The Massy Park Aquatic Centre is always packed. It's home to the SwimMagic swim school which has…read moreclasses for toddlers through to adults and pregnant mums; they have an after school and holiday programme; and this place attracts families every weekend. They've got neat little pools for younger kids and some very cool water features and a mini playground in the area. There's hydroslide and bigger indoor pool for the older pre-teen crowd, while the big outdoor pool is great for lazing about and doing a few laps. The steam room and sauna are also available at a small cost. While I'm not much of a swimmer, I'm a fan of their big outdoor pool- its a little less packed than it can get inside and there's easy access to the cafe if you get peckish. The changing rooms here are quite spacious and I can safely say from experience that you won't find many shy people here- but there are cubicles if you aren't feeling too bold on the day!

The Manurewa Aquatic Centre has been around for several years now and was a much-needed upgrade for…read morethe area. It's located at Mountfort Park and it's hard to miss off the main road. It's a great facility and, living a two minute walk from here, I know that this place is popular all-year round. The aquatic centre boasts five pools, one of them being Manukau's first deep water pool, perfect for water polo and all other deep water sports I'd never dare to try (I'm definitely not a swimmer). Entry to the pools are free, but there's a great range of paid extras you can go for like the spa and sauna. The pools close relatively early but for a small fee you can stay later, which is ideal if you like swimming in peace, because this place gets busy. I've only visited the aquatic centre a handful of times, despite living so close. I prefer the pools in the winter when it's not so packed. You get some serious swimmers here so beware of accidently floating into someone's lane! I learnt that one the hard way. I've taken some younger cousins here on a couple of afternoon and I didn't swim, but the spectator seats here are great and you get a view of all the pools so there's no blind spot to worry about. There's a cafe on-site aswell if the hunger strikes, but I usually bring my own food when I come here or practice patience until I'm home. I really like the changing room facilities here; they're modern, spacious and well-looked after considering how much foot traffic comes through. The Manurewa Aquatic Centre is great for families with their range of swimming pools, and give adults the extra option of chilling out in the spa and sauna for some alone time. The Community Gyms fitness centre is here aswell, so the aquatic is great for that post-workout swim or sauna! A great addition to the Manurewa community and its as popular as ever.

Went to see Counties Manukau play Mid Canterbury for the Ranfurly Shield this past July 9th. It was…read moremy first game as we do not have rugby back home! The stadium was great and was only 5$ to park. Beer and food were also cheap!

My first game ever of rugby, it had to be the defence of The Ranfurly Shield, colloquially known as…read morethe Log o' Wood. It was a glorious Spring like Sunday afternoon. I had never sat on a mud embankment for a sports games before. Like the 12,000 other attendees a good game was played. The facilities were basic, but this is rugby as it should be, so I am told. Would I go again, hell yes I sure would. Bring something suitable to sit on if the ground maybe wet, and enjoy !!!

This clubs boasts to be the best golf course in all of Auckland, and they wouldn't be too far off I…read morereckon. Pukekohe Golf Course is beautiful with its rolling fairways, long holes and smooth, fast greens. The only drawback is that it's a fair drive from the city, but that shouldn't (and doesn't) deter the dedicated golfer. This course is a challenge and it's rather expensive most of the time, so if you are new to golf or just not all that confident, then playing here will certainly be a challenging and long day; you might be prone to throwing a few tantrums. But to be honest, the price it costs to play here is completely fair for the quality of the course. Note: Most golf courses operate from first light until last. This changes depending on the time of year of course, but generally the opening hours are around 7am - 5pm.

Nice golf course about 35 mins drive south of Auckland CBD along the Southern Motorway. The course…read moreis a little hilly and hence dry most of the time, even in the early mornings. Greens are reasonable, fairways could be better. But you will have an enjoyable game of golf. There are many dog legs and a couple of water holes with some strategically placed bunkers guarding the greens.

Waiuku skate park is pretty nice, but doesn't really have anything special about it. It has a few…read morerails, boxes and flat banks, with a relatively large flat area in between, but that's about it. The designers seriously thought that less is more here. At least the concrete is pretty open and kind of smooth. Also, this skate park is usually pretty quiet during the daytime, which is the best time to go. It's located right on the edge of Massey Park, which is used for a number of different sports; soccer, rugby and cricket. If you don't live around this area, then the skate park here is not really worth the long drive. You will probably be a little disappointed that you used so much petrol.

A pretty golf course located in South Auckland. It is a par 72 and 5,724 meters long. The fairway…read morecould be better but the greens are in good condition. Relatively easy course with some interesting holes and pretty scenery. Unfortunately it will give way to residential development at some stage.

It irks me that this beautiful golf course will end up as another boring residential area. Sure a…read moresweet deal was made to construct a whole new golf course in Alfriston, but it still means that this one will be killed. I'm not a member, so my voice won't be heard, but I'll be quietly upset anyway. I played Manukau during a recent golf day, and I found it to be a good parklands course, challenging and rewarding. The club house is one of the better ones you'll find in Auckland, and there is a good driving range and pro shop. I'll have to make a plan to give the course a last good go before the club moves down to the cow paddocks. I love the idea of a new golf course, but it is sad to see an old one go, as it can never be replaced, and houses could easily have been built in other areas.

Totara Park is a South Auckland staple. Its highly likely that growing up in the Manurewa/Manukau…read morearea meant you were here for swimming lessons, a day out with family or school, or a hangout with friends. Its ideal for family picnics, barbecues (they have facilities available) and get-togethers. The children's playground keeps the younger ones, and the young at heart, entertained. The free supervised swimming pools are open in February and March, and are perfect for that relaxing swim on a scorching day. As a teenager, my dad dragged my siblings and I here every morning of the school holidays for the 45 minute bush walk, and while I barely liked it back then, I'm grateful. These days, that bush walk, among the other trails you can take at Totara Park, are somewhat of a blessing (apart from the killer stairs!). The farm track from the Redoubt Rd entrance to the main picnic area on Wairere Road is a popular one, just be sure not to run past the cows as they can get pretty scary (for me at least). Another track, the Puhinui Stream Forest Trail, takes about two hours to complete and connects Totara Park with the nearby Botanic Gardens.

A beautiful classic. A great golf club/club rooms with a view of the course. We went to a private…read morefunction there. The space was awesome. Excellent bar prices and the food options for catering was excellent. The view from the main rooms over the golf course is stunning.

Ok. If you are in Auckland and want to play golf, this is not the place to play. There are too many…read moreother options that are far better in quality and customer service. First, Titirangi Golf Club would really rather you play somewhere else. This is evidenced by the 225 dollar green fee they demand. Gulf Harbour, Remeuera Golf Club, Muriwai Golf Club and Windross Farms are far better courses and are half the price. Only one explanation: Titirangi doesn't want or need you but If you have 225 dollars to throw away, they will take it. The course is not that bad but neither is it note worthy. Remuera and Windross Farms are design masterpieces not far from Auckland City. If you want to venture out some forty five minutes away, Muriwai Golf Club on the west coast and Gulf Harbour on the east coast demonstrate New Zealand's nautical appeal. Both tracks are exceptional layouts with majestic views of the Tasman and Hauraki Gulf respectively. Go play!