When I played this course the other day it was in fabulous condition. The greens were nice and…read moresmooth and in the best state that I have ever seen them in. And even though I played an awful round of golf, lost a number of balls, threw a few clubs, and basically cursed my way around 18 holes, I can still admit that the course was mint. I just wish that my shit golf wasn't so shit. The only problem with playing out here is that it is all the way out in Clark's Beach, which is located off the motorway at Papakura and out past Karaka. But the course is short anyway, so on a quiet day you can whip through a round in a much shorter amount of time than what it would normally take. 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.

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.

This is a long and challenging golf course especially for poor golfers like myself. I am not a big…read morefan of this course actually, not because it is difficult but because it is not very well maintained. For the price, it should be in much better condition than it is. The fairways are littered with divots, and many pitch marks on the greens can be quite annoying and bumpy. I know that this is not always the fault of the green keepers but also the responsibility of the golfers who play here. And the course does get very busy at times as it is in a very good location out near the airport. The course design is really good so I do come back here to play every now and again. Also the staff behind the counter are really nice, and I've always been treated well when playing here. The clubhouse, however, is pretentious; we were kicked out for wearing jandals inside. 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.

When my sister and I arrived at Enchanted Forest Mini Golf a few weekends ago, we were wowed! From…read morethe range of holes and facilities, to the friendly owner who was very helpful and chatted to all of his customers. This was really great considering I haven't received this kind of service at other mini golf places around Auckland. We really enjoyed the variety of holes. Sounds weird I know but Enchanted Forest Mini Golf seriously has two of the coolest holes we have ever seen! The first one you have to hit your golf ball through chains - it sounds harder than you think! The second hole was unique for sure. The hole is completely surrounded by netting. The aim is to hit your ball as hard as you can (it sits on a raised platform), and if possible, hit the bullseye up top, ultimately to get a 'hole in one'. Again, it is harder than you think, but it is loads of fun! Plus, all the kids around us really enjoyed it! Another highlight is that the space around the mini golf course is very large! There is a shop where you purchase your tickets and other things like cold drinks and ice creams. There are also plenty of tables and chairs, plus you can use their BBQ's located onsite (free to use if you play one round of mini golf). This would be perfect for a birthday party or family gathering. An added bonus is that there is a Countdown right next door - easy to stock up on food beforehand! I guess the only negative would be that it is a little rough around the edges but it definitely feels like you're in a forest (or bush!). Interesting fact - the space used to be a park, and instead of removing everything, they have kept all the original trees and plants which is nice to see - we even saw a Kauri tree! Overall, Enchanted Forest Mini Golf is the best I have tried in Auckland so far. The added bonuses (unique 'net' hole, BBQ's, supermarket next door and location) really make this mini golf worth going to, not just to play a few games, but also to get a group of family and friends along and have a BBQ lunch or dinner afterwards!

The best thing about JK's? It's open 24 hours a day! So no matter what time I feel like smashing…read moresome balls, I know I can head out there and get my fix. Perfect for people staying near the airport, maybe on a business trip or stopover, and there's usually no issues finding a gallery to use.

A good place to have fun, place to chill, smack some balls late at night if you're wanting a…read moreslightly more physically engaging hang-out than a coffee or movie. I've only been here a few times at night, and it does get quite rowdy with a bunch of youths appearing each time I've been here but I assume this only happens at night. More serious golfers should probably avoid this time of day.

Having spent the first 18 years of my life living in Onehunga, Jellicoe Pools were our local…read more Sheesh were they rough though. Happily, Jellicoe has had several makeovers in the intervening years between my own childhood and my children's, and is the current most favourite due to its "really high" diving board. Ain't nothing makes a bigger bomb than a "really high" diving board. I couldn't tell you just how high it is but suffice to say you won't see me jumping off it. This summer we have really taken advantage of the outdoor pool. Sure, it's not heated and for me that's the whole point. The new generation of kids is so used to having the chill taken off that they risk missing out on that heartstopping moment of diving into a properly cold pool on a hot day - bliss. The outdoor pool is also where the diving boards are at (there's a low one too), along with picnic tables sheltered under nice big brollies, a slide and a little baby pool. I really appreciate that the bulk of the outdoor pool is for frolicking and none of this serious going up and down business that can take the fun out of public pools (although yes there are some lanes where you can go up and down if you want to). Inside there's a heated pool, an even warmer toddler pool and then behind a gate an adults-only area with spa, sauna and steam room. The changing facilities are pretty basic in the usual public pool not-flash way so it's not the kind of place you want to be getting ready for work post-swim in the morning. There's the typical swimming related stuff for sale and a small shop with a hot drink machine that sells treats and snacks including hot chips which just taste so much better after a swim. There's also a gym attached which allows members access to the pool as part of their membership. It's not expensive to go just for a swim anyway and if your kid likes to bomb big-styles, this is the place!

I visit OWMP's pool and spa quite often. It seems to me that everything is kept clean and in good…read morecondition, and the service is ok. Maybe the thing worth mentioning to someone who hasn't been there, is that the spa actually closes around 8:15pm, not 9pm as it says on their website. They turn the sauna and steam rooms off around that time, and then pretty much ask you to leave at 8:45pm. Last time I was there a couple of people had arrived at 8 to the spa, and they were quite dissapointed to learn that they only had about 15mins of "bang for their buck". I don't blame the employees for this: they are kids, and probably get paid very little. But I do believe that the correct way to go about it would be for the centre to advertise the correct hours on their website. All in all a good place, just keep in mind that it cloes at 8:15pm, not 9pm as it says on their website.

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.

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.