Golf Travel New Zealand
Best Time to Visit
November through to April are the best months for golfers looking to visit New Zealand. The summer months bring long warm days, and in the peak of summer, golf can be played until well after 9.00pm, meaning visitors can make the most of every golfing opportunity. For golfers wanting to combine winter skiing with golf, the ski season runs from around June to October, and there are many alpine courses which are near the ski fields. Although the winter months can bring some unpredictable weather, most courses are open 365 days a year.
New Zealand’s Best Courses
The names of many of the top New Zealand courses are becoming first nature to golf tourists from around the world. Kauri Cliffs and Cape Kidnappers are two absolute stunners and consistently rank inside the Top 50 courses in the world. Wairakei International often referred to as the traditional hole of New Zealand golf, and Kinloch – designed by Jack Nicklaus are located in the holiday town of Taupo and provide two of the best golf experiences to be had anywhere. The South Island’s Terrace Downs and Clearwater are just outside of Christchurch, and both offer amazing tests of golf. However, it is in Queenstown where we find some of the country’s best layouts, and all located within a few kilometres of each other. Jack’s Point, The Hills, Kelvin Heights and Arrowtown are all must play’s for any golfer coming to the adventure capital of New Zealand.
New Zealand Activities
There is an abundance of golf, and a huge array of things to do away from the course, in New Zealand. You may want to take it easy with a quiet day of wine tasting at some of the best wineries in the world. Or, perhaps you could try your hand at gold panning and then hike along one of the many walking trails to take in the stunning scenery on offer throughout the country. For the more adventurous, there is skydiving, skiing, bungee jumping, white water rafting, hunting, fishing, deep-sea diving and any almost every other outdoor activity you could hope for. The cuisine served at the local restaurants and bars is some of the world’s best and the Kiwi hospitality will ensure you are looked after wherever you choose to venture throughout the country.
Accommodation
Options of accommodation at hotels, resorts and apartments throughout New Zealand means Golfing Getaways guests have the accommodation options to suit the requirements of all groups and individuals. The Hilton Hotel chain provides a great option in Auckland, Taupo and Queenstown and we have many other four and five-star hotel partners throughout the North and South islands. Whatever your budget and accommodation requirements, the team at Golfing Getaways can provide the right room at the most convenient of locations to ensure easy commuting to golf courses and all the other main attractions in a region.
Recommendations
Few countries in the world compare to New Zealand when it comes to natural scenery and beauty. These attributes have seen some of the most beautiful golf courses on the planet worked into the landscapes and had created one of the fastest growing golfing destinations in the world. My recommendation for anyone visiting New Zealand would be to see as much of the country as possible. Not only will you experience a different landscape or view at almost every turn, but you’ll also treat yourself to more of the greatest golfing experiences you will ever have.
Personal favourite – Queenstown. This place has a unique charm, an abundance of things to see and do, and some of the best golf courses anywhere in the world. Queenstown is located in Central Otago and is a gateway to some of the most stunning scenery you will find anywhere. No golfing holiday to New Zealand is complete with stopping in at this incredible part of the country.
How to Get There
Air New Zealand and Qantas both offer direct flights from most major Australian cities to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch as well as some other regional airports. Internal travel throughout the country is relatively inexpensive, and flights are regular. Some Australian eastern seaboard capital cities also have direct flights to Queenstown, meaning a three or four hour morning flight can have you tied up for around at Jack’s Point that afternoon!
With proximity and the quality of golf on offer, Australians looking for a fantastic golfing holiday need look no further than New Zealand. With more golf courses per capita than any other country, New Zealand has an excellent new golfing experience in almost every town and city.
