It’s Talk Like A Pirate Day on 19 September and Miniature Golf Day on 21 September so if you want to bring out your inner pirate and mini golfer here are two courses to putt on, and two tips to get you a cheap round.

Treasure Island, Tom Pearce Drive, Auckland 
Treasure Island is a pirate themed mini golf course walking distance from Auckland Airport. There are two 18 hole courses – choose cave or ship. We chose ship and watched a lone shark circling a stranded and scruffy pirate.

Shark infested waters Treasure Island Mini Golf in Auckland

Booms from the ship’s cannon surprised us more than once, and one legged Long John Silver minus the parrot watched over us as we tried for a hole in one on the big blue pirate ship. There are a few opportunities to lose your golf ball in the water – “watch for crocs and sharks me hearties”.

Treasure Island Mini Golf in Auckland

The course is challenging enough to make it a good competition. There was free sun screen at the entrance, plenty of parking, and you can get a sneak peak at some dinosaurs over the fence at Butterfly Creek. A round of mini golf at Treasure Island is $12 adults and $10 children 5+. (Tip: Keep your receipt and play a second round on the same day for half price. Also visit Bookme and GrabOne to check for discounts).

Around The World Mini Golf, Shop 75, Sylvia Park, 286 Mt Wellington Highway
An 18 hole round of mini golf is $9 on *Cheap Tuesdays at Around The World Mini Golf at Sylvia Park. The Arahura Ferry sailed across Cook Strait for the last time earlier this year but it represents New Zealand on the course.

Around The World Mini Golf

There are large animals including a panda, camel and lion, they make the associated sounds so it can get noisy. It’s not the most challenging course for adults but is probably a hit with young children.

Around The World Mini Golf

The location at Sylvia Park Shopping Centre means heaps of free parking, the downside is lack of space on the course if you need to wait for players to finish a hole. The course is also built under the motorway and isn’t fully enclosed, if it’s windy and raining I’d choose to putt on another day. If you don’t play on *Cheap Tuesday for $9  (excludes school and public holidays), a round of mini golf is $15 adults, $12 children, replay for half price. (As above, also check Bookme and GrabOne for discounts).

PS. See our A-Z Travel Guide to Auckland on $10 or less for more cheap activities.