Venues operations manager said his Sydney-based brother purchased tickets through a ballot system. He had previously taken his children to the New Zealand pool games in Napier and Hamilton.

"I'm pretty excited, win or lose they've already done us pretty proud. [Tuesday night] was pretty tense, they batted so well, so a huge ups to the lads and one more to go," he said.

"It's been hard [in the past] to follow them at the world cups but there's something pretty special about this group. It's not even about winning, they just have so much respect for the game and it's neat to see that."

Travel agencies were also seeing the impact of the Cricket World Cup.

Flight Centre NZ has reported transtasman flights were up a quarter on February last year and Melbourne was up almost 40 per cent.

"Being in the stands at the finals on the weekend will be a once in a lifetime experience and we've had a lot of interest coming through for people hoping to make it over and support the team," Flight Centre Rotorua team leader Becky Wray said.

"Flights are very full however and seats are limited so I'd suggest speaking with your travel expert sooner rather than later about last minute fares."

Win Macmillan of NZ TravelBrokers said she was also looking forward to helping cricket fans make it over to the MCG. "I think it will be a magnificent game to be at. My husband is very keen to go," she said. "I booked a client in about two weeks ago who is an absolute cricket nut, he took a gamble and it's paid off."