From North Wales to the Wellington coast: How Boomrock welcomed Wrexham AFC

Clay birds, race cars, axes, extreme golf and some very competitive Welsh footballers. Not a bad Tuesday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGF2uSWObEI

You might know Wrexham AFC as the Welsh football club that Hollywood came calling for. Co-owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and the subject of a hit documentary series, they're one of the world's oldest professional football clubs and, as of July, they're also officially Boomrock alumni.

The team flew into New Zealand ahead of their match against Wellington Phoenix on 19 July, and in true Kiwi fashion they were billeted with local whānau. Players, club legends and staff were welcomed into people's homes, sharing meals, swapping stories and experiencing the kind of warm manaakitanga (hospitality) that New Zealand does better than anywhere.

For players Ollie and George, their Wellington leg started right here at Boomrock, staying at Pipinui Point and getting stuck into everything we had to throw at them. And we threw quite a lot.

"Ollie and George's Wellington adventure kicked off at Boomrock, where they teed off with a round of golf, took aim with clay shooting, and tackled rugged terrain in a 4WD, all against stunning coastal views." - Tourism New Zealand

Manaakitanga in action

What made this visit so memorable wasn't just the adrenaline, though there was plenty of that. It was the spirit behind it. Manaakitanga is at the heart of what New Zealand does, and it's at the heart of what we do at Boomrock too. Welcoming people in, showing them something genuinely special, and making sure they leave with a story worth telling.

Ollie and George arrived as professional footballers and left as certified Boomrock converts. We're pretty sure they'd come back.

The full Boomrock treatment

No easing in gently. Here's what Ollie and George got up to:

A night at Pipinui Point

Ollie and George stayed at Pipinui Point, our clifftop retreat perched above the Tasman Sea. The kind of place that makes you forget the rest of the world exists.

4WD off-road

A football pitch this is not. Rugged West Coast terrain, steep hills and a whole lot of fun.

Race car on track

The track got a proper workout and had the boys holding on for dear life.

Axe throwing

A big step up from throwing a ball, but they took to it brilliantly. Deeply satisfying when you nail the bullseye.

Extreme golf

Golf, but make it wild. Clifftop terrain, incredible views in every direction and holes that'll humble even the most confident swinger.

Claybird shooting

Turns out footballers have pretty good hand-eye coordination. Who knew. No VAR out here.