A petanque club on Manly Esplanade in Browns Bay, on Auckland's North Shore, a short walk from the beach and the village shops. Petanque is a bowls-style game played on a rough court, usually gravel or packed sand, where players toss steel boules as close as they can to a small target ball, the jack. It needs no special fitness, which is why it draws people of many ages, from families on a weekend afternoon to older players who want a steady social game.
The game suits a seaside suburb well. Players can take it up in the open air, and a Browns Bay club gives North Shore residents a regular place to meet other players close to home, without travelling into the city.
Our pick on the North Shore for a relaxed, social way to spend an afternoon outdoors.