18 Day Fairways of New Zealand Golf Tour 

Welcome to New Zealand! Upon arrival you will transfer from Auckland International Airport to the Auckland Domestic Terminal (5 minutes) and board your Air New Zealand Domestic Flight to Kerikeri.

On arrival in Kerikeri you will pick up your Intermediate SUV Budget Rental car and head to your hotel.

NORTHLAND/TE TAI TOKERAU – Spring in subtropical Northland brings the senses alive. Imagine ocean waves lapping on white sand beaches with the warming sun on your skin. Listen to native birdsong in ancient kauri forests. Savour the taste of luscious fruits and fresh seafood and inhale the fragrance of early blooms. The subtropical Northland experience promises a contrast between the relative sophistication of the east coast and the soulful simplicity of the west coast.

Today you’ll play the extraordinary Kauri Cliffs Golf Course. Designed by the late David Harman to feature the natural landscape, Kauri Cliffs has earned the admiration of many world-class golfers and consistently rates in the world’s top 50 golf courses as selected by golf publications and websites. Along with the challenge, golfers can enjoy majestic views of the Pacific Ocean from at least 15 holes – including six holes on the edge of the cliff-top.

Your journey south today takes you from the far north of New Zealand to a popular coastal paradise closer to Auckland. Departing from the idyllic Matauri Bay, you’ll pass through the heart of Northland, with its rolling green hills and small rural towns. The final leg of the trip takes you to the coast, where the landscape changes to reveal the beautiful beaches and tranquil estuary of Mangawhai Heads. From there its a short drive to Te Arai.  This is a journey that connects a remote northern gem to a lively holiday destination, offering a perfect blend of peaceful scenery and coastal charm.

Te Arai Links, is located on a spectacular coastal strip just 75 minutes north of Auckland, Te Arai Links offers a premier golfing destination. The resort boasts two 18-hole championship courses: the South Course, designed by Bill Coore & Ben Crenshaw, and the North Course, designed by Tom Doak. Both courses are true links layouts, with exposed sand dunes, fast fescue turf, and incredible views of the Pacific Ocean.

Today you will play the North Course. Starting and finishing on the Ocean, the 18 hole, par 71 golf course has been designed as a traditional walking links golf experience. Designed by Tom Doak, the same designer as sister course, Tara Iti (ranked #6 in the world), you can expect the North Course near the top of its class. This course plays very differently than the South Course, with more inland golf and unique green shapes.

Get to the course as early as you can as the warm up facilities are a world class experience all by themselves and the clubhouse and food & beverage is the very best on offer.

Today you will play the extraordinary South Course. The 18 hole, par 72 South golf course has been designed as a traditional walking links golf experience, set over 36 hectares (90 acres) of turf, across the property’s natural rolling sand dunes. All 18 holes have spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean, with Little Barrier Island and the Hen and Chicks Islands in the background. The South Course debuted at #85 on the latest 23/24 GOLF Magazine Top 100 Courses in the World List.

This is a popular and straightforward journey that offers a perfect transition from a peaceful coastal getaway to a vibrant city experience. Leaving the laid-back atmosphere of Te Arai and its surrounding surf beaches and estuary’s, the route heads south along State Highway 1. You’ll travel through the rolling green hills and farmlands of the Northland region, with a number of optional stops along the way at charming rural towns, boutique wineries, or local eateries in the Matakana area. As you get closer to your destination, the scenery gradually gives way to the urban landscape of Auckland.

AUCKLAND / TĀMAKI MAKAURAU – an exciting, sporting and cultural city, sprawled on a narrow isthmus, between two harbours. The Waitemata and Manukau Harbours, are a main feature of the city, along with numerous volcanic cones such as Mount Eden and Rangitoto Island. The city’s many beaches, marinas and parks, make it ideal for outdoor pursuits such as yachting, rugby, cricket or a day at the beach. The Auckland metropolitan area is New Zealand’s biggest city, and the population mix of European, Maori, and Pacific Islander, make Auckland the largest Polynesian city in the World.

Titirangi Golf Course is a world-class golf course situated in a beautiful bushland setting between the lower slopes of the Waitakere Ranges and the Manukau Harbour. Founded in 1909, it is a private members club but offers limited playing opportunities for New Zealand and overseas visitors. Titirangi is regarded as one of New Zealand’s top courses and is the only one in the country designed by Dr. Alister MacKenzie. MacKenzie’s designs are notable for their sensitivity to the nature of the original site and he is admired for producing holes that offer an ideal balance of risk and reward. After designing Titirangi in 1927, MacKenzie went on to design some of the world’s top courses including Augusta, Cypress Point and Royal Melbourne.

Start this journey early today to avoids traffic by heading south from Auckland, cruising through the Waikato‘s farmlands. The landscape opens up as you continue, and suddenly, you’re on the shores of Lake Taupō. It’s the largest lake in New Zealand, perfect for a swim, a boat trip, or just enjoying the view. The town of Taupō is lively and a great base for exploring the area.

Today you’ll play the beautiful Wairakei International Golf Course. Wairakei, a golf course in a wildlife sanctuary, has to be the quintessential New Zealand golf experience. Only 10 minutes by road from the popular tourist mecca of Lake Taupo, Wairakei sits apart inside a predator-free sanctuary. This could be the quietest course ever with the only sounds from the protected native birds and the echo of club on ball. Gorgeous golf holes here wind their way one after the other through deep native bush.

Today you are off to play The Kinloch Club this morning, New Zealand’s only Jack Nicklaus designed golf course and a real test! The Kinloch Club is your chance to play a round of golf at one of New Zealand’s most prestigious courses. The Kinloch Club is a championship course with a stunning setting, featuring panoramic views of Lake Taupō and a challenging yet enjoyable game. It’s a memorable experience for any golf enthusiast, with a great blend of a quality course and beautiful scenery.

Leave Taupō along the Waikato River. The route climbs into the Kaweka Ranges with winding mountain roads and native bush. You’ll descend into Hawke’s Bay, passing through beautiful orchards and vineyards. Your journey concludes as you arrive in Napier, a city noted for its Art Deco buildings and coastal scenery.

NAPIER/AHURIRI – the largest city in the Hawke’s Bay, whose port handles the province’s huge volumes of produce, spreads around the wedge of Bluff Hill, sometimes still referred to as “Scinde Island.” Napier was almost completely surrounded by water before the severe 1931 earthquake flattened the city but uplifted vast areas of the surrounding seabed. As a result of the disaster, the city was almost completely rebuilt during the 1930’s, giving it an Art Deco style of architecture, unique to a New Zealand city.

Today you will be in golfing heaven when you play at Cape Kidnappers. Situated on a rugged peninsula in Hawke’s Bay, this Tom Doak-designed course is considered a modern marvel of golf architecture. The course is built on a “ridge-and-valley” landscape, with fairways that run along a series of dramatic fingers of land that jut out into the Pacific, towering 140 metres above the sea. This unique design creates a series of holes unlike anything else in the world, with cliff-edge fairways and deep, intimidating bunkers. The course’s firm and fast surface, combined with the ever-present coastal winds, demands strategic play and skill. Beyond the raw drama of the coastal holes, the inland holes are equally compelling, offering engaging terrain and stunning scenery. A round here is an unforgettable experience that blends an exhilarating challenge with some of the most spectacular natural beauty on earth.

Today you will travel to the South Island. Dropping your car at Napier Airport you will catch an Air New Zealand flight to Christchurch where you will pick up your next Intermediate SUV Rental car ready for your South Island adventure.

CHRISTCHURCH/OTAUTAHI -Located on a level plain, Christchurch is defined by its historic past and vibrant future. The willow and oak-lined River Avon meanders through its heart, where you can enjoy a punt ride or explore the sprawling Botanic Gardens. Much of the city’s unique charm comes from its blend of old and new; elegant stone buildings sit alongside striking contemporary architecture. Following a series of earthquakes, the city has been thoughtfully and creatively rebuilt, resulting in innovative new spaces like the Transitional Cathedral and Margaret Mahy Playground. This spirit of renewal makes Christchurch an exciting hub for arts, culture, and dining, while its proximity to both the stunning Canterbury Plains and the volcanic Port Hills offers easy access to outdoor adventures.

Todays round is at the stunning Clearwater Golf Club. Situated in the picturesque outskirts of Christchurch, Clearwater Golf Club offers a truly world-class golfing experience. The course is famously set among a series of interconnected lakes and pristine wetlands, which not only provide a stunning backdrop but also serve as strategic challenges on every hole. The par-72 course is designed as a hybrid between a links and parkland style, with wide, fast-draining fairways and challenging greens that demand precision. Its reputation for excellence has made it a regular host for major professional events, including the New Zealand Open. Beyond the golf, the club provides a serene and beautiful environment, with native birdlife and views of the snow-capped Southern Alps.

This journey offers a spectacular transition from the urban east coast to the pristine alpine landscapes of the South Island. Departing from Christchurch, you’ll travel across the vast and fertile Canterbury Plains, where patchwork fields stretch to the horizon. As you head inland, the foothills of the Southern Alps begin to rise, and the landscape becomes more dramatic. The final part of the drive is truly breathtaking as you arrive at Lake Tekapo, known for its brilliant turquoise-blue water, a result of fine rock flour suspended in the glacial meltwater.

LAKE TEKAPO/TAKAPŌ – located in the Mackenzie country, with fantastic views of the surrounding Alps. The Lake’s unusual turquoise colour is given by fine rock-flour, which is dust ground by glacial movement and held in suspension by the Lake’s waters. The Lake is also well known for its brown and rainbow trout.

This evening you will join the team at Dark Sky Project for their Crater Experience At Cowan’s Private Observatory. This exclusive stargazing experience is for those who want an intimate and personal journey through the cosmos. Your private guide will take you to Cowan’s Private Observatory, where you will use a high-powered telescope to view constellations, planets, and galaxies. The tour is a perfect way to learn about the night sky in one of the world’s best stargazing locations.

Depart Lake Tekapo early today and travel south, passing through Twizel and the Mackenzie Basin. The route then climbs the iconic Lindis Pass, with its vast and sweeping tussock landscapes. Descend into Central Otago, a region of world-class vineyards and dramatic mountain valleys. Your trip ends on the shores of Lake Wakatipu as you arrive in Queenstown, New Zealand’s adventure capital.

QUEENSTOWN/TAHUNA – is the South Island’s most popular resort, set alongside the shores of Lake Wakatipu, under the gaze of the Remarkables Ranges. See the contrast of smooth glacier rounded hills, and jagged mountain summits that reach high above the ancient ice floor. The town is renowned for its jet boating, bungy-jumping, skiing and awe-inspiring scenery. Local story has it, that the gold prospectors of the 19th century pronounced the town as “fit for any Queen”, and so she was called Queenstown.

Today you will play Millbrook Resort on the Remarkables 18. Millbrook Resort is a world-class golf course that offers a challenging and picturesque round of golf. The course is set against the backdrop of the spectacular Remarkables mountain range, providing a stunning setting for your game. The green fees provide access to the entire 18-hole course, ensuring a memorable golfing experience.

The Coronet 18 is a world-class course that sets a new standard for golf in New Zealand. Designed by Greg Turner and Scott Macpherson, it seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape, with fairways winding through schist rock outcrops, wetlands, and large undulations. With a backdrop of the majestic Remarkables and Coronet Peak, every hole offers breathtaking views. The course provides a unique variety of terrain, from the serene Mill Stream to the drama of sheer rock faces, creating a distinct and challenging test of golf. As one of two championship layouts at Millbrook Resort, the Coronet 18 provides an unforgettable experience that combines exceptional course quality with a stunning natural amphitheater.

A break from golf today to join RealNZ on their Milford Sound – Coach / Cruise / Coach.  you will depart Queenstown by coach and travel to Milford Sound via Te Anau, enjoying stops along the way. Take the time to see the best of Milford Sound with a leisurely cruise. Exploring the length of the fiord you’ll learn about the history of the region and benefit from the knowledge of your specialist nature guide. Experience the cool spray of a waterfall as you move in close to sheer rock faces or watch out for dolphins, seals and, in season, the rare Fiordland crested penguins. Your experienced skippers tailor the cruise to take into consideration weather and recent wildlife sightings, ensuring you’ll see the best that Milford Sound has to offer on the day. Informative, participative and relaxed, this is the perfect way to experience what’s been called the “eighth wonder of the world”. Return to Queenstown by coach.

Designed by New Zealand golf course architect John Darby, Jack’s Point is one of New Zealand’s most exhilarating golf courses. The striking natural setting allows for a course created through minimal earth movement to harmonise with nature. Just 15 minute drive from downtown Queenstown, and located beneath the Remarkables mountain range on the edge of beautiful Lake Wakatipu, the course winds its way through a variety of schist outcrops, native wetland and bush areas along with local wildlife which make Jack’s Point their home. Fescue fairways, brown top greens, and four teeing options ensure that golfers of all skill levels can enjoy Jack’s Point.

Today you’ll pack up your clubs, dust off your shoes, return your rental car and hop on a private airport transfer to sadly leave New Zealand ready to share your extraordinary golfing memories and plan your next trip down to tee it up with us.