New Zealand Luxury Golf Experience - 10 Days

Highlights

• Take a swing at Te Arai Links, where you'll find two oceanfront courses
• Try for a hole-in-one at the modern Kinloch Manor course overlooking Lake Taupo
• Tee off at the all-inclusive luxury lodge, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers
• Explore Art Deco architecture in Napier and go wine tasting in Hawke's Bay

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Auckland, Drive to Mangawhai & Te Anau Links

Kia ora! Welcome to New Zealand's North Island! Your golfing adventure begins in Auckland, the country's largest city. On arrival, collect a rental car and drive straight out to Mangawhai, a 90-minute drive away. This beachside gem is popular with Kiwis but is almost unknown to tourists. Make your way straight to Mangawhai Village and find somewhere delicious for lunch before exploring the area. Here locals love to go surfing, fishing, swimming, kayaking, bird-spotting, hiking, and wine-tasting. 

You could while away part of the afternoon at Mangawhai Heads Beach or hit the Clifftop Walkway, a superb three-hour coastal hike starting from the lifeguard station of the main beach, but only doable at low tide. When it's time to check in, venture slightly south to Te Arai Links, your first world-class golfing destination for the trip. Positioned alongside a pristine New Zealand coastline, you'll settle into one of the luxury suites or villas, all designed in a light-filled, airy style to blend into the surrounding nature.

Day 2: Play Te Arai South Course

Surrounded by trees, sand dunes, and beach, you'll find yourself in another world of golfing at Te Arai Links. After breakfast, venture out on the South Course, an 18-hole, 72-par course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. The two sought-out sand-based sites where ready-shaped natural contours provided the foundation for an interesting green. Nature has played a huge hand in design here, with wind shaping much of the course, and of the holes, 16 boast ocean views and eight are directly on the sea.

You can hire a caddie to help perfect your game, and being a traditional walking course, the variety of tees allows all abilities to get involved and enjoy the fun challenge of a day out on the green. After you hang up the clubs, Te Arai offers plenty to do with massage services, private yoga, horseback riding, surfing, hiking, and kayaking all available, along with helicopter tours.

Day 3: Play Te Arai North Course

Set off for another day of golfing to a backdrop of crashing surf, salty air, and spectacular scenery. If you want to practice your swing, spend some time at the Driving Range before heading out to tackle the North Course. Starting and finishing at the oceanfront, this 18-hole, par 71 golf course is entirely different from the South Course, and you can expect more inland golf and unusual green shapes. Naturally, you have to do both to decide which of the two modern courses is your favorite.

The North Course, which opened in October 2023, was designed by Tom Doak, who is also behind sister course Tara Iti. That one is ranked number six in the world, and the North Course is fast rising as a world-class green. The more unique holes are found inland, with the green of one sitting on a ridge beside an ancient Māori pa, or hill fortress. When you've played your fill, continue to the Clubhouse, where you can find a bite to eat and challenge your group to a friendly competition at The Playground, a two-acre (0.4 ha) putting green.

Day 4: Drive to Taupō & Kinloch Manor & Villas, Māori Rock Carving Cruise

Rise early to tackle the 4.5-hour drive to Taupō. You'll travel through the heart of the central North Island volcanic plateau, passing the thermal region's Waimangu Volcanic Valley. Taupō sits at the edge of Lake Taupō, New Zealand's largest lake, and a volcanic caldera formed by an eruption 25,600 years ago. Check into the Kinloch Manor & Villas, a cutting-edge luxury lodge set within 628 acres (254 ha) of wilderness above the shores of Lake Taupō. Here, you'll find New Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus Signature 18-hole golf course, voted the best in New Zealand.

Drop your bags at your stylish suite or villa, complete with oak floors, freestanding baths, and rainforest showers, then board a yacht for a scenic cruise across Lake Taupō. Relax in luxury bean bags as you float by 33-foot-high (10 m) Māori rock art, only accessible by boat. Stop for swimming, sunbathing, and light refreshments before cruising back to shore. 

Day 5: Play Kinloch Golf Course

After a luxurious breakfast at the manor, you'll tee off on New Zealand's only Jack Nicklaus Signature course. Picture rolling fairways that wind through semi-wild golden countryside with views of Lake Taupō's crystal-clear waters. This course is a world-class challenge and was ranked in the Top 100 in the World by Golf Course Architecture Magazine in 2013. All 18 holes will test your skills thanks to its undulating terrain and strategically placed hazards, demanding thoughtful shot placement and rewarding precision.

There's more to do and see in this part of New Zealand, so after tapping the final hole, set out to explore the beauty of Lake Taupō and the region. You could take a voyage on the country's largest lake, experience world-class trout fishing in the verdant wilderness, cycle around the lake shore, or trek through the naturally diverse Tongariro National Park. If it's thrills you're after, try whitewater rafting and experience the thrill of high-speed spins and rushing rapids. Or turn down the pace with an indulgent spa afternoon, then savor Indigenous fare with a traditional Māori hāngi feast for dinner.

Day 6: Play Kinloch Golf Course or Optional Activities

Rise and shine for another day in this golfer's paradise, a special estate that blends the breathtaking beauty of New Zealand with championship-level play. With another full day at Kinloch, you can roll out onto the green for a second swing at the course or stay at the nineteenth hole and keep exploring the best of the region. 

Today could be a good opportunity to explore the raw splendor of the North Island volcanic plateau. The renowned Tongariro Alpine Crossing is considered the best one-day trek in New Zealand, but the 12-mile (19.4 km) hike isn't easy. The crossing passes diverse alpine and volcanic landscapes, and you'll encounter vibrant emerald lakes, ancient lava flows, and steam vents that create a surreal and otherworldly atmosphere. The lodge can arrange a private guide and gourmet picnic lunch, or if you're short on time, there's always a helicopter.

Day 7: Drive to Napier & Rosewood Cape Kidnappers

Continue your journey today with the two-hour drive from Taupō to Napier, a coastal city set among the vineyard-grooved landscape of Hawke's Bay. In 1931, a violent earthquake and subsequent fires destroyed most of the commercial heart, and the people of Napier rebuilt their city with an Art Deco flare. After taking a quick spin around the city to admire the architecture, continue the 40-minute drive to your all-inclusive luxury lodge, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers.

This immersive sheep and cattle estate has 6,000 acres (2,430 ha) in the heart of the Hawke's Bay wine region with views of the Pacific Ocean. It's home to one of the world's leading golf courses and is a sanctuary for precious native flora and fauna. If there's time, you might be able to arrange a wine tasting in Hawke's Bay this afternoon; otherwise, settle into your elegant suite and look forward to your first dinner at Cape Kidnappers. Head chef James Honore prepares daily menus that use fresh produce from the estate's garden.

Day 8: Play Cape Kidnappers Golf Course

Designed by legendary golf architect Tom Doak and completed in 2004, the Cape Kidnappers par 71 golf course has been hailed as one of the great modern marvels in golf. Built on a ridge-and-valley landscape with stunning sea views, you'll find cliff-edge fairways perched 460 feet (140 m) above sea level. With a surface that remains firm and fast, this course offers holes, unlike anything you find elsewhere in the world. So grab your clubs, warm up on the world-class practice range, putting and chipping greens, and then set out to conquer the course.

For the nineteenth hole, choose a new adventure—the lodge offers mountain biking and clay-bird shooting within the property's extensive farming grounds, or you could try your hand at a navigation challenge with orienteering. Then, return to the lodge for a seasonal dinner and a spot of stargazing, discovering the constellations of the Southern Hemisphere with the help of a local astronomer.

Day 9: Play Cape Kidnappers Golf Course or Optional Activities

Rise early for an action-packed sunrise breakfast at Black Reef, where you'll soak up panoramic views of the sunrise over the cliffs while tucking into a delectable breakfast. Afterward, join a Can-Am tour of the property, visiting the lighthouse, Shark's Tooth Island, Flat Rock, and the largest mainland colony in the world. Observe the distinct markings and fascinating migration patterns of these birds while taking in views of the coastline.

After a packed morning, return to the green for another round on the Cape Kidnappers par 71 golf course. This challenging course will have tested your skill yesterday, and if the weather changes, you'll see the clifftop course in a whole new light. For something different, join a gourmet food tour through Hawke's Bay. Explore the beautiful landscapes, visit local wineries and food producers, and enjoy a scrumptious lunch of New Zealand's artisan cheeses, charcuterie, and seasonal produce before returning to the lodge in the late afternoon.

Day 10: Depart Napier

Enjoy one last morning waking up at Rosewood Cape Kidnappers. A luxurious breakfast awaits before you pack your bags and make the 45-minute drive to Napier's airport. Be sure to refuel your rental car before dropping it off in time for your departing flight. Any international flights from this smaller airport require changing planes in Auckland or another big city. Safe travels!