Roger Federer may have celebrated his 20th Grand Slam win after his recent Australian Open triumph at one of New Zealand's most picturesque spots.
Before taking "Norman" (The Norman Brooks Challenge Cup) back to his home base in Switzerland on February 1, the Swiss ace is rumoured to have secretly flown into NZ to spend a few nights at Nick's Head Station, near Gisborne, with his wife Mirka.
A source said the 36-year-old tennis ace is good friends with the station owners, American billionaire, US financier John Griffin and wife Amy.
Griffin bought Nick's Head Station in 2002 and since then has accomplished much in his long-term plan to re-establish native flora and fauna on the property.
His conservation-minded development has won praise, including New Zealand's top design honour for landscape architecture — the George Malcolm Supreme Award.