Australia Golf Vacations: Best Australian Golf Courses
Play some of Australia’s Top 100 Golf Courses, including Barnbougle and Kingston Heath, and discover must-see sights like the Great Barrier Reef and Sydney Opera House.
Designed by a passionate golfer, this Australia Golf Vacations: Best Australian Golf Courses package is a combination of great Australia golf courses and country highlights. We designed this luxury golf vacation for a couple from Arizona who were avid golfers. This was a bucket list trip to Australia, so they wanted to play some of the top courses while also checking off some highlights, like touring the Sydney Opera House and seeing wild kangaroos.
They started their Australia Golf Vacations: Best Australian Golf Courses package in Palm Cove, a lovely beach community near the Great Barrier Reef. While there, they chose to do a helicopter ride over the Great Barrier Reef and, of course, play golf at the local course. Paradise Palms Golf Course is listed in the Top 100 Golf Courses of Australia, offering a great game for all levels of golfers in a gorgeous tropical setting.
Next, they flew to Melbourne so they could golf at the world-famous Kingston Heath. Kingston Heath Golf Club is ranked as the No. 2 course in Australia and among the top 20 golf coures in the world. Its bunkering and clever use of dips and hollows will visually fool the non-observant golfer. In Melbourne, they also enjoyed some boutique wine tasting and took a helicopter ride over the famous Twelve Apostles.
Next up, their Australia Golf Vacations: Best Australian Golf Courses package took them to Tasmania, where they golfed both Lost Farm and Barnbougle Dunes. The rugged northeast coast of Tasmania is one of the most ideal places in the world for a links golf course. On this coastal strip, where stark beaches fold into undulating farmlands, the 2 legendary courses of Barnbougle Golf Links have been crafted out of an extraordinary landscape. They also enjoyed some authentic local flavor with a privately guided wildlife and wilderness tour of Tasmania, complete with a gourmet campfire dinner where local wildlife wandered right up to their group.
The last stop on their Australia Golf Vacations: Best Australian Golf Courses package was sunny Sydney. Here, they played golf at La Perouse Golf Club. They also enjoyed plenty of leisure time to explore Australia’s largest city at their own pace and see highlights like the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Then it was time to say goodbye to Australia, feeling satisfied that they had tackled some of the country’s very best golf courses!
Hotel Lindrum
Suggested Itinerary
Day 1
Welcome to Australia! Arrive at the Cairns airport, pick up your rental car, and drive to Palm Cove, a charming seaside community where no building is higher than the coconut palms. Spend today getting into “vacation mode” by hopping on a bicycle (available from your resort at no extra cost) and heading to the beach, or relax on your private balcony in a double love swing, sipping on a refreshing tropical drink.
Reef House Palm Cove
Day 2
Today is reserved for absolute leisure in Palm Cove. Enjoy complimentary use of fishing rods from the resort and see what you can catch in these famed waters. You can choose to take an optional excursion, such as a cruise or helicopter flight to the Great Barrier Reef or an Aboriginal-guided tour of the ancient Daintree Rainforest. Or, you can simply enjoy the fabulous beaches, spas, and restaurants in Palm Cove.
Reef House Palm Cove
Day 3
Listed in the Top 100 Golf Courses in Australia, championship-level Paradise Palms Golf Course offers the perfect combination of tropical surrounds and world-class golf. Located between 2 natural wonders—the World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef—Paradise Palms is picturesque and suitable for all levels of play. The afternoon is at leisure to do as you please, perhaps relaxing on the beach.
Reef House Palm Cove
Day 4
Enjoy a private transfer to the airport and fly to Melbourne, Australia’s “second city” and the hub of chic style and delicious food. Pick up your rental car and make your way to the stylish Hotel Lindrum. Your evening is free to explore Melbourne’s colorful streets, indulge in gourmet cuisine, enjoy boutique shopping, and more.
Hotel Lindrum
Day 5 – 7
The next 3 days are yours to spend at your leisure. There are some fantastic nearby golf courses to explore. We recommend a tee time at Kingston Heath, the Royal Melbourne, or a links course on the Mornington Peninsula, such as Moonah or The Dunes. The Royal Melbourne was the location of the Presidents Cup 2011; our contacts can get you in for an exclusive tee time.
You may also wish to enjoy some unique Australian experiences in and around Melbourne. Visit Healesville Sanctuary for exclusive wildlife interactions, like cuddling a wombat or wading with a platypus; take a helicopter flight over the famous Twelve Apostles; fly to King Island for a day tasting gourmet cheeses and wines; or head to Philip Island to see the penguin parade at dusk.
Hotel Lindrum
Day 8
Cross the ocean to Tasmania to continue your amazing Australian golf vacation! This island-state is a unique corner of Australia, known for its ruggedly beautiful landscapes and wild coastline. Arrive at the island’s north for a 3-night stay at Lost Farm Lodge next to the famed Barnbougle Dunes. Explore Tassie’s spectacular natural attractions with short, scenic hikes, and stop in at Pub in the Paddock to enjoy a drink with the locals (including a beer drinking pig). Back at the lodge, you can enjoy fine Tasmanian food and wine.
Lost Farm Lodge
Day 9
Today, enjoy a round of golf at the highly acclaimed Barnbougle Dunes, which mirrors the wild, coastal links courses of Scotland, following undulating dunes. Golf at Barnbougle is a game of strategy, where each shot requires tactical thought, and a little creativity can be very rewarding. It’s strong enough to test gifted golfers, yet fair enough to be enjoyed by the average player.
Lost Farm Lodge
Day 10
Today, play Barnbougle’s other famous course, The Lost Farm. With a reputation for minimalist course design and a philosophy that traditional, strategic golf is the most rewarding, head architect Bill Coore created the 20-hole Lost Farm with the intention of complementing the canvas provided by the dramatic Anderson Bay coastline. This course’s coastline fairways present a different challenge than Barnbougle Dunes, and will excite golfers of all abilities.
After your game, you’ll have a chance to discover the wildlife and wilderness of Tasmania with a local character who’s truly one-of-a-kind. Discover the natural beauty of Tasmania as your private naturalist guide provides insight into the flora and fauna. Then enjoy a gourmet “bushtucker” dinner prepared on the campfire, along with fantastic Tassie wines and beers. Relax as the sun sets and watch the unique creatures of Tasmania come right to you.
Lost Farm Lodge
Day 11
Time to say goodbye to Tasmania and head to sunny, cosmopolitan Sydney. Your boutique hotel is unlike anything you’ve seen before, showcasing the quirky, cheeky nature of Australia. Take a stroll along Circular Quay, soak up some sun on gorgeous beaches, enjoy designer shopping in the city, and discover some of the world-class restaurants and bars in Australia’s largest city.
QT Sydney
Day 12
Private transfers are provided today to La Perouse Golf Club, where the tee time is arranged but the golf is at your own expense. Perched on the northern headland of Botany Bay, this course offers magnificent views over the ocean. This is not a long golf course, but wind from the Tasman Sea often comes into play and presents unique challenges.
QT Sydney
Day 13
Today is completely at your leisure to enjoy Sydney however you please. Perhaps you’d like to add a day tour to the Hunter Valley wine country in a classic Bentley. Or you can take a seaplane to a romantic, gourmet lunch in one of Sydney’s northern harbors. Maybe you’d like to tour the famous Sydney Opera House, or try a private surfing lesson on Bondi Beach. Whatever your tastes, we can arrange the perfect adventure for you.
QT Sydney
Day 14
A private transfer brings you to the airport, where you’ll begin your journey home with some of Australia’s top golf courses under your belt. Perhaps on your next vacation, you’ll take on the top golf courses of New Zealand!
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