Welcome to the Kaitaia Croquet Club in the Far North of New Zealand.
( affiliated to the Northland Croquet Association.)

We live, work and play in the real Far North, Te Hiku o Te Ika. We are at the foot of the Aupouri Peninsula which is famous for its Kauri, both Timber and Gum, great fishing and the friendly people. We live within minutes of great sandy beaches, in particular the world renowned Ninety Mile Beach. We work in a rural service centre town and play at the Kaitaia Croquet Club.
Relax by the beach, do some fishing, explore the peninsula to Cape Reinga and on your return visit the Gumdiggers Park where the living and working conditions of the old Dalmation Gumdiggers have been recreated. Call at the Ancient Kauri Kingdom and see 35,000 year old Kauri in original condition and the beautiful work produced from it. Climb the staircase cut inside a huge Kauri Stump. Visit the Kaitaia Museum and view the De Surville Anchor..... etc. There are so many things to do and sights to see you will wonder where we find the time to play Croquet.

On the 17th December 2004 we celebrated our 80th anniversary.

Our facilities include clubrooms and 3 full sized lawns. The number 3 lawn seen below, which was mostly developed by our members, is just a year old and improving every day.The photograph shows a tournament underway with the lawn divided into two small lawns because of numbers playing on the Association opening day September 4th 2004.

We are a small but lively Club with membership averaging 25.
Club days are Thursdays and Saturdays 1.00 p.m. until 3.30;
(The draw is done 15 minutes before those times.)
Golf Croquet is played on Saturday Mornings from 10.30 - 12.00.
Lawn fees for visitors are $3.00. Membership fees are $75.00 per annum with Club members paying $1.50 lawn fees per session.

Members range from beginners through to Senior grade which provides a good competitive cross range of play.

Among our members are four qualified coaches. Coaching is arranged to suit those wishing to learn Association Croquet.

Our very busy schedule starts early September and closes around the beginning of May. Winter play carries on while the lawns are usable.
Visitors are always welcome and for those visiting players who would like a game, mallets are available. If you are in the area and feel like a game then just give us a call (Contact: Eric Manning, Club Captain, 09 4067 059). Reduced price motel accommodation is available for Croquet Players.

The photograph below shows two of our members on the hilarious closing day
'back to front' tournament (May 2004) watching their opposition.
It was difficult to tell which way some were facing!

Our Club is located at the southern end of Matthews Avenue
(State Highway 1),next to the Bowling Club.(See map below)

Patron and Life Member: Mrs Mary Huddart
President: Mrs Dorothy Donaldson (09) 4082387;
Secretary: Mrs Lynda Thompson (09) 4084007;
Club Captain: Eric Manning (09) 4067059.

Postal address is: Mrs L. Thompson, 102 Thompson Road, R.D.2 Kaitaia 0500
or e-mail ericos@kol.co.nz

Why not make your journey a circuit and enjoy Croquet
at the Clubs on the Twin-Coast Discovery Highway?

1 - Kaitaia (phone 09 4084 007)
2 - Doubtless Bay (phone 09 408 5704)
3 - Kerikeri (phone 09 407-9460)
4 - Kensington (phone 09 436 5532)
5 - Whangarei (phone 09 436 0052)
6 - Maungakaramea (phone 09 432 3715)
and
7 - Waipu (phone 09 432-0499 )

These make up the Northland Croquet Association.

Open local tournaments at Kaitaia for the 2005/6 season:

Entries to Club Captain 3 days before. (Late entries may be able to be fitted in).
Notes: All Day Tournaments $5.00 which includes morning and afternoon teas.

Links to:
New Zealand Croquet home page www.croquet.org.nz
Destination Northland Tourist information - www.northland.org.nz
Kaitaia Business, Accommodation and attractions: www.kaitaia.net.nz

Web page author; Eric Manning