9 Day North Island Swing Golf Tour

Play your way across New Zealand’s North Island with a nine-day self drive itinerary packed with premier courses, dramatic cliffs, pristine coastlines, and unforgettable golf moments, all while staying in comfortable four-star accommodations.

9 Days

Self Drive Tour

Rental Car Included

Boutique, 4 Star Accommodation

Overview & Itinerary

Set off on a nine-day self drive North Island golfing tour that combines stunning landscapes with iconic courses. Your adventure begins near Auckland at Titirangi Golf Club, where classic design sets the tone for the days ahead. Travel north to the windswept beauty of Te Arai Links, playing both the North and South Courses, and enjoy a two-night stay on-site, fully immersing yourself in the coastal setting. From there, head inland to Wairakei, where fairways weave through a wildlife sanctuary, creating a serene yet exhilarating challenge. Continue on to Kinloch, a Jack Nicklaus masterpiece demanding precision and creativity. Your finale awaits at Cape Kidnappers, where cliffs plunge to the sea and every hole feels like a postcard. This journey promises variety, challenge, and unforgettable scenery.

Day 01

Arrive in Auckland

Welcome to 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.

Your accommodation for the night MSocial Hotel Auckland (Includes breakfast)

Suggested activities

Day 02

Auckland - Play Titirangi Golf Course including golf cart hire

Today you’ll pick up your Intermediate 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.

Your accommodation for the night MSocial Hotel Auckland (Includes breakfast)

Suggested activities

Waiheke Island Heli-Dining – Mudbrick – Heletranz Auckland

Day 03

Drive Auckland to Mangawhai (approx. 107kms) - Play Te Arai North Golf Course

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.

Your accommodation for the night Te Arai Links Ocean View Room (Includes breakfast)

Day 04

Play Te Arai South Golf Course

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.

Your accommodation for the night Te Arai Links Ocean View Room (Includes breakfast)

Day 05

Drive from Mangawhai Heads to Taupo (approx. 362kms)

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 you may wish to stop at the Hobbiton Movie Set for their Hobbiton Movie Set Tour. Step into Middle-earth with a 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.

Your accommodation for the night Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Suggested activities

Hobbiton Movie Set Tour – Hobbiton Movie Set Tours

Day 06

Play Wairakei International Golf Course including golf cart hire

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!

Your accommodation for the night Millennium Hotel & Resort Manuels Taupo

Suggested activities

Day 07

Drive from Taupo to Napier (approx. 143kms)

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.

Your accommodation for the night Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Day 08

Play Rosewood Cape Kidnappers Golf Course including golf cart hire

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. Cape Kidnappers is currently ranked 22nd on Golf Digest’s prestigious ‘World Top 100’ list.

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.

Your accommodation for the night Scenic Hotel Te Pania

Suggested activities

A Twilight Odyssey Tour – Odyssey NZ

Day 09

Depart Napier

Today you’ll return your rental car today to Napier Airport and sadly leave New Zealand ready to share your extraordinary memories and plan your next trip down to see us.

Why we think you’ll love this tour:

You’ll play a hand-picked collection of the North Island’s most iconic courses, from coastal links to dramatic cliff-top fairways. You’ll enjoy a seamless journey with four-star accommodations, including a two-night luxury stay at Te Arai Links, where every detail is expertly handled, leaving you free to focus on world-class golf.