Commences and concludes in Christchurch. This golf tour heads south to Dunedin and Te Anau, visit Doubtful Sound and the Te Anau Glowworm cave. Spend time in Queenstown before travelling north through Wanaka and up the scenically beautiful west coast to the glacier township of Franz Josef. The golf courses are the best and there is plenty of time for enjoying the scenery.
- Day 1
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Arrive Christchurch
On arrival at Christchurch airport you will be met by a Golfer’s Dream Host who will have your documentation and assist you in collecting your rental vehicle before making your way to your accommodation. Known as the 'Garden City', Christchurch is the South Island's largest city. It's a vibrant, cosmopolitan place with exciting festivals, theatre, modern art galleries, great shopping and award-winning attractions.
Christchurch
- Day 2
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Golf at Clearwater Resort
Your first game of golf is at the Clearwater Resort Course. There are elements of links and parkland golf at the Clearwater course with an abundance of water. Natural springs and crystal clear streams that are teeming with trout feed the resort’s 15 hectares of lakes. There are five-position tees, including the championship tees, and is the home of the New Zealand PGA Championship.
This afternoon is at leisure for optional sightseeing and to explore what Christchurch has to offer. Perhaps visit the Anglican Cathedral, Town Hall, and the Arts Centre or perhaps take a tram ride around Christchurch City or enjoy punting on the Avon River.
Clearwater Golf Club
- Day 3
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Christchurch to Dunedin
A day for spectacular sights as you farewell Christchurch and travel through Ashburton, Geraldine passing through Timaru to Oamaru. Travelling south view the extraordinary spherical Moeraki Boulders, shaped rather like giant marbles, then onto “The Edinburgh of the South – Dunedin”.
Dunedin
- Day 4
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Golf at Chisholm Park Links
Play 18 holes of golf on Chisholm Park Links course. This 'links' course in this traditional Scottish area is a gem to play. While not particularly long, the design of the holes through the sand dunes requires good shot making. The undulating terrain and its coastal climate offset the lack of length. Along the top of the holes 8, 9, 10 and 11 provide some spectacular ocean views to be found on any golf course. There is only one real hazard on the golf course and that is the Pacific Ocean on the left side of the 9th fairway.
This afternoon – you may like to join an organized half day tour. Cruise the length of the beautiful Otago Harbour out to Taiaroa Head – Home of the world’s largest seabird, the magnificent Northern Royal Albatross, a guided tour of the award-winning Yellow Eyed Penguin Reserve included.
Chisholm Park Golf Club
- Day 5
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Dunedin to Te Anau
Departing Dunedin we travel through Balclutha and Gore and on to Lumsden through some of the most populated sheep country in New Zealand. Continuing on to the picturesque Lake Manapouri with its back drop of rugged mountains and its shoreline fringed with native bush turn south to Te Anau to our accommodation. This afternoon visit the Te Anau Glow Worm Caves. Begin with a scenic cruise across Lake Te Anau to the western side of the lake. As you explore by path and small boat, your senses will be overwhelmed. Observe how the rushing water sculpts the rock formations, before gliding through silent darkness to the glow worm grotto. The delicate incandescence of thousands of tiny glow worms is a magical sight.
Te Anau
- Day 6
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Doubtful Sound Day Cruise
Discover Doubtful Sound today and be struck by its silence – a silence broken only by birdsong, or maybe the rushing of a distant waterfall. Cruise the crystal clear waters of Lake Manapouri – a stunning lake renowned for its numerous islands and deserted beaches. Then it’s over Wilmot Pass, on one of New Zealand’s remotest and prettiest sub-alpine roads, stopping along the way to experience some of Fiordland’s densest rainforest and to view Doubtful Sound glistening far below. On reaching Deep Cove, you will board the spacious catamaran, for a three hour cruise that takes in the most dramatic scenery of Doubtful Sound.
- Day 7
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Te Anau to Queenstown – Golf at Jacks Point
Leave Te Anau this morning travelling north through the settlements of Mossburn and Lumsden. You may decide to take a break when you reach the small town of Kingston, the home of a remarkable vintage steam train. Continue along the scenic edge of Lake Wakatipu to Jacks Point Golf Course just 15 minutes from Queenstown. Play this brand new course, set within one thousand acres of unspoiled rolling grasslands, montane highlands and spreading downs bounded by the Remarkables mountain range and Lake Wakatipu. It traverses through wetland to the lake edge encountering steep bluffs, indigenous vegetation and wildlife. It is designed to work with nature, not against it. Fairways are designed with minimal excavation and careful plantings to complement the natural environment, but also to give the golfer a fighting chance.
Jacks Point Golf Course
- Day 8
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Queenstown at your leisure
Today is a free sightseeing day in Queenstown. There are numerous activities for you to enjoy. Try an exhilarating ride on the Shotover Jet, speeding through the towering, rocky canyons of the South Island’s river of gold, and if you are real adrenalin junky there’s the famous Skippers Canyon Bungy Jump. There is white water rafting, four wheel driving, cruising on Lake Wakatipu, riding a gondola to the summit of Bob’s Peak for panoramic views or simply enjoying the excellent shopping and dining available. Alternatives include golf at Queenstown Golf Club (also known as Kelvin Heights), golf at Millbrook Resort Course, TSS Earnslaw Walter Peak cruise and dinner.
Queenstown
- Day 9
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Queenstown to Wanaka – Golf at Wanaka Golf Course
Today we follow the Kawerau Gorge road to Cromwell, continuing on to popular Lake Wanaka, the starting point of the mighty Clutha River. This morning’s golf is at the Wanaka Golf Course situated on the hill behind the township. This gem of a course was opened in 1927 and is now established as a premier destination New Zealand Course. The course features challenging golf and absolutely stunning scenery of Lake Wanaka and the Southern Alps. The course is always maintained in excellent condition and is a challenge to golfers of all abilities.
Wanaka Golf Club
- Day 10
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Wanaka to Franz Josef
This morning depart the lake side village of Wanaka, travel north following the dramatic twists and turns of the Haast Pass. Driving through rainforest country and enjoy waterfalls and river scenery. Travel north through Jacobs River and Bruce Bay to the glacier village of Franz Josef.
- Day 11
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Franz Josef to Greymouth
This morning explore Franz Josef Glacier a unique relic of the last ice age. Mighty rivers of solid white, tumbling down ice-hewn rock valleys, they are classically beautiful in the glacial sense. Nowhere else in the world have glaciers advanced so close to the sea at this latitude. First explored in 1865, the glacier has been moving forward at a rate of about 1 metre a day since 1985. Previously it was in retreat. You can walk to the terminal of the glacier in about 10 minutes.
The 2 ½ hour drive to Greymouth travels through the gold mining town of Hokitika. Greenstone (NZ jade) is the town’s treasure these days – you can see it being polished and sculpted. The road between Hokitika and Greymouth provides great views of the wild west coast. Detour to the beach and breathe the salt spray air. Shantytown, just south of Greymouth, is a reconstructed 1880s gold rush town. Greymouth has a long gold mining history. It’s the largest town on the west coast and is known for its awesome seascapes.
West Coast
- Day 12
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Greymouth to Terrace Downs
Before you travel inland over Arthurs Pass to the Rakaia Gorge, take a 30 minute drive north to Punakaiki. The road to Punakaiki is breathtaking. White capped breakers and rugged rocks on one side, bush-clad mountains on the other side. Punakaiki is famous for its pancake rocks and booming blowholes. Visit the small village of Blackball famous in New Zealand for its rustic charm. Spend time in this area before joining Arthur's Pass, the highest pass over the Southern Alps. The eastern side of Arthur's Pass National Park is characterized by wide, shingle-filled riverbeds and vast beech forests. The western side has deeply gorged rivers flowing through dense rainforest. Down the middle of 'the great divide' is an alpine dreamland of snow-covered peaks, glaciers and screen slopes.
- Day 13
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Terrace Downs to Christchurch – Golf at Terrace Downs Resort
This morning’s golf is at the Terrace Downs Resort, it is a long way from the sea but it looks and feels in parts like a links course. Elsewhere it plays like a parkland course. This golf course has among the most scintillating views of any in New Zealand so it’s common for players to blame their lack of focus for their missed putts. Now there’s an excuse. The views are awesome, challenging players to keep their eyes on the ball. Mid afternoon transfer to Christchurch.
Terrace Downs Resort
- Day 14
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Depart New Zealand
Today your tour ends. Before you return your rental car to Christchurch International Airport for your onward flight we recommend a visit to the Antarctic Attraction re-creating the atmosphere and environment of Antarctica. Visit the Blue Penguin Encounter with its centre piece being a 70,000 litres pool, the Encounter allows you to view the Little Blue Penguins in a Banks Peninsula themed environment is recommended. If you are travelling to Auckland to check in for an international flight, on arrival at Auckland domestic Airport you will be met and accompanied to the International Airport by your Golfers Dream host.
We are happy to add or delete days and activities to ensure your holiday is the best it possibly can be.
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