Barack Obama visits the Far North, playing golf at Kauri Cliffs

Former US President Barack Obama tees off at Northland's exclusive Kauri Cliffs golf course

He was once the most powerful man in the world, and now former US President Barack Obama is spending some time in the Far North.
However, there's little chance of many Far North folk getting to meet the great man.

The 44th president of the US landed in the country last on Tuesday and yesterday morning took off from Mission Bay, Auckland, by helicopter for a round of golf at Kauri Cliffs golf course and resort with former NZ Prime Minister Sir John Key.

A high level of secrecy and security surrounds the visit, but it's understood Mr Obama was to spend last night at the luxury resort The Landing in the Bay of Islands.

His visit has attracted media interest from around the world and his time in the Far North is expected to generate huge interest in the region, which may lead to more tourists and investment.

Security at Kauri Cliffs was low-key with a staff member at the gate politely turning away uninvited guests and several plain-clothes police patrolling nearby roads in unmarked cars.

In any case, the golf course is protected by cliffs and ocean along one side and more than a kilometre of farmland on the other.

Security staff checked the green before Mr Obama's group of six arrived in golf carts at the 13th hole, the only one clearly visible from a public road.

At one point Mr Obama could be seen putting his arm around Sir John's shoulders, but it wasn't clear if he was congratulating him for a good shot or consoling him after he hit a ball into a bunker.

Conditions were near perfect with sunshine, scattered cloud and a light breeze which picked up later in the day.

Few people live on unsealed Tepene Tablelands Rd and the few farmers at work were oblivious to the VIP teeing off nearby.

The former president's visit did, however, pull more national media than Northland has seen since Waitangi Day. Dozens of cameras were trained on the distant green in the hope of a capturing the 44th US president at play.

Kauri Cliffs wouldn't comment on yesterday's visit, with a spokeswoman saying ''our bottom line is that we don't talk about our guests''.

A 1.25 nautical mile no-fly zone was imposed over Kauri Cliffs until 5.30pm yesterday to keep the curious at bay.

Sir John has a handicap of 8 and Mr Obama revealed in 2016 that he had a registered handicap of 13.

Hitting the green with Mr Obama was former US Ambassador Mark Gilbert, who had returned to New Zealand for the visit.

Mr Gilbert said the trip would emphasise the growing relationship between NZ and the US.

"We struck up a friendship when he was a newly elected junior senator from the state of Illinois," Mr Gilbert said of Mr Obama.

He said Mr Obama "absolutely" still had a big influence on society, despite his removal from the political sphere.

"What he's really focusing on right now is the Obama Foundation and how they can teach young aspiring leaders to be the next generation of leaders around the world."

Mr Obama may hit the fairways for another game today, before heading back to Auckland for a private meeting with Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Next up was a 1000-guest invitation-only dinner at the ANZ Viaduct Events Centre this evening.