AUCKLAND PETANQUE & Boules Group- Games For Fun Outdoors

Name: Petanque Games & BBQ Social Afternoon - Stonefields - Mt Wellington
Start: 2025-10-19T01:30:00.000Z
End: 2025-10-19T04:00:00.000Z
Location: Stonefields Wetlands

Auckland, NZ

9 members · Public group

What we’re about

Welcome to Auckland Petanque and Boules Group - Games for Fun Outdoors.

The Advertisements said " A very popular pastime in France, Petanque (paytonk) often referred to as Boules, is fast becoming the new ball game for all New Zealanders "

Well at least that was the advertising platform twenty years ago, when a few French Business men launched this Fun recreational outdoor game, Downunder...into Australia and New Zealand.... that had a weird name...and play was with heavy steel balls....that were introduced to us...that we were told were called Boules...that was strange too..and another name..a cochonnet..or the Jack..or target ball..and tossing or rolling, were quickly the strategies we all learned ..to win...or laugh at doing .." now where is that tape measure, your Boule...is miles off the target, Stephen "......Or another " Quick...get out of the way...".. " watch you don't hit a seagull with that big toss Mary "... " Let's have a sip of that wine you brought along Rodger, Nina, do you want a top up ? "...

So yes... moving forward to 2025....Pay Tonk is a Fun game that's here to stay...and Summer Season is going to be here soon, in Auckland...and everyone will be playing beach games soon...so I invite you to join us for some fun recreational outdoor friendly atmosphere at a park or beach near you soon .

Much like lawn bowls, the aim is to get your Boule...one or two ...closer to the Jack or Small Target ball..

Simple and easy to play, you can enjoy Petanque at any age and fitness level. It can be played on the grassed areas, at the beach, and on special occasions, on a gravely area.

Gender, age, and physical ability have very little impact on success.. Unless you play professionally..And you don't have to be a sporty person, as I'm not.

This easy going Petanque and Boules Group will teach you how to play and enjoy this wonderful game, it's exciting, therapeutic and addictive.

Combined with Picnics and Beach visits, all ages are Welcome, and drinking alcohol is optional for the few hours we play, relax and enjoy each other's company. Drop in for a curious look , stay for a game or two..or longer..we will fire up the BBQs somewhere, sometimes, and enjoy a Beer or Wine...snacks and banter...

So do something different together , or add this to your bucket list...Petanque sets come in boxes of 4 or 6, and can be found quite cheaply in a charity shop or ask a friend..whose probably bought a set twenty years ago from those weird Advertisements..

I have been playing Petanque Games socially for many years, And previously had a regular group of friends playing over the summer, so let's start this outdoor gentle exercise and fun way to help make new connections all over Auckland this Summer Season.

PETANQUE is played in a very social spirit, however it can also be very complicated if you want to stick with all the official rules.. Here on this Meet Up Group, we will play casual rules ...and leave the alfa types to play elsewhere ...

Once you have started playing Petanque, or Boules, with us, it is likely that you will wonder why you and most other New Zealanders had not started playing years earlier.

Membership- Please be sure you have a clear recognizable portrait photo of yourself when you RSVP. This builds up trust and respect for everyone's safety and happiness.

If you’re bringing younger people with you, please let them know, we could be drinking alcohol, so support the adult themed recreational experiences ..and leave your responsibilities at home..

Keep Life Simple..

Thank you for your interest in playful Petanque..

Roll on Summer Season and Outdoor Fun Times and New Friends Opportunities..

Cheers Stephen F. Organiser.

Featured event

Sun, Oct 19 · 2:30 PM NZDT

Petanque Games & BBQ Social Afternoon - Stonefields - Mt Wellington

Stonefields Wetlands , 43 Tephra Blvd, Stonefields, Auckland , NZ

Greetings All -

Let's enjoy our First Petanque Games Event ( Playing Paytonk) together today inside the Stonefields Residential Subdivision at the Maungarei Springs and Wetlands area .

With the mountain of Mt Wellington/ Maungarei watching over us, this is a usually quiet green space for people living here to walk their way to better health and also exercise their family pets.

We will gather here , by the seats in the grassed areas, or just relax . There's free gas BBQs and tables for us , so let's make this Sunday afternoon a fabulous way to learn something together about playing Petanque and the Boules..which look like steel heavy marbles we play with .

I will bring along my 4 sets of Boules , so feel free to bring along a picnic chair for your comfort. Traditionally games of Petanque are enjoyed with a glass of wine or something similar. Your choice..

While sipping on a glass of your "favorite " between shots , ( throwing the Boule) you can be excused for imagining you're cruising through a French Provencal afternoon, tho maybe drawing a picture of Mt Wellington instead , and pretending you're in a different country today, instead of here in the Stonefields, former Winstone Rock Quarry at Mt Wellington.

We will toss these metal balls , or roll them , you decide what suits your own pace to play Petanque. We will keep the rules simple, so if you’re a professional Petanque player elsewhere, just relax and remember what it was like when you first started..I will be the friendly umpire and coach ..to hold the days activities at a happy place and pace, as we play a few rounds, soak up the stories of one another, and sip on that glass or cup, of your 'favourite ".

When - Sunday Afternoon- October 19th - 2025.

Meet and Greet is from 2.30pm onwards .

Lets gather at Stonefields on the Maungarei Green Reserve near the Wetlands Walkway on the corner opposite Tephra Ave and Wynne Gray Ave .

Free parking here . Great Toilets.

Bring along everything you need to keep yourself warm and happy, fed and hydrated. Picnic chair and blanket for the grassed areas.

BBQ'S are gas fired, and free...Large Stainless Trays heated by Gas. Bring meat that cooks quickly, rather than chicken that often requires longer time. BYO plates etc.

No Dogs or Smokers or Children today please. We will Include them on future events.

Carpooling- Transportation. Please make your own ways to gather here . Or add a Note below with your Mobile number and Area where you live and contact each other prior to the Event. Buses come to Stonefields, and the Train station is close by at Glen Innes or Panmure.

A game of Petanque commences with a coin toss normally, inside a throwing circle. We will play casual, use a line to stand behind on the grass.

First person of winning toss , then throws a small target ball, called a " cochonnet, or a jack...to a distance of between 6 and 10 metres ..from the line ..This player then throws the first Boule , using an underhand bsck spin , and other variations of the throwing style , they prefer.

All players should watch the roll of this first Boules closely so as to check the ' lay of the land' . Ideally, this first Boule will have stopped close to the Jack, or small target ball, which will be colorful to easily see, so no glasses are required..and we can also walk up to check , where other Boules are ...and the Jack throughout the games state of play, when its appropriate..being careful not to drop these heavy steel Boules on your feet ..or at someone...please.

The aim of the second player, is to get their first Boule closer to the Jack..Rolling or Tossing the Boule...requires patience and luck mostly, while we learn to play on the grass...( in other events, we will play on the sand at a nearby beach).

Play continues to happen with all others tossing or rolling their Boules, to get closer to the Jack ..and at the end of this round after all have used their Boules, this first game of Petanque is won by the player closest to the Jack or Small Target ball.

There are variations and we will learn more about the throwing techniques on the Day, depending on your circumstances, abilities and passion for enjoying a relaxing socialable game..for others..this may not the group suitable for you...particularly in the terms of safety with these heavy Boules, let's be mindful , as Ideally our Petanque Games are suitable for Beginners and Casual Games only .

Scoring finishes when the group playing reaches a nominal number of points. Playing casually, we can keep this to play to 5, 8 or 11..or as I have done previously, to a time limit when other people are playing alongside. Players can swap their team around, have girls against guys , or younger against older..smarter or ..well you get what I mean..

In between refreshments and good banter, let's make today about having fun recreational outdoor gentle exercise and ..a little bit of comfortable competition..

Then let's eat .