For those seeking Links-style golf on a New Zealand golf trip, Te Arai is home to two Links courses. Both of these New Zealand golf courses on the North Island offer Pacific Ocean views and are among the best courses in the country. Like Julien Robertson before him, fund manager Ric Kayne and managing partner Jim Rohrstaff set out to scale new golf heights.
Their opening salvo, the private Tara Iti, was such a success they sought to expand their high-quality golf offerings to visiting golfers and the 36-hole Te Arai Links concept became a reality.
The South Course, designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, opened in 2022, debuting at No. 85 on the 23/24 Golf Magazine Top 100 Courses in the World list. On a relatively small 90-acre site, the talented team routed holes 6-9 and 15-18 right on the Pacific Ocean.
The links course features fescue on all the greens, tees, and fairways. Of special note here are the short par 4s – the 3rd, 6th, and 10th. There are no bad holes on the layout, so both amateurs and professionals can test their skills and enjoy a game here.
Combine the finest golf across New Zealand with some of the most picturesque and stunning scenery on North and South Island. New Zealand is a land of wonder, and you will experience otherworldly vistas on and off the golf course.
10 nights accommodation and 7 rounds of golf
Prices starting from $14,145
Te Arai Links has rapidly established itself as one of the most exciting golf destinations on the planet, let alone in New Zealand. Located just north of Auckland on a landscape shaped over centuries by coastal sand dunes, pine forest, and the ever-present Pacific, the resort offers 36 holes of genuine world-class golf alongside premium resort accommodation. Cottages with ocean views, on-site dining, and easy access to some of the most dramatic scenery in the country make this a destination that rewards a longer stay. It features prominently on New Zealand’s golf bucket list for good reason.
The South Course was designed by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, two of the most celebrated architects in modern golf, and it shows. Their trademark approach of working with the land rather than against it produces a wide, sweeping layout that constantly highlights the coastal surroundings. The opening three holes cut through inland dunes lined by pines, with generous hitting lanes leading to deceptive greens guarded by steep drop-off areas.
From the 4th hole onwards, the Pacific makes its presence felt. The 4th itself is a dramatic par-4 played from an elevated plateau before plunging sharply towards the ocean, and the 5th, a par-3 with a stunning seaside backdrop, is already being talked about as one of the great short holes in New Zealand golf. Sixteen of the 18 holes take in ocean views, with eight running directly alongside the sea.
Where the South Course embraces the coastline, the North Course, designed by Tom Doak, takes a different approach entirely. Doak uses the inland sand ridges and naturally steep geography to create a more strategically demanding test, one that rewards careful thinking over pure power.
The course opens with a short, welcoming par-4, then quickly changes character at the par-3 2nd, where the green is hidden behind a large dune mound with no bunkering in sight. The 3rd takes players deep into a pine plantation, with changes in elevation and subtle optical illusions testing depth perception from the tee. It is a tricky, thought-provoking course with barely a dull moment from start to finish, and one that plays very differently from its neighbour. Taken together, the two courses form one of the most compelling 36-hole destinations in the Southern Hemisphere.
Te Arai sits on the eastern coast of New Zealand’s North Island, approximately 90 minutes north of Auckland International Airport (AKL) by car. Hire car is the most practical option for most travellers, though Te Arai also offers a helicopter charter for those who prefer to arrive in style, cutting the journey to around 25 minutes.
The Ocean View Rooms at Te Arai Links are luxurious, offering a serene escape with contemporary details. The rooms overlook the South Course and provide views of the Pacific Ocean and islands beyond. Located in the heart of the property, just a short walk from the South Clubhouse and restaurants.
Te Arai is open to non-member visitors, who are required to book tee times within 28 days of their preferred date. Green fees for international visitors range from $400 to $600 depending on season and course. Traditional golf attire is required: collared polo shirts and tailored shorts or trousers. Notably, Te Arai is a walking-only facility and spikes of any kind, including soft spikes, are strictly prohibited. Only spikeless footwear is permitted on both courses.
Te Arai sits at the heart of one of the most golf-rich stretches of coastline in the world, making it a natural anchor for a wider New Zealand golf packages itinerary:
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Te Arai Links; Te Arai
Te Arai Links, 2375 Mangawhai Road, Te Arai 0975, Northland, New Zealand
South Course opened 2022; North Course opened 2023
Modern links resort open much of the year with daily tee times.
South Course – 18 holes, par 72; Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw design laid through coastal dunes with numerous oceanfront holes.
North Course – 18 holes, par 71; Tom Doak design with dramatic dune routing and extensive sea views.
Luxury suites and villas, clubhouse with restaurants and bar, practice range and putting courses, beach access and on site activities.
Quickly acclaimed as one of the world’s most exciting new golf developments, with both courses already featuring in early world ranking lists.
Mangawhai, Tara Iti (private nearby course) and other Northland and Auckland region layouts.
