The Ultimate Swing and Sip: New Zealand Luxury Golf and Wine Vacation
This luxurious New Zealand vacation marries championship golf with world-class wine experiences across the country’s most spectacular regions. Discover legendary courses designed by golf’s greatest architects while savoring vintages from Waiheke Island to Central Otago. Each luxury lodge delivers front-row seats to New Zealand’s most dramatic landscapes, creating the perfect backdrop for this unforgettable swing and sip adventure.
At a Glance
- 1 night Auckland
- 3 nights Bay of Islands
- 2 nights Rotorua
- 3 nights Hawke’s Bay
- 4 nights Queenstown
- 3 rounds of golf
Trip Highlights
Bucket List, Elevated
Tee off at three of New Zealand’s most celebrated championship courses: Kauri Cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean (pictured), Cape Kidnappers’ dramatic ridge-and-valley layout by Tom Doak, and The Hills’ exclusive alpine setting flanked by The Remarkables mountain range.
Special Access
Experience Waiheke Island’s wine scene with private vineyard access and behind-the-scenes tastings at boutique wineries. Later, enjoy an exclusive after-hours exploration of Central Otago’s premier vineyards in the heart of pinot noir country.
Unique Stays
Set on a 6,000-acre coastal peninsula, Rosewood Cape Kidnappers combines rustic elegance with sweeping Pacific views. Farm-to-table dining, a serene spa, and access to a working sheep and cattle farm make it a tranquil escape that embodies the beauty of Hawke’s Bay.
Suggested Itinerary
The itinerary below is just one example of what we can create. At Down Under Endeavours, we use 25+ years of hands-on expertise to design bespoke adventures inspired by you. Get in touch to make your dream trip a reality!
Auckland + Waiheke Island
Wine Tour
Pictured: Drinks with a view in Auckland
Day 1: Harbor City Welcome
Arrive in Auckland and settle into the sophisticated Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour, where maritime elegance meets harbor views from your private balcony.
Overnight: Auckland (Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour)
Day 2: Waiheke Island Wine Discovery
Ferry to Waiheke Island for private wine tastings at boutique vineyards. This island paradise reveals why New Zealand’s red wines have captured international acclaim, with intimate tastings showcasing the terroir that makes Waiheke special. Return to Auckland for an evening at your own pace—dine alongside the sparkling harbor or enjoy cocktails at a sophisticated rooftop bar.
Overnight: Auckland (Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour)
Bay of Islands
Kauri Cliffs Golf Course
Pictured: The Iconic Kauri Cliffs Golf Course, Bay of Islands
Day 3: Pacific Panoramas Await
Fly north to Kerikeri and transfer to The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, where 180-degree Pacific Ocean views stretch to the horizon. Your stay includes pre-dinner drinks, à la carte dining, and access to three private beaches, infinity pools, and walking tracks across 6,000 pristine acres.
Overnight: Bay of Islands (The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs)
Day 4: Championship Golf Above the Pacific
Play the renowned Kauri Cliffs course, where fifteen holes showcase Pacific Ocean views and six holes run directly alongside dramatic cliffs. David Harman’s design offers multiple tee sets while the inland holes wind through native forest and farmland.
Overnight: Bay of Islands (The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs)
Rotorua
Te Puia Thermal Reserve | Private Lake Rotorua Excursion
Pictured: Maori Cultural Interaction at Te Puia in Rotorua
Day 5: Rotorua’s Geothermal Wonders
Fly to Rotorua for an immersive cultural and geological adventure. Visit the Rotorua Museum housed in the historic Bath House, Rainbow Springs trout hatchery, and Kiwi Encounter where New Zealand’s treasured flightless birds are carefully nurtured.
Explore Te Puia Thermal Reserve with its dramatic geysers, boiling mud pools, and silica terraces, plus witness traditional Maori carving and weaving at the onsite Arts & Crafts Institute. Your lakeside retreat at Solitaire Lodge features suites with 180-degree views of Lake Tarawera and the volcanic Mount Tarawera backdrop.
Overnight: Rotorua (Solitaire Lodge)
Day 6: Lake Rotorua Explorer
Circumnavigate Lake Rotorua on a private full-day tour customized to your interests. Options include hiking the Kaituna River track, visiting Hamurana Springs’ crystal-clear waters, exploring Ohinemutu village, or discovering the otherworldly landscapes of Waiotapu with its colorful thermal pools. Your flexibility allows for hiking, cultural experiences, or simply enjoying the region’s natural hot springs.
Overnight: Rotorua (Solitaire Lodge)
Hawke’s Bay
Cape Kidnappers Golf Course | Wine Tour
Pictured: Golf at Cape Kidnappers, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand
Day 7: Hawke’s Bay Luxury Lodge
Journey to Napier and continue to Cape Kidnappers, where your working farm lodge sits atop rolling pastures—reminiscent of Montana, but plunging 800 feet to the Pacific. The cluster of stone and weathered wood buildings creates an authentic farm atmosphere while delivering world-class luxury. Witness New Zealand’s largest accessible mainland gannet colony from your clifftop perch.
Overnight: Hawke’s Bay (Rosewood Cape Kidnappers)
Day 8: Clifftop Golf Masterpiece
Challenge Tom Doak’s spectacular Cape Kidnappers course, standing 450 feet above Hawke’s Bay. The front nine meanders through working farmland while the dramatic back nine tilts toward the sea across ridges jutting toward cliff edges. Three perilous leaps between ridge ends test even accomplished golfers—a 10-second hang time awaits errant shots!
Overnight: Hawke’s Bay (Rosewood Cape Kidnappers)
Day 9: Hawke’s Bay Wine Immersion
Delve into Hawke’s Bay’s vibrant wine world with passionate vintners crafting world-class wines from rich volcanic soils. Visit premier wineries for award-winning tastings while meeting innovative food producers creating tantalizing artisan products. This epicurean adventure reveals why Hawke’s Bay attracts international wine aficionados.
Overnight: Hawke’s Bay (Rosewood Cape Kidnappers)
Queenstown + Surrounds
Milford Sound Helicopter Tour | Wine Tour | The Hills Golf Course
Pictured: Helicopter over Milford Sound
Day 10: Alpine Transition
Transfer to Napier airport and fly to Queenstown, where your driver escorts you to Rosewood Matakauri. This exclusive lakeside sanctuary offers just 12 suites nestled among native bush on Lake Wakatipu’s edge, with The Remarkables, Cecil Peak, and Walter Peak creating a dramatic alpine amphitheater.
Overnight: Queenstown (Rosewood Matakauri)
Day 11: Milford Sound Helicopter Adventure
Soar by helicopter over the World Heritage-listed Milford Sound, witnessing secluded alpine lakes, lush rainforest valleys, and rugged Southern Alps peaks. Experience this glacial masterpiece from above, viewing Lake Quill’s source of Sutherland Falls—the Southern Hemisphere’s second-highest waterfall. Sweep the fiord’s full length to remote West Coast beaches where seal colonies bask. Weather permitting, land among ancient Fiordland glaciers for an otherworldly ice experience.
Overnight: Queenstown (Rosewood Matakauri)
Day 12: Central Otago Wine Country
Venture into Central Otago’s heart for private tastings at four premier vineyards across Gibbston Valley, Cromwell, and Bannockburn. This cool-climate region produces New Zealand’s finest pinot noir against a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery. Enjoy lunch at a scenic winery before exploring historic Old Cromwell Town and the legendary AJ Hackett Bungy jump site at Kawarau Bridge.
Overnight: Queenstown (Rosewood Matakauri)
Day 13: Exclusive Alpine Golf
Play The Hills’ mystical course, where The Remarkables mountains create a spectacular backdrop for this exclusive championship layout. Art installations and sculptures on every hole transform your round into a cultural journey, while the pristine alpine setting delivers golf experiences found nowhere else on earth.
Overnight: Queenstown (Rosewood Matakauri)
Day 14: New Zealand Departure
Your remarkable New Zealand golf and wine journey concludes with a private transfer to Queenstown airport, carrying memories of championship courses, world-class wines, and the Southern Alps’ majestic beauty.
About this vacation
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