My daughter has been attending TriStar Gymnastics since Term 3 of last year. Helpfully they offered…read morea "try before you buy" session for free which is exactly what you need for these kinds of post school activities - there's nothing worse than committing to a whole term of something that just isn't what you thought it would be. There's really only a choice of two big gymnastics clubs in the central Auckland area and TriStar is based out of a massive purpose-built gymnasium next to Cameron Pool in Mt Roskill. Strangely enough there's not a lot of signage so if you see the big building with the red windows, you are in the right place. Once we decided to go ahead and join, there was an Enrolment Form to fill out and obviously fees to pay. My daughter is in the Incentive class which costs $155 per term (or $140 with prompt payment discount) for a one hour class each week. There's a huge range of classes on offer for every age group and when we were in the investigation stages, the information on the website, while comprehensive, was a bit confusing. I suggest a phone call for clarification as to which class is most suitable and to let them know when you'll be visiting. Also you won't find the fees on the site until you open the Enrolment Form. Our experience here has been great with the teachers being immediately welcoming and putting my daughter at ease (particularly the exotically monikered Flaminio!). There have been a few hiccups with the accounting side of things but I suppose this is to be expected given the number of people who attend the club. There is a small waiting area for parents with a window so you can watch your kids if you want to. The only real beef I have is that communication is not great but again, this is a function of the fact that there is only an hour and therefore it makes sense not to waste time chit chatting to the parents. I don't think parents are actively discouraged from being inside the gym but I would suggest rather than bothering your child's instructor who has a class to teach, take any questions you might have to the front desk as there is usually someone there who can help you. We are at the point now where my daughter is ready for the next level but this has not been addressed by her teachers so we'll bring it up with them and see where we go from here.... overall I think choosing between this club and the YMCA gymnastics programme comes down to what is most convenient for you and your family. I actually took my children to the YMCA's pre-school programme when they were little and that was a very positive experience so go with what works for you.

This was a nice place to hang out while we waited for our flight. The kids did 2 rounds of golf…read morewhile the parents waited at the picnic tables. The kids had fun and we got Maccas on the way back to the airport. Perfect little walk to and from too. A little exercise before a long flight.

Adventure Mini Golf is my local and over the years I've probably tallied up quite a few rounds…read morehere. I'm from a family with a few younger cousins so I enjoy taking them out to places like this where kids an adults can share in the fun. You can pick from two courses; the Captain's Course or Blackbeard's Course. If you're not with a big group or you're just very patient, its cheaper to play 36 holes and makes for healthy competition between friends! I really like the way they've set up the course, its very animated, interactive and a real sight to see, even if you're just driving past. It can be especially tough to play when its windy out, so I'd suggest checking the weather just in case. All in all though, its a great spot to incorporate into a family day and I'd highly recommend it for anyone keen to have little fun and competition.

Played netball here for years…read more It is a great place to play social sports. My low rating is due to the facilities. They are a sports venue and don't even have a drinking fountain. You used to be able to fill up your water bottle from an outdoor tap, the handle on this tap has since been removed. For a place to play sports not to have a place to full up your drink bottles aside from the warm toilet taps is just not good enough.

St Lukes Indoor Sports has great facilities, good prices, and a fun and engaging atmosphere. With…read moreyear-round schedules set up to host indoor cricket, netball, soccer and dodgeball you can be sure to find a home for your team. The place is owned and run by a great guy called Matt who lives out his passion for indoor sports by playing in a number of teams throughout the year. All games are umpired/refereed by his staff who are usually around to have a beer and a laugh with after the games. The renovated warehouse holds 3 astro-turf courts which are marked out for cricket, soccer and netball and are sectioned off with floor-to-ceiling nets. There is a fully licenced bar (which sells beer and RTD's at pretty reasonable prices) and a lounge with couches and SKY TV. Plenty of parking out the front and just 10 minutes from the CBD. Their catch phrase says it all really "The most fun indoors....with your clothes on" !

A team and I hosted Miss Africa Auckland 2012 at Alexandra Park and everything went smoothly thanks…read moreto the Jacquie who was the event coordinator at Alexandra Park. Jacquie answered all our questions, assisted us in drawing a stage after the one we had originally requested was too big for the room. She managed to set up the hall using diagrams and worked closely with the lightning and stage crew to make sure that everything was working from the sound system to the lights. Jacquie went out of her way to ensure that everything we asked was there and because it was christmas, we even had fairy lights around the room and a christmas tree at the front.

I recently attended a 2 day conference at Alexandra Park. I attend a few conference through work…read moreand have to say the food and staff at Alexandra Park were better than most four/five star hotels. To end the conference we had dinner and enjoyed a race night. It was my first time going to Alexandra park and will definitely go back and recommend to friends.

Auckland City Athletics (ACA) is a well-established athletics club for athletes of all ages and all…read moreabilities, from internationally competitive cross country runners to casual track runners wanting to improve their fitness. The ACA website provides you with a range of coaches across all running, track and field disciplines, and most of these coaches have quite social, friendly training groups who would all make you feel quite welcome if you wanted to come along. These coaches, such as Barry Magee and Neil Bartlett, do this training for a nominal retainer, which shows that they have a genuine passion for their discipline and are not motivated by financial gain. The home base of the track athletes, Mt Smart, has had a recent upgrade and also has a gym available for club athletes at a small fee.

Te Pai Courts used to be a shit hole. It was just the outdoor courts with hardly any parking and an…read moreold ugly as building filled with cranky middle aged women upset at the world because they aren't championship netball players. These days, those women are still there, but instead Te Pai looks great with a new centre that is modern, spacious,a full parking lot, and plays host to a bunch of courts and also some tennis courts that are on the other side of the parking lot. Come any Saturday morning and you'll have tons of school kids playing early morning netball, anywhere from eight in the morning. They host social netball here too if you ever want to get a team together, but it's pretty expensive. On Saturdays they've got drinks and hot food for sale, and it's always great to see young Kiwi kids out there playing sport, getting fit and having fun.

Going to Kiwitea Street is an inspiring experience. You feel like you could be in an English movie…read moreabout soccer hooligans as you walk down the street in the home colors of either Auckland FC or Central United. As you take your place next to the pitch you realise that this is what a football stadium is supposed to be - close to the action and where standing is encouraged. Apparently Kiwitea Street boasts the "finest football pitch in New Zealand," and based on my observations compared to certain other parks, I'd believe it. Games are cheap to go watch - 10 dollars being the usual. There is a game on most weekends - as there are both a summer league and a winter league that run consequently. If you live nearby, or really anywhere in Central Auckland, its worth coming along to watch a game - the quality might not be the highest but the passion of both the fans and players more then makes up for it.

I spent most of my childhood at this reserve; playing tennis, cricket and rugby so I always get a…read morebit nostalgic when I drive past the place. If you are looking for a place to practice any of the above sports, then this is a great place in the Karaka area. There are many tennis courts which are all in good shape, although I think you might need a key if you want to use them. The rugby field and cricket nets, however, are open to anyone. It's a nice place if you want to practice or just have a muck around with your mates. When the clubhouse is open they have food and drinks available, but this is usually only when something is on (particularly on weekends).