Golf's Last Great Frontier
Playing golf in New Zealand is like playing in California sixty years ago — unspoiled, uncrowded, unforgettable. More than 400 courses dot a country the size of the UK with a fifth of the population, and two of them — Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers, both on the North Island — rank in Golf Digest's World Top 50. No other country this small plays above its weight to quite this degree.
What makes New Zealand special is the setting. Cape Kidnappers, a Tom Doak design, runs along 500-foot cliffs above Hawke's Bay — holes routed down narrow finger-ridges that fall straight into the Pacific. Kauri Cliffs, a David Harman design, has been called "Pebble Beach on steroids" by PGA Tour star Brandt Snedeker. On the South Island, Queenstown gives you Jack's Point (2,300 vertical metres of the Remarkables above you), The Hills (home of the NZ Open), and Millbrook — alpine golf in a natural amphitheatre.
Four regions anchor the trip: the Northland & Auckland cluster in the north; Central North Island with geothermal Lake Taupo, Jack Nicklaus's Kinloch, and Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay; Wellington and the links of Paraparaumu; and the South Island's Queenstown — the country's adventure capital and alpine golf mecca. Between rounds: jet-boating, Milford Sound, Māori cultural experiences, Central Otago Pinot Noir, and hikes through landscapes that doubled as Middle-earth. A 12-14 night trip is the right minimum to do it justice.
New Zealand Itineraries
Our signature New Zealand itineraries — each a distinct way to experience Kiwi golf across both islands. Every trip is fully customizable.
New Zealand's Greatest Courses
Two World Top 50 North Island headliners, Queenstown's alpine dramatics, and everything in between — the courses that make every golfer's bucket list.
Four Distinct Regions
New Zealand's golf regions span two islands and an hour's drive through landscapes that change every 20 minutes. Explore them below.
Auckland & Northland — The City of Sails
Most trips start in Auckland, the "City of Sails" on a harbour scattered with 140 islands. The main event for golfers is three hours north at Kauri Cliffs — an hour-long charter flight or a scenic drive through the wine country of Matakana. Back near the city, Gulf Harbour and Windross Farm offer inland-links alternatives, and a ferry to Waiheke Island pairs vineyards with gentler rounds.
Between rounds: Auckland's Sky Tower, a day on Waiheke's vineyards, America's Cup-level sailing, and exploring the historic Bay of Islands from Russell and Paihia.
Top Attractions
- Bay of Islands charter boats
- Waitangi Treaty Grounds
- Waiheke Island wine
- Sky Tower jump
- Auckland Harbour Bridge climb
- Hauraki Gulf sailing
- Snapper fishing
- Cape Reinga at the tip
Central North Island & Hawke's Bay — Lake, Volcanoes & Cliffs
The geothermal heart of New Zealand. Lake Taupo — an 18-hour-drive-sized lake that's actually a dormant volcano — hosts two of the country's best inland courses: Jack Nicklaus's Kinloch Club and the extraordinary Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary, where the entire course sits within a predator-proof native-bird sanctuary.
Ninety minutes south-east, Hawke's Bay pairs Cape Kidnappers' cliff-top Doak masterpiece with the Art Deco architecture of Napier, the Craggy Range vineyards, and the country's warmest, driest climate. This is the pairing every itinerary is built around.
Top Attractions
- Huka Falls
- Wai-O-Tapu geothermal park
- Māori rock carvings, Taupo
- Tongariro National Park
- Te Puia Rotorua cultural show
- Craggy Range & Elephant Hill wineries
- Napier Art Deco tours
- National Aquarium of NZ
Wellington — The Coolest Little Capital
Sitting at the southern tip of the North Island, Wellington (Lonely Planet's "coolest little capital in the world") packs Te Papa Tongarewa, Weta Cave, and more cafés per capita than New York. Royal Wellington has hosted seven NZ Opens and was the first club in the country to receive royal charter. An hour north, Paraparaumu Beach — frequently called the best links in the southern hemisphere — is New Zealand's spiritual home of the game.
Over the Rimutaka Ranges sits the Pinot Noir country of Wairarapa, centred on the wine village of Martinborough. Wellington is the ideal 3-4 night stop between the North Island and a ferry crossing to Queenstown.
Top Attractions
- Te Papa Museum
- Wellington Cable Car & Botanic Gardens
- Weta Cave film workshop
- Writer's Walk
- Martinborough wine tour
- Zealandia sanctuary
- Cuba Street café scene
- NZ Wine Trail
Queenstown & South Island — Alpine Golf Capital
Nestled beside Lake Wakatipu beneath the spine of the Remarkables, Queenstown is the country's adventure and alpine golf capital. Jack's Point — 2,300 vertical metres of mountain backdrop — is the visual standout. The Hills is Sir Michael Hill's passion project and NZ Open host. Millbrook is 27 holes in an alpine amphitheatre. And the walk-in-to-history Arrowtown has goldfields charm alongside its course.
Off the course: jet-boating the Shotover, heli-flights to Milford Sound, gondola rides to Bob's Peak, Amisfield and Felton Road wineries in Central Otago, and Māori cultural evenings. Book 6-12 months ahead — Queenstown is small and sells out.
Top Attractions
- Bob's Peak Gondola
- Milford Sound cruise
- Doubtful Sound fiord
- Arrowtown historic village
- TSS Earnslaw to Walter Peak
- Shotover Jet
- Central Otago Pinot wineries
- Lake Wakatipu cruise
Featured Accommodations
From Relais & Châteaux lodges to 5-star resorts beside the first tee — New Zealand hotels are destinations in themselves.
Best Time to Play New Zealand
Peak Season: September – November, March – May
New Zealand's autumn (March-May) and spring (Sept-Nov) — 60-75°F, stable weather, courses in peak condition. The country's smaller than it looks but the driving takes time; plan 2-3 rounds per week, not 5.
Summer: December – February
Kiwi summer. Long daylight (to 9:30pm in Queenstown), warmer temperatures (70-85°F), and busy domestic tourism. Book 6-12 months ahead and expect higher rates around the Christmas-January school holiday.
Winter: June – August
Only a handful of South Island alpine courses close for snow. Most of the country plays year-round with 45-60°F winter days — crisp, cold, and empty. Queenstown shifts to ski season but Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs are playable year-round.
Getting Around
Expect to fly between islands (Auckland → Queenstown is 2hrs), and to drive between clusters on the same island. Don't underestimate drive times — roads are winding and scenic, which means slower. Helicopter transfers between top lodges are common.