7-Day Best of the North Island Golf Vacation NZ

Embark on a golfing adventure on the North Island, home to 10 of New Zealand's 14 Marquee Courses, a must-visit destination with an unforgettable golfing experience, a dream come true for every avid golfer. This region is celebrated for its diverse landscapes, from sweeping coastlines to rolling hills and tranquil beaches. Golf is deeply ingrained in the lives of many New Zealanders, making the country a haven for golf enthusiasts and a fantastic golf destination.

Discover the stars of New Zealand's golfing landscape, the Marquee Courses. These masterpieces were crafted by renowned architects like Tom Doak, known for his minimalist approach that respects the natural terrain; Dr Alister MacKenzie, the designer of Augusta National Golf Club; Robert Trent Jones Jnr, a prolific designer with over 250 courses worldwide; and Jack Nicklaus, the legendary golfer turned course designer. They are strategically nestled near snow-capped mountains or secluded coastal stretches, providing an unparalleled natural backdrop for a round of golf. As Lydia Ko, one of the world's top golfers, puts it, 'It has some of the best golf courses I have ever played. It should be a must-visit place for golfers from all over the world. You won’t be disappointed.'

Day 1: matakana - Te Arai Links North

Day 2: Matakana - Te Arai LINKs South

• Te Arai Links comprises two pure-link golf courses nestled into the undulating coastal landscape—each offering different perspectives of the stunning sea views and islands beyond. Debuting in 2022, the South Course at Te Arai was the first of two stellar 18-hole layouts to operate at an exciting new public-access golf complex, which is owned and operated by fund manager Ric Kayne and managing partner Jim Rohrstaff – who are also both involved in the nearby golf development at Tara Iti.

Stay at Matakana (2 nights):

• Matakana region: Only an hour north of Auckland city and close to a myriad of stunning East Coast beaches, Matakana is a popular getaway spot for locals and visitors alike. It is also foodie heaven—if you enjoy home-grown delicacies and award-winning wine, then look no further.
  Recommended Activities: Winery visit, art gardens, Local food market
  Te Arai links accommodation. The Suites, Ocean Cottages, and Villas each offer something unique and have been designed to reflect the surrounding area's landscape.
  
  Te Arai Lodge is an eco-friendly oasis offering boutique luxury and warm hospitality, only 1 hour and 15 minutes north of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. Surrounded by over 20 acres of ancient podocarp forest and native bush, Te Arai Lodge sits on an elevated ridge with panoramic views across the rolling hills of the Brynderwyn Ranges to the stunning beaches and surrounding islands of the Mangawhai coast. We welcome our guests to experience a homestay boutique luxury lodge like no other.

Day 3: Travel to Lake Taupo: 

• Taupo region is the heart of Aotearoa, New Zealand’s beautiful North Island. At the centre of our region is sparkling Lake Taupō, the great inland sea of New Zealand. As you travel around the lake, you will find every landscape you can imagine: snow-blanketed winter ski fields and alpine deserts, ancient forests alive with birdsong, trout-filled rivers and the thundering Huka Falls, steaming geothermal valleys with rejuvenating hot springs, and three towering volcanoes in the extraordinary and otherworldly landscape of Tongariro National Park.
• Recommended activity: Fly fishing, boating, hiking in the geothermal area, or heli flight to the volcano. 

Stay at Lake Taupo (2 nights): 

• Kinloch Manor & Villas: Step into a world of unapologetic elegance, where open terraces frame sweeping vistas that flow seamlessly into calm interiors. Immerse yourself in contemporary comfort, where every detail has a purpose and every element supports the overarching whole, reflecting a unique sense of originality and style... the perfect expression of individuality where distinctive spaces celebrate difference and soothe the soul.
  
  Point View Villas, nestled on the shores of Lake Taupo in the centre of the North Island, provides the perfect base from which to discover the delights of New Zealand. Here, in an exclusive private estate, guests enjoy peace, privacy and all the spoils of a first-class stay in our luxury accommodation. The beauty of New Zealand’s largest lake and the surrounding mountains is at the doorstep.

Day 4: Play at Kinloch Golf Course

• Kinloch Golf Club at Lake Taupo. This is not your typical Jack Nicklaus course – Kinloch pays homage to the great British and Irish links courses, although it is about as far from the ocean as you can get in New Zealand. The property is a piece of farmland on volcanic terrain, flanked by craggy hills and panoramic views over majestic Lake Taupo. Nicklaus has crafted a rugged, ramshackle masterpiece into this landscape, but it will surprise some visitors to learn that most of Kinloch’s features are entirely man-made. The Kinloch aura is of raw links, somehow blended seamlessly into age-old Kiwi sheep-farming territory (shaper Jason Garten was employed to work on the finer details).

Day 5: Travel to Hawkes Bay

• You've arrived at the newest Great Wine Capital of the World - Hawke's Bay, Food and Wine Country. Make plans to experience Hawke’s Bay’s great outdoors, cycle trails and attractions. Try a tasty drop at our iconic Hawke’s Bay wineries, tap rooms and distilleries. Napier's particular point of difference is its beautifully preserved 1930s architecture. Street after street of stunning and beautifully restored Art Deco buildings has made Napier famous as one of the world's most complete collections of Art Deco buildings.
  
  Recommended activity: Biking, Vintage car trips, winery visits, bird sanctuary

• Stay in Hawkes Bay (2 nights): 
  Rosewood Cape Kidnappers is a luxury lodge in Hawke's Bay. It offers generously appointed suites that meld countryside luxe interiors with awe-inspiring vistas. Designed meticulously by Linda Bedell, our suites and villas feature spacious layouts, grand bathrooms, and stunning balconies. Proximity to essential facilities such as the fitness centre, pool, spa, and library enhances the luxury experience.
  
  
• Managapapa Hotel. Elegance, seclusion, and relaxation are three words that describe this stunning luxury boutique hotel & accommodation. Mangapapa Hotel offers the finest luxury accommodation in Hawke’s Bay with its twelve magnificent suites, surrounded by landscaped century-old trees, gardens and orchards. Together with the renowned restaurant, day spa & wellness sanctuary and facilities such as the pool and lawn tennis court.

 Day 6: Play at Cape Kidnapers 

• The longest drive at Cape Kidnappers is between the public road and the clubhouse. It takes a full 20 minutes to cover the ground from the gate to the golf clubhouse – a journey that takes you through a sheep and cattle station and bushland. This degree of seclusion means that the golf course is on pristine land, wedged between the station and the towering cliffs of the Cape. The back nine extends along several fingers of land, separated by deep gullies that dip down to the sea. From these points, you can look beyond the cliffs and along the shoreline across the wine country of Hawkes Bay.