1. Cape Kidnappers Golf course | Hawkes Bay | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 17th in the world & 2nd in New Zealand

• Designed by: Tom Doak

• Size: 7,147 yards (6,569 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Premium Mens & Ladies Available

Sitting high on the dramatic cliff edge and boasting a par 71 course, it is no wonder Cape Kidnappers golf course is on the top of most golfers' bucket list. Tom Doak is often referred to as one of the best course designers and Cape Kidnappers golf course is unique and challenging for all levels. Seeing the spectacular scenery from every hole is an unforgettable experience.

2. Tara Iti Golf Club | Mangawhai | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 29th in the world & 1st in New Zealand

• Designed by: Tom Doak

• Size: 6,850 yards (6,264 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Private Course, visitors welcome by member invitation or applying for a once in a lifetime pass

• Golf Cart Hire: No

• Trundler Hire: No

• Club Hire: No

Tara Iti Golf Club is one of the best golf courses in New Zealand but it is also an exclusive club and private course. High on many golfer's lists, the best options for an opportunity to play here is to apply for a once in a lifetime pass from your home club or be lucky enough to be invited by a member. If you do secure a tee time slot, you will have the privilege of challenging holes on a natural landscape with breathtaking views.

3. Royal Wellington Golf club | Wellington | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 11th in New Zealand

• Designed by: John Cuthbert

• Size: 7,217 yards (6,600 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Mens & Ladies Available

Established in 1895 but achieving "Royal" status in 2004, The Royal Wellington club is a spectacular course. It has hosted many Global golf events including the 2017 Asia-Pacific Amateur championship, the largest golf event to be held in New Zealand.

4. Wairakei Golf Course | Taupō | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 12th in New Zealand

• Designed by: John Harris & Peter Thomson

• Size: 7,064 yards (6,460 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Originally built by the Government as a tourist attraction to appeal to international golfers, Wairakei Golf Club is an intriguing course you will want to visit. It is also a sanctuary for deers and native birds but also has a pest fence to keep the grounds clean. Play amongst native bush, pine and exotic trees, various ponds and lush green grass with a view of the bay.

Taupo is a stunning region to explore on a North Island holiday so there will be plenty to do if you have friends or family not playing or you can drag yourself away from the golf course for long enough.

5. Manawatu Golf Club | Palmerston | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 21st in New Zealand

• Designed by: C.H Redhead (1928) & H.G. Babbage (1955)

• Size: 7,147 yards (6,569 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

The oldest golf course to be continually run in New Zealand, Manawatu Club are experts in maintaining a beautiful course to challenge golfers. With fast-rolling green hills and over 50 challenging sand bunkers, Manawatu is one of the best golf courses for all levels to enjoy.

6. Kauri Cliffs Golf Club | Matauri Bay | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 37th in the world & 5th in New Zealand

• Designed by: David Harman

• Size: 7,139 yards (6,528 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

The sister course of Cape Kidnappers golf course, Kauri Cliffs also brings beautiful views from a dramatic cliff edge and has been designed so you can see the picturesque Bay of Islands sea from nearly every hole. The par 4 17th hole on this course is often referred to as the best hole in New Zealand so it should be top of your list to go.

7. Paraparaumu Golf Club | Paraparaumu | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 99th in the world & 3rd in New Zealand

• Designed by: Alex Russell

• Size: 6,576 yards (6,014 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

One of the best golf courses to host the New Zealand Open, it even had Tiger Woods play golf here. It's often hailed as the best true links course out of Scotland and exhibits large green rolls and wide fairways to challenge golfers of all levels.

8. Titirangi Golf Club | Auckland | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 8th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Dr. Alister MacKenzie

• Size: 6,617 yards (6,050 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Premium Available

Known as the course built around natural features, Titirangi is laid on difficult terrain and surrounded by native bush. The diverse course offers the most unique and best golf holes you can experience in New Zealand.

9. Wainui Golf Resort | Wainui | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 14th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Puddicombe Golf

• Size: 7,092 yards (6,485 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Located on rolling farmland 45 minutes from Auckland, Wainui golf course is the place to go for a real test of skill by distinctive holes and demanding shots over ditches. But with valley views, it is also a place you can enjoy.

10. Gulf Harbour Country Club | Auckland | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 15th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Robert Trent Jones Jr.

• Size: 7,000 yards (6,400 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

With views of Auckland city skyline and stunning ocean views, Gulf Harbour golf course is a challenging one with elevation changes. It is the only New Zealand golf course to be designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr.

 

1. Jack's point golf | Queenstown | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 6th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Darby Partners

• Size: 6,986 yards (6,387 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Executive Available

Sitting between the beautiful Lake Wakitapu and magnificent Remarkables mountain range, Jack's point golf is one of the best golf courses in New Zealand for scenic views. Most of the natural features of the original farmland remain, offering a real test to golfers playing among wetlands, tussocks and rocky outcrops.

Queenstown is home to some of the best scenic drives in New Zealand, so combine the best golf courses with stunning landscapes and you will have one amazing itinerary.

2. The Hills Golf Club | Arrowtown | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 9th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Michael Hill

• Size: 7,177 yards (6,563 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Private Members, limited number of visitors daily

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Premium Mens & Ladies Available

Designed on over 100 hectares of deer farm, The Hills provides stunning scenes of the Southern Highlands. It also showcases many sculptures from Mark Hill and Kiwi artists around the course. With various ponds and 10 challenging lakes to manoeuvre, it can be the perfect golf course to brush up on your skills.

3. Kinloch Club | Kinloch | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 4th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Jack Nicklaus

• Size: 7,363 yards (6,732 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Designed by legendary Jack Nicklaus, it is often hailed as New Zealand's most challenging golf courses. With fast, sloping greens and parkland terrain, golfers would not get bored of this course and the breathtaking views of Lake Taupo.

4. Millbrook Resort | Arrowtown | 36-Hole

• Rankings: 17th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Sir Bob Charles and Greg Turner

• Size: 14,195 yards (12,980 meters) | 36-Hole, 2 courses

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Divided into three nines, Millbrook Resort is a unique course you can play multiple times and combine to create new 18-hole courses. With a view of the remarkables mountain range, Millbrook Resort brings luxury to the golf course with a full resort hotel, spa and restaurants.

5. Christchurch Golf Club | Christchurch | 27-Hole

• Rankings: 25th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Peter Thomson

• Size: 7,023 yards (6,422 meters) | 27-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Callaway, Titleist & Taylormade

Founded in 1873, it is the second oldest club in New Zealand that has been host to many championships. Even though there are bunkers and hills to navigate, it is a relaxing course golfers at all levels can enjoy.

6. Clearwater Golf Club | Christchurch | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 19th in New Zealand

• Designed by: John Darby and Bob Charles

• Size: 7,136 yards (6,526 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Premium Available

Reviewed as one of the friendliest golf courses in New Zealand, Clearwater Golf Club is the place to go for a relaxing and rewarding game of golf on your New Zealand trip. Designed by Sir Bob Charles, the golf course boasts both a standard Par 72 championship layout and executive Pay 60 challenge.

7. Chisholm Links | Dunedin | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 22nd in New Zealand

• Designed by: Greg Turner

• Size: 6,300 yards (5,700 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Dunedin is known as the "Edinburgh of the South" so you know it has great terrain for a Links course and Chisholm is featured in the top 10% "True Links" golf courses in the world. Even though it is one of the smaller courses on our list, the rolling landscape and coastal climate, along with ocean views, makes up for it tenfold.

8. Terrace Downs Resort | Canterbury | 18-Hole

• Rankings: 28th in New Zealand

• Designed by: Sid Puddicombe

• Size: 7,005 yards (6,406 meters) | 18-Hole

• Green Fees: Members and visitors welcome

• Golf Cart Hire: Yes

• Trundler Hire: Yes

• Club Hire: Yes

Terrace Downs is one of New Zealand's best golf courses for strategic thinking and is a great game for both beginners and professionals. With a Scottish woodlands feel, this country style gold club has incredible views of the mountain ranges and canyons from every hole.