Great golfing getaways to help get into the swing of things ..
Ease yourself back into the swing of things with a collection of great golfing getaways across Australia and throughout New Zealand:
New Zealand Golfing Getaways
Te Arai Lodge
Mangawhai Coast, North Island
New Zealand’s newest luxury lodge – Te Arai – offers access to some of New Zealand’s best golf – and so much more. With just four private guest suites, world-class farm to fork dining, a heated outdoor pool and spacious yoga studio there would appear very little reason to need to venture much further than Te Arai’s front door. But .. only ten minutes from the lodge, the Tom Doak designed Tara Iti coastal links course is ranked among the World’s Greatest Golf Courses and sits firmly om many golfers’ lust lists. The nearby Mangawhai Golf Course is also rated among New Zealand’s top 20 courses – inviting golf-loving guests to get out and on the greens.
Cape Kidnappers
Hawkes Bay, North Island
Perched on a breathtakingly spectacular ridge-and-valley landscape, Cape Kidnappers’ firm and fast cliff-hugging fairways drop dramatically into the Pacific Ocean below offering a bucket-list golfing experience that is as captivating as it is challenging.
A member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux collection, Cape Kidnappers Lodge (a quick 10 min heli-transfer from the first hole) offers a hedonistic combination of golf and gastronomy, decadent day spa-ing and dramatic sea views – with plenty of distractions to equally delight non-golfing spouse and their families too. Can-am and horseriding, gannet colonies and kiwis, farm tours and fishing, hiking and mountain-biking. Spacious guest suites share use of the lodge swimming pool, day spa and dining room, the two-bedroom Hilltop Family suite enjoys even more space and sweeping Pacific views, whilst the four-bedroom, four bathroom ultra-luxe Owner’s Cottage offers the ultimate in privacy and privilege for groups of family or friends looking for the ultimate golfing getaways.
Kinloch Manor and Villas
Lake Taupo, North Island
Kinloch dares to be different and defies expectations to deliver bold and beautiful accommodation in combination with one of New Zealand’s finest golf courses. The picturesque undulating fairways of this Jack Nicklaus designed golf course challenge and delight. Kinloch Manor and Villa’s luxury lodge-style accommodation indulges and excites with a collection of adventure activities and world-class experiences on site and nearby. Hiking and cycling, mineral baths and geothermal lakes, rich Maori culture and lush green landscapes are all on Kinloch’s doorstep and help to complete the ultimate of golfing getaways.
Kauri Cliffs
Bay of Islands, North Island
Cousin to Hawkes Bay’s beautiful Cape Kidnappers, many of Kauri Cliffs’ spectacular holes cling to the dramatic cliffs of the Northland coastline, whilst tranquil inland fairways weave through forest and farmland. Breathtaking, challenging and truly bucket-list worthy, Kauri Cliff also ranks among the nation’s best.
The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs caters equally well to golfers and non-golfers, families and foodies, chill seekers and thrill seekers. Experiences on offer include: fishing and kayaking, horseriding and quad biking, surfing and mountain biking. Spend the morning touring the working farm or wandering the many walking trails that traverse this 6,000 acre property, then while-away the afternoon picnicking on one a private beach.
A collection of accommodation options – all equally beautifully appointed – beg you to steal your partner away for the weekend, take the whole family on an action-packed short-break or invite a few friends to catch up again in the privacy of one of the property’s fabulous new four bedroom, four bathroom Kauri Cliffs Residences – complete with their own private swimming pools, twice-daily housekeeping and access to all that Kauri Cliffs has to offer: tennis courts, day spa, dining room, indoor heated lap pool, jacuzzi and spa. Arguably one of New Zealand’s finest golfing getaways.
Eichardt’s Private Hotel and Penthouse
Queenstown, South Island
At first glance, Eichardt’s may seem an unlikely candidate for one of the country’s best golfing getaways, but with equidistant easy access to two of New Zealand’s top rated golf courses (Jack’s Point and Arrowtown) .. and so much more it soon becomes clear why this one makes our list of the nation’s finest! Alongside the great golf on offer, a Queenstown itinerary can include: jetboating and bungee jumping, hiking and mountain biking, canyoning and climbing, heli-touring and well heli-just about anything, rafting .. and relaxation (we’re thinking a long vineyard lunch or simply soaking up the views from the Penthouse’s heavenly hot tub !)
As well as being able to arrange a stay at one of (or a collection of) these luxury lodges that sit firmly on many golfers’ lust lists we can heli you to a “hill-top” hole (4,500ft above Lake Wakatipu), tee you up with a PGA pro to provide you with a few new tips and curate a range of personalised and exclusive Our creativity and connections can provide special access and exclusive experiences that will delight golfers of all abilities (.. and non-golfing partners equally so).
Australian Golfing Getaways
With more than 1500 courses across the country, there are more golf courses per capita in Australia than most other countries, including some really unique fairways and spectacular greens such as the Nullarbor Links (spanning 1365 kms and two states – roughly the same distance as New York to Chicago or London to Milan) or Sydney’s Bondi Beach course clinging to the very scenic coast above the Pacific Ocean in Sydney’s south. Great courses and luxury accommodation invite golfing getaways across Australia:
Kittawa Lodge
King Island, in the middle of Bass Strait
Whilst many Australians may struggle to point to King Island on a map (hint: its half way between the Great Ocean Road and Tasmania’s most North Western tip!), the tiny island bobbing in Bass Strait, is home to two of Australia’s top-rated golf courses: Cape Wickham (under the eye of the Southern Hemisphere’s highest lighthouse and in the company of freely roaming wallabies) and Ocean Dunes (stunning seaside links course). Just a 30-minute flight from Melbourne, this is one of Australia’s true hidden gems: sensational surfing, phenomenal fresh produce (beef, cheese, oysters, abalone, artisan breads and more), fabulous fishing, wonderfully wild walks .. and great golf!
Combine your King Island golfing getaways with an exclusive local culinary experience on the island .. or with a couple more rounds of golf across the ‘ditch’ on mainland Tasmania .. just ask us how.
Barnbougle Ocean and Bunker Villas
Bridport, North-East Tasmania
Nestled among the undulating dunes on Tasmania’s wild and windswept North East coast the twinned Barnbougle courses (Barnbougle Dunes and Lost Farm) are ranked alongside Australia’s finest. Inspired by traditional Scottish and Irish links courses, Barnbougle’s bucket-list courses combine perfectly with Tasmania’s cool climate wines and sensational sparklings, fantastic fly-fishing adventures and magnificent multi-day lodge walks.
Stay in style and on-course at Barnbougle’s two-bedroom Ocean Villas or their four-bedroom Bunker Villas, perfect for golfing getaways with family or friends.
Jackalope
Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
If it’s the heady combination of great golf and fine wines that appeals .. throw in some beautiful beaches, decadent day spas and some of the country’s most extraordinary eateries and you’ll find yourself headed for the Mornington Peninsula. Spoilt for choice with a collection of Australia’s most exciting courses (St Andrew’s Beach, The Dunes, Moonah Links, Portsea, Mornington and more..), you’ll need to plan in some extra time ..
But be warned, with an on-site winery, cool cocktail bar, choice of restaurants and an infinity pool overlooking the vines, it may be hard to drag yourself far from Jackalope’s intoxicating combination of sophisticated contemporary accommodation wrapped up in classic country charms!
qualia
Hamilton Island, Whitsundays
Turn up the heat and head for the tropics to discover one of Australia’s most decadent courses (it occupies its very own island, Dent Island) – just a stone’s throw from Hamilton, in the heart of the Whitsundays. Surrounded by the Coral Sea the stunning scenery is inescapable .. and possibly best enjoyed from Hamilton Island Golf Course’s spectacular “19th hole” – the contemporary Clubhouse invites golfers to stay on for lovely long lunches and sunset sundowners.
For the ultimate golfing getaway indulgence, rest your head at th adults-only qualia resort – enjoying sublime seclusion from and easy access to, all that Hamilton Island has to offer.
Want more inspiration for golfing getaways Down Under?
Representing just a small fraction of our New Zealand and Australia’s fabulous golf courses (and luxury lodgings from which to enjoy a round or two), there’s still so much more to explore .. so, contact your Southern Crossings Travel Designer today to tailor your ideal golfing getaway in New Zealand or Australia (or even in between 😉 ask us about the options in Fiji or Lord Howe Island too!)
New Zealand: nzdesign@southern-crossings.com
Australia: ausdesign@southern-crossings.com
