Best of New Zealand Golf - 10 Days
January and February 2014

Once here, you'll discover that New Zealand Golf Courses offer players a golfing environment surrounded by some of the most spectacular scenery on earth - and it just so happens that we've arranged a collection of the very best!

This is a 10 day trip that starts and completes in Auckland. Inclusions are luxury en-suite accommodation, all onboard chef prepared meals, helicopter transfers between the ship and the golf course, green frees, golf carts, transfers, domestic airafres and use of all sport fishing gear.

Day 1 Sunday - Dinner

After arrival in Auckland there is a short 40-minute flight to the Bay of Islands. You are booked with AIRNZ 8674. This Q300 50-seat turbo-prop aircraft departs from Auckland Domestic Terminal at 18:30 (6:30 pm) for KeriKeri Airport. After a beautiful scenic flight up the coast you arrive in the Bay and are met and transferred to the ship that is prepared with a welcoming dinner onboard from 8pm. A good sleep awaits in preparation for the week ahead.

Day 2 Monday - Breakfast, Dinner

Wake to a cooked chef prepared breakfast. Transfer by helicopter to play 18 holes at one of the world’s most famous golf courses – Kauri Cliffs. The par 72 championship golf course measures 7,119 yards - 6,510 metres and offers five sets of tees to challenge every skill level. Fifteen holes view the Pacific Ocean, six of which are played alongside seaside cliffs. The beautiful inland holes wind through marsh, forest and farmland. Set on 4,000 acres of rolling coastal land near Matauri Bay, Kauri Cliffs was constructed to harmonise and blend with the natural features of the landscape. It is beautiful and challenging but a delight to play.

After golf the helicopter transfers you back to the ship. The remainder of the afternoon can be spent relaxing onboard with fellow passengers or come with us and enjoy the area’s great fishing. We carry a range of Shimano rods, reels, tackle and lures. Dinner is served onboard from 7pm.

Day 3 Tuesday - Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast will be ready before we helicopter out to play 18 holes at the Carrington Golf Club. The unique feature of the Carrington Club golf course is that, although it has an ocean side location, it looks and plays like an ‘inland golf’ course, complete with rolling hills, vales, and natural water hazards but with the beautiful ocean views of its seaside location. The course is 6146 metres (7267 yards) in length, par 72, and encompasses a variety of terrains from rolling vales to challenging water holes. The course is designed to accommodate golfers of all abilities and offers a great variety of hole play, from one of the longest par 5's in New Zealand 605 metres (667 yards), to one of the shortest over water par 3's at 113 metres (132 yards).

The helicopter is waiting to fly you back to the ship after the round with dinner served at 7pm.

Day 4 Wednesday - Breakfast, Dinner

Transfer by helicopter to play 18 holes at Kauri Cliffs. You have had 36 hours to contemplate the course to be prepared for this second round. The course changes its character depending on which direction the wind is blowing. After golf the helicopter transfers you back to the ship. Dinner is served onboard from 7pm.

Day 5 Thursday - Breakfast

After breakfast we leave the ship. We transfer you to KeriKeri Airport to meet AIRNZ 8671 that departs at 11:35 and arrives into Auckland Domestic Airport 30 minutes later.

Your luxury coach is waiting to take you to Titirangi Golf Club. Titirangi has a long history of hosting great players from all over the world and has been the venue for many international tournaments, including the New Zealand Open Championship. Titirangi is ranked as one of New Zealand’s top courses. It is the only one in the country designed by Alister MacKenzie. The course measures just over 6025 metres off the championship tees and offers a genuine challenge to all golfers.

The coach is waiting on completion of your round to take you to the Sebel Suites in the heart of Auckland Viaduct. Enjoy the area with a multitude of restaurant choices nearby the hotel.

Day 6 Friday - Breakfast

After breakfast we transfer you to Gulf Harbour Country Club. The spectacular finishing holes, ocean views, rolling terrain and classic, traditional values combine to make the Gulf Harbour Country Club one of the most exciting golfing experiences in New Zealand.

This 6,400 metre, par 72 golf course is located at Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula, just north of Auckland. It meanders through native grasses and vegetation and has a natural look and feel from start to finish. The front nine is slightly hillier and has an open feeling, while the back nine wanders towards the ocean and culminates with some of the most scenic holes anywhere. Comparisons have already been made between Gulf Harbour and Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The coach is waiting for you on completion of your round to take you to the Sebel Suites for the last evening.        

Day 7 Saturday – Breakfast

After a lazy morning we take a luxury scenic coach south to Lake Taupo, arriving well in time to settle into the Hilton Hotel that is our base for the next 3 nights. The hotel is located just minutes from the town centre and features stunning views over the largest lake in New Zealand and the mountains of the Tongariro National Park. 

   Day 8 Sunday – Breakfast

Today we play Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary. This world-acclaimed 6,444 metre par 72 golf course is set in 450 acres of gently rolling countryside. Its parkland layout features 108 large bunkers, magnificent tree-lined fairways and large plateau greens, all bordered by dense pine forest. In 2009 plans began to create a wildlife sanctuary, including the erection of a 2 metre high electrical rodent proof fence, which surrounds the whole property. Kiwi birds have been released along with a number of exotic native birds. All bringing Wairakei right back up to one of the very best golfing facilities in the country.

   Day 9 Monday – Breakfast

Today is a round at The Kinloch Club - Jack Nicklaus’ first and only signature course in New Zealand. Only 15 minutes from Taupo. Travel and Leisure Golf Magazine rated The Kinloch Club the best new course in 2007 outside North America. The course takes advantage of the natural terrain created by the super volcanic Taupo eruption 26,000 years ago, which deposited pumice across a wide area. This allowed Nicklaus to build a course with Scottish links characteristics creating remarkable undulating fairways and greens. This combination comes together in beautiful surroundings producing one of Nicklaus’ best Signature Courses.

   Day 10 Tuesday – Breakfast

Get ready for Cape Kidnappers. American Tom Doak of Renaissance Golf Design designed this wonderfully dramatic course, set high on craggy cliffs some 140 metres above the sea. Arguably one of the most spectacular sites in the world, the 6,533 metre par 71 course provides a firm and fast surface for seaside golf at its finest. In 2008 the Daily Telegraph of the UK, described Cape Kidnappers as the No.1 Golf Course in the World. At Cape Kidnappers players may one minute be hitting shots over the tops of tea trees and then the next across a deep gully or along the edge of a deep ravine. Holes aptly named the Pirate’s Plank and the Widow’s Walk perhaps give you some indication of just how exhilarating this course is.

After the round your Luxury Coach will transfer you to Napier airport. AIRNZ 8426 departs at 5.55pm and after a short scenic flight up the centre of the island arrives into Auckland domestic terminal at 6.50pm. We will happily arrange overnight accommodation in Auckland, at the airport or the city, for those wishing to stay overnight. 

   Day 11 Wednesday

We trust that your stay here has been enjoyable and we hope to see you back with us again.

Our rates show the pricing for available departure dates and suite categories for each itinerary. If you have any questions about an itinerary, information about playing different courses or would like to proceed with a booking, contact us toll-free in NZ 0800 58 1717, toll-free Australia 1800 584 869 or email us a info@islandescape.co.nz

Included in Your Cruise Price:

• En-suite accommodations on board and nominated shore hotels.
• All included transfers, golf fees and carts as described
• Onboard professional cruise leader
• Use of all tenders, kayaks, snorkel and fishing gear
• All onboard chef prepared cuisine
• Complimentary coffee, tea, juices, water or soft drinks
• All NZ flghts, helicopters, transfers, cats and green fees.
  
  

Rates are based on per person share twin basis