21 Day Ultimate New Zealand Golf Adventure 

Welcome to Auckland, New Zealand! Upon arrival you will be picked up for your private transfer from Auckland International Airport to your hotel.

AUCKLAND / TAMAKI 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.

Today you’ll pick up your Full Size SUV Budget Rental Car and head 30 minutes west out of the city to play New Zealand’s only Alister Mackenzie designed golf course – Titirangi Golf Course.

Titirangi Golf Club, 18 Holes Green Fees. Experience a round of golf at one of New Zealand’s premier courses. The Titirangi Golf Club is a championship course with a rich history and a beautiful setting, offering a challenging yet enjoyable game. Whether you’re a seasoned golfer or a casual player, this experience provides a fantastic day on the greens.

This is a relatively short drive from the hustle and bustle of Auckland to one of the North Island’s most beautiful coastal towns. Leaving the city, the journey takes you north through the stunningly green and fertile farmlands of the Northland region. The route offers a peaceful escape from the urban environment, with quiet country roads and picturesque scenery. As you approach Mangawhai, the landscape opens up to reveal the stunning coastline. The town itself is divided into Mangawhai Village and Mangawhai Heads. The Village is known for its cafés, galleries, and markets, while the Heads boasts the beautiful main surf beach and a calm estuary perfect for swimming and kayaking.

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.

Again, we suggest getting to the course as early to enjoy the extraordinary Te Arai Links facilities.

This journey takes you from the pristine beaches of the north to the powerful geothermal landscapes of the Central North Island. Leaving the coastal charm of Mangawhai Heads, the route first heads south towards Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city. You’ll then travel through the Waikato region, with its picturesque farmlands and the bustling city of Hamilton, known for its award-winning themed gardens. The final leg of the trip takes you into the unique volcanic landscape of the Central Plateau. As you approach Taupo, you’ll be treated to a series of incredible sights, from the thunderous Huka Falls to the otherworldly geothermal areas and the vast, serene waters of Lake Taupo itself.

On the way we have you stopping at the Hobbiton Movie Set for their Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. Step into Middle-earth with this enchanting guided tour. You’ll journey through the picturesque sheep farm to the movie set, where you’ll see the Hobbit Holes, the Mill, and the Party Tree. Your guide will share fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and movie magic secrets, culminating in a complimentary beverage at the world-famous Green Dragon Inn.

TAUPO – located on the edge of Lake Taupo, New Zealand’s largest lake Taupo is a pretty town renowned for its trout fishing, the Huka Falls, and the Wairakei Geothermal Power Station. On a clear day, stunning views across the lake of snow capped Mounts Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngauruhoe can be enjoyed and its close proximity to these Mountains in winter, makes it a great place to base yourself if skiing.

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.

After golf if you need a little adrenaline rush we have listed the Huka Jet as an optional tour which is sure to get your bloody pumping and push thoughts of any missed four footers at Wairakei to the back of your mind!

Pack up the clubs early today and leave Taupō 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.

After golf it is time to head to Napier. The route will take you back along the Waikato River and 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 absolutely LOVE playing at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers. Cape Kidnappers brings together a world-class golf course and five-star luxury lodge accommodation in a spectacular location. Cape Kidnappers is an iconic promontory of rugged cliffs and farmland overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Designed by respected US architect Tom Doak, the superbly challenging course is the result of clever design and respect for the natural landscape.

With cliff-edge fairways perched 140 metres above sea level and a surface that remains firm and fast, this course offers holes unlike anything you find elsewhere in the world. While every hole has a spectacular view of the Bay, some play cautiously alongside deep ravines as others intimidate golfers with deep cliff top bunkers and sheer drops off the very edge of the earth.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is the on-site, super luxury award-winning lodge – one of New Zealand’s most exclusive and highly acclaimed resort accommodations. Cape Kidnappers is currently ranked 22nd on Golf Digest’s prestigious ‘World Top 100’ list.

Leave Napier and climb the Remutaka Hill Road into the Wairarapa. You will travel through towns including Featherston, Carterton, and Masterton, across fertile farmland. The journey then continues northeast across rolling farmland and orchards. Your trip concludes as you arrive in Wellington, a city on the Pacific coast known for its Art Deco architecture.

WELLINGTON/TE WHANGANUI-A-TARA – the Capital city of New Zealand since 1865, is situated around Wellington harbour, its houses clinging precipitously to the steep hillsides. Wellington is renowned for its wind which is channelled through the Cook Strait, and causes the wind to blow most days. A clever blend of buildings, old and new, beautiful vistas of the city and harbour, and a cosmopolitan mix of culture and arts give Wellington its heart, and vibrant atmosphere.

Tonight we have you heading to Zealandia The Karori Sanctuary, to take the wonderful Zealandia By Night Tour. This is a truly magical and memorable experience. Your guide will lead you on a walk through the sanctuary at night, using infrared lights to spot some of New Zealand’s unique nocturnal creatures, including glowworms, tuatara, and the very shy little spotted kiwi. It’s a fantastic opportunity to see these rare animals in their natural habitat.

Today you are in for a treat with a round at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club whom have hosted the NZ Open many times. The Paraparaumu course, an hour by road north of Wellington, is considered New Zealand’s leading links layout. The course was designed just after World War II by Australian Open winner, Alex Russell. Fellow Australian and British Open winner Peter Thompson described Paraparaumu as a “Gem of enjoyment, a monument to the game and a gift to the future”. Paraparamu, as it is known locally, has featured in seven different World Top 100 lists over the past 20 years.

This journey starts with a scenic ferry ride across the Cook Strait from Wellington to Picton. You’ll be treated to incredible views of the Marlborough Sounds before arriving in Picton, a beautiful harbour town that serves as a gateway to the South Island.

Interislander Wellington to Picton – Plus. This is a spectacular journey, often described as one of the world’s most scenic ferry crossings. As you depart Wellington’s harbor, you’ll enter the Cook Strait, where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific Ocean. The highlight of the trip is the cruise through the tranquil Marlborough Sounds, with its secluded bays, lush forests, and rugged coastline. Onboard, you can relax in comfort, enjoy locally sourced cuisine and drinks, or simply take in the incredible views from the observation decks.

BLENHEIM/WAIHARAKEKE – the “Sunshine Capital” of New Zealand is situated on the Wairau Plain near the top of the South Island. Blenheim’s combination of high sunshine hours, a long ripening period, and free-draining river flats have put the district’s vineyards at the forefront of the International Wine Industry. The second Saturday of February is Blenheim’s Wine and Food Festival which draws many to celebrate food, music and dance.

Today you will join the Marlborough Tour Company on their Marlborough Icons Tour. Marlborough is best known for wine and the unique Marlborough Sounds – explore both with our exclusive Marlborough Icons Tour. A Marlborough wine tour visiting two wineries in the morning is followed by a delicious waterside village lunch (own cost), then a seafood cruise for the afternoon, featuring fresh local seafood and Marlborough sauvignon blanc while exploring the stunning Marlborough Sounds.

This journey takes you south from Blenheim, following the picturesque State Highway 1 to Christchurch. You’ll pass through the rugged and beautiful Kaikōura region, where the mountains seem to drop straight into the sea. The route can be winding in parts, but the stunning views of the Pacific Ocean are well worth it. It’s an iconic South Island coastal trip.

KAIKOURA/TE TAUMANU O TE WAKA A MAUI – means “to eat crayfish”, from the Maori words “Kai” meaning food, and Koura meaning crayfish. You can savour crayfish here in Kaikoura, view whales and dolphins at play, or visit local galleries and craft shops, or take a walk along the Peninsula Walkway. If you travel out onto the Kaikoura Peninsula and look back towards the mountains, an amazing tableau will appear before you. The seaward Kaikoura Range appears to rise from the sea, with the snow-capped Southern Alps as a backdrop.

This evening you are booked on Christchurch Tramways Tramway Restaurant Dinner. You’ll enjoy a truly special evening with this seasonal fine dining experience. The beautifully restored tram serves as a moving restaurant, where you will be treated to a multi-course meal featuring premium local cuisine and beverages. As you dine, the tram winds its way through Christchurch’s city center, allowing you to see the vibrant city lights and a mix of historic and modern architecture.

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. Clearwater’s designers Sir Bob Charles and John Darby have succeeded in developing an inland course which has a distinctive links feel about it. One of the benefits of the openness is to enable golfers during their rounds to enjoy the breath-taking views of the South Island’s Southern Alps mountain range. Water is a strong feature of the course particularly on all four par 3’s as well as the long par 4 finishing hole.

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, enjoy Dark Sky Projects Crater Experience – At Cowan’s Private Observatory. This exclusive stargazing experience is 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 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.

Once settled in to your hotel you’re going to have a shot of adrenalin (its the capital of adrenalin after all!) on Shotover Jets Shotover Jet Boat Ride. This is a world-famous adventure. You’ll be on a powerful jet boat with a highly skilled driver who will navigate through the narrow canyons of the Shotover River. The ride is packed with excitement, with speeds of up to 85km/h and heart-pounding 360-degree spins, all while the stunning scenery rushes past.

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.

Prepare to be gob smacked by the extraordinary Jack’s Point Golf Course as both the course and the vistas will leave you spellbound. 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.

A break from golf today to join Altitude Tours Queenstown on their renowned Milford Sound – Coach / Cruise / Fly, Including Lunch Tour. This full-day, all-inclusive tour is a “bucket list” experience that showcases the stunning beauty of Fiordland from every angle. Your adventure begins with a comfortable coach trip from Queenstown in a premium Mercedes van, where your knowledgeable local guide will provide entertaining commentary and make multiple stops for incredible photo opportunities at iconic spots like Mirror Lakes and the Chasm. Upon arrival at Milford Sound, you’ll board a small-boat nature cruise to explore the length of the fiord, getting up close to its towering waterfalls and spotting unique wildlife. The grand finale is a breathtaking scenic flight, where you’ll soar over the razor-sharp mountain peaks, glaciers, and alpine lakes you just traveled through, arriving back in Queenstown in a fraction of the time. This seamless tour is designed for comfort and convenience, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the natural wonder of the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”

Today you will take to the fairways at a regular NZ Open host course in Millbrook Resort Coronet Golf Course. With dramatic backdrops of the Remarkables and Coronet Peak, the Coronet 18 sets a new standard for golfing excellence. Superb turf quality with fast and true greens seamlessly integrate into the landscape. Whether circuiting Millbrook’s mountain tarn or just soaking in the scenery, the experience is second to none.

A great way to sample some of the regions best wines is on Appellation Wine Tours, Classic Wine Tour which we have booked for you today. This tour is an excellent introduction to the Central Otago wine region. You’ll visit three of the area’s most popular wineries, where you’ll taste a variety of award-winning wines, including the acclaimed Pinot Noir. Your guide will provide insights into the region’s history and viticulture, making for a fun and informative outing.

Alternatively you can replay Jacks Point at a reduced price or play one of the other fantastic local courses like Arrowtown. Cromwell, Wanaka or Queenstown Golf Club, simply talk to your consultant about details.

Today you’ll return your rental car today, hop on a private airport transfer and sadly leave New Zealand ready to share your extraordinary memories and plan your next trip down to see us.