Lagoon Leisure and Fitness Panmure, Auckland

I'm a refugee from the inner-city lycra-infested gyms with their resident poseurs reading magazines as they scarcely pedal on their exercise bikes. Uggh. Give me a real gym - and Panmure Leisure & Fitness is the real deal. Excellent equipment, no waiting, good trainers and a really positive vibe all round. Big open ranchslider doors (the gym looks out over the outdoor pool) ensure fresh oxygen - and if you're lucky the Warriors will pop in for a training session. Over summer, finish a workout by sploshing into the outdoor pool - or year-round finish with a soak in the spa pool and sauna. A good place, with a diverse range of people, some losing weight, others bulking up - everyone friendly. Go for it. Duncan