Experience The Best Golf Courses in New Zealand
New Zealand is packed with courses that feel genuinely different to anywhere else. Coastal links, cliff-top carries, native bush lines, alpine backdrops. At Par Excellence, we help you build a course line-up that matches your style of play and the kind of trip you want to have.
North Island
Te Arai Links North & South
Te Arai Links is a world-class golf destination on New Zealand’s North Island, featuring two distinct courses: the North Course designed by Tom Doak and the South Course designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw. Both courses are ranked are in the top 100 Golf Courses in the world.
Kauri Cliffs
Perched high above the South Pacific, Kauri Cliffs is home to a breathtaking championship golf course designed by Nicklaus-protégé David Harman, and alongside Rosewood Kauri Cliffs, one of the world’s finest luxury golf resorts, the course offers an unparalleled golfing experience.
Cape Kidnappers
Cape Kidnappers Golf Course, designed by Tom Doak, is a world-renowned par 71 course in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand, known for its dramatic cliff-top setting and challenging play. It’s a modern marvel, consistently ranked among the top 100 courses globally.
The Kinloch Club
The Kinloch Club, a Jack Nicklaus signature course, is a highly-regarded golf course located in Kinloch, New Zealand, known for its challenging layout and stunning scenery. It i considered one of the most difficult courses in New Zealand, offering a demanding test for golfers of all levels.
Paraparaumu Beach Golf Course
Golf at it’s purest. Regarded by many as one of the greatest links courses in the southern hemisphere, Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club is a world renowned layout on the undulating dune land of the Kapiti Coast.
Wairakei Golf & Sanctuary
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary offers a world-class golfing experience within a unique wildlife sanctuary setting near Lake Taupo. A key feature is the 5.5km predator-proof fence, ensuring a safe haven for native flora and fauna. The course is known for its challenging design, beautiful landscape, and commitment to conservation.
South Island
Millbrook Resort
Millbrook Resort, located in Arrowtown near Queenstown, is a premier golf destination featuring two 18-hole championship courses, the Coronet 18 and the Remarkables 18. Set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps, it’s known for its stunning scenery and challenging play. The resort also boasts luxury accommodations, spa facilities, and is the host of the New Zealand Open.
Jacks Point Golf Course
With a backdrop of 2,300 vertical metres of the Remarkables mountain range and an outstanding lake panorama, Jack’s Point Golf course is one of the most visually spectacular in the world. Designed by John Darby, the course is ranked number one in the South Island of New Zealand.
The Hills Golf Club
The Hills Golf Club, located in Arrowtown near Queenstown, New Zealand, owned by the Hill Family, originally a deer farm and grew over the years from a couple of holes to a premier 18-hole championship course in 2007 . It’s known for its challenging layout, stunning natural beauty, and unique art installations.
Arrowtown Golf Club
Conveniently located just a 20-minute drive from Queenstown, this course is a golfer’s delight. Ranked among the Top 10 courses in New Zealand and featured on Golf.com’s “Short and Sweet” list of the Top 25 best short courses worldwide, it’s an experience you won’t want to miss. Nicknamed “Narrowtown” for its challenging narrow runs, this course offers a test of skill and stunning scenery.
Queenstown Golf Club
Queenstown Golf Club is internationally renowned as the most scenic golf course in New Zealand. Located on the sunny Kelvin Heights Peninsula, it is surrounded on three sides by pristine alpine waters with the rugged Remarkables in the background. It’s a popular destination for both locals and tourists, offering challenging play and breathtaking scenery.
Glendhu Bay
Glendhu Bay Golf Course is the newest edition to the Golfing Paradise in Central Otago..The course is being designed by the expert team including John Darby that were responsible for bringing us the pristine Jacks Point.
Due to open in late 2025, this course will be a must play for any golfer visiting New Zealand shores,
Want help choosing the right courses?
Tell us when you’re travelling, how many rounds you’d like to play, and what kind of courses you love.
Enquire now and let Par Excellence build your course itinerary.