Commences in the Wellington and concludes in Auckland. Making your way north from New Zealand’s capital city Wellington you will visit the Hawkes Bay, Taupo, Auckland and Northland during this New Zealand golfing vacation. Play the best courses in the North Island as well as some well maintained country courses and still have ample time for additional sightseeing.
- Day 1
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Arrive Wellington
On arrival at Wellington International Airport collecting your reserved hire vehicles, after rental formalities are complete you drive to your inner city accommodation. Downtown Wellington on Lambton Quay is popular with shoppers. Perhaps take a trip on the Cable Car that takes you from Lambton Quay to Kelburn or enjoy a visit to the Botanic Gardens. For a different perspective of the city, take a harbor cruise or a ferry trip to Eastbourne, where there are craft shops, galleries and cafes. Highly recommended is a visit to Te Papa.
Wellington
- Day 2
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Wellington to Palmerston North – Golf at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
This morning travel north along the scenic Kapiti Coast to the Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club. The course has been host to the New Zealand Open championship on twelve occasions including the 2002 New Zealand Open in which Tiger Woods played. It is rated as the best links course in the country because of its qualities as a traditional links. The well drained undulating fairways, fierce rough, fast greens and intimidating bunkers combine with the naturally windy coastal weather to create a truly challenging golfing experience. Travel onto Palmerston North after golf today.
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club
- Day 3
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Palmerston North to Napier
Today is a free day. Travel through to Napier, the city by the sea, renowned for its 1930s Art Deco architecture, stately Norfolk pines, surrounding wineries, local fresh produce and national tourist attractions. Sightseeing options when you reach Napier today include a half-day personal wine tour or an art deco guided walking tour.
Napier
- Day 4
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Golf at Cape Kidnappers
Your game of golf today is at Cape Kidnappers. The American designer of Cape Kidnappers, Tom Doak, who is also well known for his prize-winning courses in the US, has said that, 'If Cape Kidnappers were a book it would be an epic. Enjoy your game and enjoy the setting (because) you may never play golf somewhere like this again'. Cape Kidnappers plays above the ocean, atop dramatic cliffs and runs to and from the edge. Cape Kidnappers is built on a ridge-and-valley landscape with spectacular sea views. 2004 Course of the Year – Travel & Leisure Golf.
Cape Kidnappers Resort
- Day 5
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Napier to Taupo – Golf at Hastings Golf Club
Play a morning round on Hastings Golf Club, ranked amongst the Top 10 New Zealand’s courses. The magnificent fully irrigated fairways are a mix of common couch with imported fescue and native rye grasses, lined by a verdant mix of variegated green trees of all shapes and sizes and is one of the best groomed in the country year in and year out. The greens are relatively flat, with subtle borrows, and can be extremely slick. The driving areas are generously wide, and sparingly bunkered with neat, shallow hazards full of sparkling light sand. Travel onto Taupo after golf today.
Hastings Golf Club
- Day 6
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Golf at Wairakei International Golf Course
Play golf on the challenging Wairakei International Golf Course. The course is set out on 156 hectares of former farmland in the middle of the Wairakei Tourist Park boasting lush manicured fairways and greens, mature tree plantings and magnificent vistas. The natural contours, 108 well placed bunkers and three water hazards guard the course from those over-ambitious shots. The large greens provide a false sense of security. The subtle breaks and fast pace demand accurate approach shots.
After golf in the mid afternoon you may choose to trout fish on the pristine waters of beautiful Lake Taupo, or have an exhilarating ride on the Huka Falls Jet.
Wairakei International
- Day 7
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Taupo to Rotorua – Golf at The Kinloch Club
Play today on the first Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course to be built in New Zealand which has been created around the unique natural features of the site rather than transforming the landscape to meet a uniform golf course design. The course fits the landscape with ease, and the backdrop of Lake Taupo provides a magnificent setting. Jack Nicklaus on the Kinloch golf course development: “The Kinloch site has the views and all the elevation that you need for a great golf course. It will be a very special and enjoyable golf course.” Travel one hour to Rotorua this afternoon.
The Kinloch Club
- Day 8
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Rotorua at your leisure
Today relax and enjoy some of the attractions available in this famous geothermal region including seeing boiling mud pools, steaming hot springs and geysers at Te Puia Thermal Reserve, and rainbow trout and the kiwi bird at Rainbow Springs. You can enjoy an insight into New Zealand farming at the Agrodome. Tonight experience a Maori hangi and cultural performance of song and dance.
Rotorua
- Day 9
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Rotorua to Bay of Islands
Today travel to Paihia in the Bay of Islands, a 6-hour drive.
Northland
- Day 10
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Golf at Kauri Cliffs
A golfing highlight of the tour is your round at Kauri Cliffs Golf Course. With amazing views over the Cavalli Islands and many holes running parallel to the Pacific Ocean. Fifteen holes view the Pacific Ocean, six of which are played alongside cliffs that plunge into the sea. The beautiful inland holes wind through marsh, forest and farmland. Golf Digest USA selected Kauri Cliffs 'Best New International Golf Course of 2001'. Or optionally play Kerikeri Golf Club.
Kauri Cliffs Resort
- Day 11
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Golf at Waitangi Golf Club
Play golf at Waitangi Golf Course this morning which not only provides an exciting and ever changing challenge to the golfer but also the most tremendous panorama of sea and island views over the Bay of Islands and Russell. These views are complemented by well groomed greens and fairways surrounded by areas of flowering native trees which provide sanctuary for many varieties of native birds. After golf options include delving into NZ history in Russell, visiting the Waitangi Treaty House, Maori meeting house and war canoe, or taking a Bay of Islands cruise to the famous 'Hole in the Rock'.
Waitangi Golf Club
- Day 12
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Bay of Islands to Auckland – Golf at Gulf Harbour Country Club
After breakfast travel south to the Whangaparoa Peninsula for an afternoon round at Gulf Harbour Country Club. This Robert Trent Jones 11 designed championship course combines spectacular ocean views and rolling terrain that combine to make Gulf Harbour one of NZ’s most challenging courses. The course has four tee positions enabling golfers of all abilities to enjoy the challenging layout. Continue onto Auckland accommodation after golf.
Gulf Harbour Country Club
- Day 13
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Auckland at your leisure
Take the Auckland Explorer Bus, a Hop-On, Hop-Off sightseeing tour with full commentary visiting Auckland's Big 14 Attractions or let us arrange a “Welcome to the City of Sails" Tour of Auckland starting with a drive along the scenic waterfront to Mission Bay then up the dormant volcano of One Tree Hill to enjoy magnificent views of this spectacular city and harbour. Visit beautiful Eden Gardens, the Auckland Domain and Cornwall Park and the trendy shopping area of Ponsonby before crossing the Auckland Harbour Bridge to the quaint North Shore village of Devonport.
Auckland
- Day 14
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Depart New Zealand
Sadly you depart New Zealand today. Return your rental car to the Auckland airport where you will board your onward flight. We trust you have had a wonderful time in our country and return home with many great memories.
We are happy to add or delete days and activities to ensure your holiday is the best it possibly can be.
Discover more about your New Zealand golf tour options with Golfer’s Dream.