Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay
Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay
Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay
Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay
The Kinloch Club, Taupo
Paraparaumu Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
Clearwater Golf Club, Christchurch
Terrace Downs, Canterbury Plains
Jacks Point, Queenstown
Jacks Point, Queenstown
The Hills, Queenstown
The Hills, Queenstown
Millbrook, Queenstown
Millbrook, Queenstown
For the dedicated golfer, a New Zealand trip would not be complete without factoring in a tour of our internationally acclaimed golf courses. Known for their stunning scenery and unique landscapes, many New Zealand golf resorts offer stay and play options with boutique clubhouse accommodation or an adjacent luxury lodge.
We arrange all-inclusive golf vacation packages, so if this is something you’re interested in we can definitely help. ‘All-inclusive’ means you only have to pay one fee and we take care of booking your accommodation, transport, green fees and everything else you need for a memorable New Zealand golf vacation.
To help you decide on which New Zealand golf courses you would like to visit on your golf vacation, here are our top 10 picks:
- Kauri Cliffs, Matauri Bay
- Location: Matauri Bay, North Island
- Size: 7,119 yards / 6,510 metres
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
Best known for its spectacular cliff top golf holes which plunge to the sea, Kauri Cliffs is currently ranked #39 in the world by Golf Digest. Barack Obama has played here and PGA Tour star Brandt Snedeker called it “Pebble Beach on steroids”. As well as its namesake cliffs, the course features farmland, forest and marsh, and is considered one of New Zealand’s best golf courses.
- Tara Iti, Mangawhai
- Location: Te Arai Beach, North Island
- Size: 1,700 seaside acres
- Holes: 18
- Par: 71
Opened in 2015, Tara Iti is an American-style private golf club that is invite only. However, non-members can use a once-in-a-lifetime pass with a recommendation from your club. The course debuted with a top 50 world ranking and is known for its unique sand dune landscape with tight, hard fescue greens located alongside the Pacific Ocean. Play is all year round due to the mild Northland temperatures.
- Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay
- Location: Cape Kidnappers, North Island
- Size: 6530 metres/7141 yards
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
Be sure to include critically acclaimed Cape Kidnappers on your golf vacation, the best time of year to play here is between October and May. Featuring a ridge-and-valley course with stunning sea views, this is one New Zealand golf course that definitely calls for your concentration. The signature 15th hole, named Pirate’s Plank, is atop a dramatic cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean with sheer drops on either side.
- The Kinloch Club, Taupo
- Location: Taupo, North Island
- Size: 6734 metres from the back tees
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
Offering panoramic views of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest freshwater lake, The Kinloch Club has been described by NZ golfing legend Sir Bob Charles as “the number one golf course in New Zealand”. The accolade is well deserved with the world-class course winding its way round rugged rural farmland and providing fantastic year round playing conditions.
- Paraparaumu Golf Club, Kapiti Coast
- Location: Paraparaumu, North Island
- Size: 6,600 yards from the back markers
- Holes: 18
- Par: 71
Paraparaumu Beach is known as the ‘spiritual home of New Zealand golf’ and has hosted 12 New Zealand Opens. Tiger Woods has played here and the legendary Gary Player once described it as a “great, great course”. Designed by famed golf architect Alex Russell, firm greens nestle between sand dunes, and require careful thought and execution for every shot.
- Clearwater Golf Club, Christchurch
- Location: Christchurch, South Island
- Size: 200 hectares
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
The current home of the NZ Women’s Open, Clearwater Golf Club is best played between October and April but is open all year round for a golf vacation. Players love it for the spectacular views of the Southern Alps and the meandering greens around spring-fed lakes and trout-filled streams. The signature 9th hole is a full water carry into a prevailing head wind, while the 14th hole features two water crossings.
- Terrace Downs, Canterbury Plains
- Location: South Canterbury, South Island
- Size: 6,406m / 7,006yds
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
This scenic alpine course is both fun and challenging for golfers of all levels. Terrace Downs is ranked in the top 5 NZ golf clubs for its high country course based at the foothills of the Southern Alps. There are two different aspects to the course to mix up the play – the front 9 has a woodland feel, while the back 9 has a Scottish feel with an open tranquil setting.
- Jacks Point, Queenstown
- Location: Queenstown, South Island
- Size: 6388 metres / 6986 yards from the championship tees
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
Hailed as one of the most visually spectacular golf courses in the world, Jack’s Point is designed to make the most of the natural landscape of native tussock, rock outcrops and native bush. With a backdrop of the Remarkables mountains and views of Lake Wakatipu, you can’t beat this golfing location. The course is best played during October to April when the weather is optimal.
- The Hills, Queenstown
- Location: Arrowtown, South Island
- Size: 500 acres
- Holes: 18
- Par: 72
Designed by Darby Partners and owned by Sir Michael Hill, a Kiwi entrepreneur, The Hills is one of New Zealand’s premier South Island golf courses. Players will enjoy a varied world-class championship course with dramatic elevation changes, rocky schist outcrops, as well as lakes, and wetland areas. There are also contemporary sculptures dotted about the course to intrigue golfers, most notably 110 cast iron wolves standing at the 18th hole.
- Millbrook, Queenstown
- Location: Arrowtown, South Island
- Size: 6560 metres / 7174 yards
- Holes: 27
- Par: 72
Millbrook is a 27 hole golf course (three sets of 9 holes) that fully exploits its dramatic setting, as well as delivering world-class golf. With two different fairways, Millbrook offers golfers lots of choice. But if its views you want then be sure to play the original course, The Remarkables are the feature of the signature 5th hole; you’ll want to have your Smartphone camera handy before you take a swing.
Browse our suggested itineraries below or make an enquiry for a tailored golf vacation itinerary to visit all your favourite New Zealand golf courses. We look forward to hearing from you!
Related Itineraries
South Island Golf Package
- Highlights: Green Fees at Clearwater Resort, Terrace Downs, Millbrook and Jacks Point Golf Courses. Big Sky Stargazing, Glacier Boat Trip and Milford Sound Helicopter Trip with Scenic Cruise.
North Island Luxury Golf Package
- Highlights: Green Fees at The Kinloch Club, Cape Kidnappers and Paraparaumu Golf Courses, Private Waiheke Island Wine Tour, Privately Guided Cycle Trip in Hawkes Bay and Behind the Scenes of Te Papa Museum.