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In Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, it takes Odysseus years to find his way home. For the discerning golfer, however, just two weeks are enough to embark on an unforgettable journey across New Zealand—one that spans both the North and South Islands and offers the chance to find your golf ball on some of the world’s most spectacular courses.
PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker famously described Kauri Cliffs as "Pebble Beach on steroids".
A 30-minute flight—or a four-hour drive—from Auckland brings you to Matauri Bay, home to one of the Southern Hemisphere's most celebrated golfing destinations. Perched high above the Pacific Ocean in isolation, Kauri Cliffs stretches across 6,000 acres of farmland.
Designed by David Harman, the par-72 championship course is consistently ranked among the world's top 100. Fifteen of its 18 holes command sweeping ocean views, while six play directly alongside towering cliffs that plunge into the South Pacific.
Complementing the course is Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, one of New Zealand's premier luxury golf resorts. The property features 22 spacious suites, along with a collection of two- and four-bedroom Ocean View Pool Villas.
Matauri Bay’s crystal-clear waters and golden sands make it one of Northland's finest beaches, offering swimming, snorkelling and surfing when the easterly swells arrive.
For divers, the Cavalli Islands are renowned for their rich marine life and the wreck of the Rainbow Warrior, the Greenpeace flagship that was sunk by French intelligence agents in 1985 and is now one of New Zealand's most famous dive sites.
Titirangi Golf Club is located just 20 minutes from the city centre and Auckland Airport. It is the only golf course in New Zealand designed by legendary architect Dr Alister MacKenzie.
Titirangi means "fringe of heaven," an apt for a course carved through native bushland on the lower slopes of the Waitākere Ranges, overlooking the Manukau Harbour. One of the course's greatest strengths at Titirangi is that no two holes are the same. Strategic bunkering, rolling fairways and undulating greens ensure every hole presents a fresh challenge.
For a mid-range luxury option, Sudima Auckland City is in the heart of the city, within walking distance of iconic attractions including the Sky Tower, Commercial Bay, the Viaduct Harbour and Wynyard Quarter, offering easy access to Auckland's dining scene.
Sports enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the country's rugby culture at the All Blacks Experience, while the iconic Sky Tower provides spectacular 360-degree views across the city's twin harbours. Visit Muriwai Beach to witness its famous gannet colony, or head to Piha and Karekare, country's most celebrated surf beaches.
A two-hour drive south of Auckland is Arikikapakapa Rotorua Golf Club, where active geothermal features are part of the landscape. Established in 1908, the 18-hole course is one of New Zealand's oldest and winds through parkland dotted with native trees, gardens, and natural geothermal activity.
Travelling with family? FootGolf at Arikikapakapa offers a fun nine-hole course where players swap clubs for footballs, making it an enjoyable option for children and non-golfers.
To reach their golf course, Volcanic Air offers the Oar, Swing & Speed experience. The four-hour adventure club offers a floatplane flight over Rotorua's volcanic landscapes, landing at Hamurana Beach, directly beside Hamurana Golf Course. After nine holes of golf, complete with cart and equipment, the day concludes with a 30-minute jetboat ride back across Lake Rotorua.
Overlooking Lake Rotorua, Pullman Rotorua offers a stylish base for exploring the region.
In Rotorua, rich Māori culture and outdoor adventure come together. You can book a treatment at Wai Ariki Hot Springs & Spa, New Zealand's only luxury Māori cultural wellness spa.
High above the Pacific Ocean on dramatic clifftops at the southern tip of Hawke’s Bay, Cape Kidnappers has been described as “experiencing golf at the edge of the earth.”
Set across a 6,000-acre working farm, each hole offers views across the ocean, dramatic coastal cliffs and the rolling countryside below.
Rosewood Cape Kidnappers can be your luxury base just moments from the course. This five-star lodge comes with twenty-two suites and hillside spa treatments overlooking the valleys and ocean.
Gannet Safaris provides one of the region’s extraordinary wildlife encounters, involving the world’s largest gannet colonies, home to around 25,000 birds.
Hawke’s Bay, one of only eleven Great Wine Capitals of the World, is renowned for wine experiences, showcasing its celebrated Chardonnay, Syrah and Pinot Gris, with many more wineries in the region including Ātea a Rangi, Te Mata Estate and Smith & Sheth’s Oenothèque.
Christchurch offers two very different golfing experiences, each showcasing a unique side of the Garden City.
Just a 10-minute walk from Cathedral Square, Hagley Golf Club is Canterbury's oldest golf club. Established in 1873, the course is set within Hagley Park, alongside the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. Its central location means you can tee off in the morning and be exploring the city by afternoon.
For a championship test, head to Clearwater Golf Club, just minutes from Christchurch Airport. Designed by John Darby and Sir Bob Charles, the par-72 course is ranked among New Zealand's finest. It has hosted international professional tournaments for more than a decade. Here, the water comes into play with its several Spring-fed lakes that frame the holes.
Signature holes include the par-3 ninth, where a full water carry and prevailing headwinds test even accomplished golfers, and the par-5 14th, featuring two water crossings, out-of-bounds, and a cleverly split green.
CanNZ Tours offers a delightful twist on the game with its curated Picnic Golf experience. Play nine relaxed holes at one of three scenic country courses—Akaroa Duvauchelle, Amberley Beach or Waimakariri Gorge—before enjoying a homemade picnic lunch prepared from organic local produce, accompanied by a well-earned beer.
Peppers Clearwater Resort is set within grounds overlooking the clear Lake Kaikainui. For a stay rich in character inside the main city of Christchurch, The Observatory Hotel is actually the restored University of Canterbury Arts Centre—where Nobel Prize-winning physicist Ernest Rutherford once studied.
Playing golf in Christchurch also provides the perfect excuse to explore New Zealand's second-largest city, which has reinvented itself following the devastating 2011 earthquake.
The city's rebirth has also placed Māori culture firmly at its heart. Along the Ōtākaro (Avon) River, visitors can experience the city through an indigenous lens with Waka on Avon. Choose from traditional waka paddling experiences, guided Māori heritage walks, or Mahinga Kai food experiences that introduce the cultural significance of native ingredients and the stories of Ngāi Tahu.
Christchurch has also emerged as one of New Zealand's most exciting culinary destinations. Stroll through Riverside Market, where artisan producers, cafés and international eateries showcase the region's best flavours under one roof. For a memorable afternoon, head to Tussock Hill Vineyard, where vineyard views, wine flights and refined seasonal cuisine have recently lent it a Michelin star.
Surrounded by the towering peaks of the Southern Alps, Queenstown is where championship fairways meet alpine scenery.
The standout is Millbrook Resort, a multiple-time winner of New Zealand's Best Golf Resort and home of the New Zealand Open. Set against a mountain backdrop, the resort features two 18-hole championship courses—the Coronet 18 and the Remarkables 18—offering a memorable challenge for golfers of every ability.
Golfers looking to explore further can also play at Gibbston Valley Golf Course, the region's newest course. Although it offers a relaxed nine-hole layout, it combines golf with one of New Zealand's premier wine regions and features a luxury lodge and winery on site.
For high-end golfing, Over The Top offers a heli ride to your course. Have a bird's-eye view of Queenstown before landing on Cecil Peak, where you can tee off from a mountain summit overlooking Lake Wakatipu and the surrounding alpine landscape.
Millbrook Resort is the obvious choice here. Home to the New Zealand Open, the luxury resort makes it easy to enjoy both championship courses at a leisurely pace.
Known as the adventure capital of the world, Queenstown offers a range of adrenaline-pumping activities, including skydiving, bungee jumping, and kayaking.
Following the arrival of the MICHELIN Guide in NZ, several local restaurants have gained international recognition. Alongside The Millhouse at Millbrook, you can plan a meal at The Bunker, Blue Kanu, Sofi in Wānaka, Cardrona Distillery, and Headwaters in Glenorchy, where much of the produce is grown in the property's own gardens. With more than 150 dining establishments in Queenstown alone, there's something to suit every palate.