Golf Guide & Surf Tips for New Zealand's South Island
South Island of NZ
Where to Start
No matter where you are in the world, getting to Queenstown will feel like an adventure in itself. But, once you are there you'll never want to leave. In 2019 I decided to become a local and stay in Queenstown for nearly a year before returning to the States. (View from my deck below)
You will fly into Queenstown's airport (ZQN), which is located about 15 minutes from the center of town. If it's anywhere near winter your golf or surf bag will be easy to spot compared to the amount of ski or snowboard bags coming out of baggage claim for winter sport enthusiasts who flock here yearly. But, this is the perfect spot to start an adventure through the South Island.
Rental Car
You will need to rent a car for this trip. New Zealand is a vast and beautiful country. You will want all the freedom to go where you want to go, and explore other towns that require epic road trips to get to.
There are a handful of options for renting a car when you arrive at the airport. I highly suggest booking in advance before you arrive to Queenstown.
All of the major rental car brands are available at the Queenstown airport; Avis, Enterprise, Budget, Hertz among others. This link on the airport's website is a good place to start.
The next step up from a rental car would be to rent a campervan. This is an extremely popular option and you will see loads of rented campervans rolling around NZ. Jucy is the go-to company for this option. New Zealand has plenty of campgrounds and public parking throughout the entire country if you're looking for that ultimate adventure. On their site below Jucy provides itineraries and locations to park your van.
**Notes on Driving in NZ**
Cars are right hand drive and traffic drives on the left side of the road. When in doubt; keep left and look right!
There are a lot of roundabouts so be sure to use caution when approaching the larger ones.
Gas is expensive, so mentally and financially plan ahead for this. A gallon of gas as of April 2023 is around $5.40 USD per gallon. But, prices are shown in "Cents per Liter" (1/4 gallon); so don't get excited when you see gas prices shown for a quarter gallon throughout NZ.
You do NOT need an international license to drive a car, just a valid and not expired license from your country. (USA, Canada, UK/EU Countries, Australia, and South Africa will have no problems among others.)
There are speed cameras throughout the entire country. If you go more than 10km/h above the speed limit there is a decent possibility of receiving a ticket in the mail back in your home country a few months after your trip.
Goes without saying, but do NOT drive drunk. The legal limit is .05% BAC compared to .08% in the US.
Where to Stay in Queenstown
If a traditional hotel is more your speed and in your budget there are also plenty of great options. Any hotel in the town center will be on the expensive side of things. The Waterfront Hotel and The Crowne Plaza located towards the Fernhill neighborhood on the west side of town are great options that aren't reserved for the 1 percenters. This location still offers the ability to walk wherever you'd want to go within the town center.
If you want a more bespoke experience outside of the town center there are again tons of options. But, my personal favorite is back up the main road headed east towards the airport. The Sherwood offers that boutique feel without the insanely high prices of staying in town. The Sherwood not only has amazing views and friendly staff, but they offer one of the best brunches in all of New Zealand with a lot of ingredients sourced from their on-property garden. Yoga classes are on offer daily as well, with a variety of events hosted in the restaurant from live music to trivia. The Sherwood is always a fun hang.
Golf in Queenstown
Jack's Point
The jewel in Queenstown is Jack's Point, which is where I worked and played almost everyday when I lived in Queenstown in 2019.
A 20 minute drive from the center of town will put you in golf heaven. Jack's Point is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful courses in the world. The par 72 championship caliber course is the #1 ranked course in all of New Zealand's South Island. At a cost of $300 NZD (~ $185 USD) it is a great value and one that you will need to play at least once while staying in Queenstown. Jack's has a driving range, practice putting green, and full service restaurant that is an unbelievable dining experience, or great for just a beer, even without an amazing golf course behind it.
Queenstown Golf Club
The course that is most often seen and admired by tourists is Queenstown Golf Club. It is the course you may have seen in the many aerial photos of Queenstown taken from the top of the Skyline Gondola.
It is located around the lake on the tip of the Kelvin Heights peninsula that is just across the lake from the town center. About a 25 minute drive from town will have you at Queenstown Golf Club.
With many of the holes right on the water this course offers stunning views of the lake and surrounding mountains. This course is not quite as nice as the championship level courses in Queenstown, but is still a must play and so much fun for a casual round. Green fees top out at $150 NZD (~ $90 USD), I'll say the views alone are worth it.
Millbrook Golf Resort
Millbrook is a solid 30 minutes from the town center headed towards the small town of Arrowtown. It offers 2 amazing championship courses. Named Coronet and Remarkables for the surrounding mountain peaks in the Queenstown area.
Millbrook has all the modern amenities any resort would have and even hosts the New Zealand Open in early March featuring some of New Zealand and Australia's best pros. Be sure to grab a drink before or after your round at Smithy's Smoke House, a 19th century smokehouse and blacksmith shop turned into a fully stocked bar with an extensive whiskey list.
In the peak season green fees for guests range from $215 - $295 NZD ($130 - $180 USD). Not bad for a course that hosts a top national open.
Arrowtown Golf Club
This is the local's course in the Queenstown area. It is also the most fun course in the area. Located just outside the historic gold mining town of Arrowtown, this 18 hole gem is under 6000 yards and is jokingly referred to by locals as "the only course in the Southern Hemisphere that does not have a bunker". It does not have any bunkers, and it is a must play in the area.
The course's front and back nine are bisected by a 2 lane highway which offers an adventurous crossing halfway through your round.
All of the things you love about your favorite muni are at this course. For $140 NZD ($85 USD) in the peak season it may feel high, but I promise this is not one to miss.
Road Trips from Queenstown
From Queenstown in the middle of Otago you can head East, West, or South and you will soon run into the Pacific Ocean.
West
The most frequent road trip from Queenstown for non-golfers or surfers is to the west for the jaw dropping fjords at Milford Sound. A 4 - 4.5 hour drive from Queenstown will get you to Milford Sound, so a long day of driving if you plan on going there and back in one day. Most take a quick ferry ride or go for a hike in the area.
South
A road trip headed south from Queenstown towards The Catlins is when the real adventure starts. Just under a 3 hour drive gets you to the small town of Fortrose and the southernmost golf course on the South Island, Tokanui Golf Club. A 9 hole links course right on the ocean will have you feeling like you're in Scotland.
Tokanui features the famous "honesty box" often found at these remote and rugged courses that do not have any staff or pro shop. You just simply put a $10 NZD note in the box and you're free to play, no tee time needed!
As you continue south and east along the coast of The Catlins is when the trip's first surf opportunities will present themselves.
You will come across a handful of remote beaches and small towns along the coast where the surf might look pretty good, don't hesitate to stop and try to catch a wave or 2.
Towns like Curio Bay and Papatowai will catch your interest and are definitely worth stopping at and seeing if it's worth to stay the night for you. These areas will have campgrounds all around, but traditional accommodation may be harder to come by. This is truly off the grid, remote, adventure surfing.
The goal of heading east from Fortrose as you pass these towns should be to get to Kaka Point. Motels, airbnbs, and bed & breakfasts will be the go-to accommodation here. But, Kaka Point is known for it's consistent swells and some of the biggest waves in all of the Southern Hemisphere.
Near the famous Nugget Point Lighthouse you'll truly feel like you're on the edge of the world. The perfect place to disconnect, enjoy the adventure, and eat as many of the world famous Bluff Oysters as you can.
East
Heading east from Queenstown the destination is Dunedin, about 4 hours away. Dunedin is one of the larger cities in the South Island and home to The University of Otago. When leaving Queenstown on Highway 6 be sure to take the Highway 8 route to Dunedin.
Taking Highway 8 ensures you will go through the small town of Roxburgh, which is home to one of my favorite golf courses in the world; Roxburgh Golf Club.
Roxburgh is nowhere near being the nicest or best maintained golf course you could play, but it is everything I love about a golf adventure. It is a true farmland course built in 1904 and has hardly changed since, dotted with large rocks and barely mown fairways maintained by which ever local feels up to it.
An 18 hole course that is $30 NZD with another one of those honesty boxes near the 1st hole. There are no carts so enjoy the walk with a couple of beers and remember why golf is the best game in the world.
Continue heading east to eventually arrive in Dunedin. I highly suggest staying at least 1 or 2 nights in Dunedin. For golf, the Otago Golf Club near the city center of Dunedin is a must. Referred to as "New Zealand's Home of Golf" Otago is as rich in beauty as it is in history as golf has been played here since 1871. Green fees are a great value, running you $105 NZD (~ $65 USD).
Dunedin is definitely a younger and more vibrant city than a lot of others in New Zealand. You will be able to find unbelievable food and great beer throughout, the famous local beer, Speights, is my favorite. So, enjoy the lively scene and a night out or 2 while you're there.
My favorite neighborhood is St. Clair Beach, a suburb just outside the city center. Here, you can surf, find great food, and just enjoy the beach even if the surf isn't great.
Where to Eat and Drink
Suggestions of places around the South Island I have enjoyed outside of the already mentioned hotels and golf courses above.
Queenstown
Dunedin
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