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Prepare to be awed...
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The golf courses are the best this country has to offer and both the courses and accommodation are of the highest international standard.
Ahipara Luxury Travel's tourism activities are very carefully researched and very different from those offered by mainstream tourism companies. All activities have been selected for their quality, ability to allow insight into this country, and ability to handle VIP service. And this luxury golf vacation is no exception...
Use this luxury golf vacation itinerary as a base, then take advantage of the fact that all Ahipara's itineraries are customizable. Simply let them know what you would like to change and they will respond with a new itinerary for your luxury golf vacation in New Zealand within 48 hours.
Day 1
Accommodation: Delamore Lodge
Transport: Helicopter
Activities: VIP Arrival, Stone Massage
Arrive at Auckland Airport. Be greeted at the door of your aircraft by an Auckland Airport staff member who will escort you past the queues and through customs and immigration.
Your guide will meet you and walk with you the 200m to your helicopter for the 20 minute flight to Delamore Lodge, on Waiheke Island.
That night you will have a stone massage to help you to relax after your long flight to New Zealand. And prepare you for your luxury golf vacation...
Day 2
Accommodation: Delamore Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Wine Tour
Waiheke Island is famous for its sea views and its wine.
After a leisurely start, you can take a tour of three Waiheke vineyards, including the country’s top Cabernet Sauvignon vineyard - Stonyridge.
Follow this with a visit to an award-winning olive oil facility, and then lunch at spectacularly situated Te Whau, recently ranked as one of the world’s top vineyard restaurants.
What better way to begin the luxury golf vacation of your dreams...
Day 3
Accommodation: Launch
Transport: Launch
Activities: Gulf Harbour Golf, Scenic Cruise
A day at sea...
Select from either a classic Kauri (wooden) 46ft launch or a modern luxurious 62ft launch. This vessel will leave Waiheke early in the morning and take you north up the coast to Gulf Harbour to truly begin your luxury golf vacation in New Zealand.
The Gulf Harbour Country Club course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Jr, arguably the worlds finest designer of classic golf courses. It is set against the spectacular backdrop of the Hauraki Gulf. This course has hosted the 2005 New Zealand Open as well as the 1998 World Cup of Golf. It is 6,400 metres long, and has many holes on the edge of spectacular cliffs.
After your game, reboard your launch and continue on up the coast, stopping in at private bays, trying some fishing and generally enjoying the beautiful coastline. Spend the night on the boat.
Day 4
Accommodation: Eagles Nest
Transport: Launch
Activities: Scenic Cruise, Deep Sea Fishing, Diving
Continue on up the coast and enjoy cruising around the beautiful Bay of Islands before coming ashore at Russell. Settle into your luxury lodge, Eagles Nest.
If you took the option of the modern launch, you can quickly get into some deep sea sportfishing. The area is famous for its Striped Marlin and holds the world record for that species.
Diversity and balance are integral to this superbly designed luxury golf vacation. Should you wish, you can dive the Poor Knights – an area rated by Jacques Cousteau as one of the World’s Top-10 dive spots.
Day 5
Accommodation: Eagles Nest
Transport: Car, Waka
Activities: Waitangi Golf, Māori Welcome
After a leisurely breakfast, continue your luxury golf vacation and play the very scenic Waitangi Golf course, established in 1947. This course has superb, panoramic, sea views. In the afternoon, meet Hone Mihaka, Māori elder.
He will welcome you and take you on his waka (canoe) for a re-enactment of the first contact between Māori and Europeans in this part of New Zealand. His people will give a passionate and thrilling welcome.
Day 6
Accommodation: Kauri Cliffs Golf Course & Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Carrington Golf, Spa
Drive up to Carrington Club in the morning to continue your luxury golf vacation with a round at this largely unknown but rather special course.
The tournament quality golf course was inaugurated on December 15, 2003 and designed by American golf course designer Matt Dye. The unique feature of the Carrington Club golf course is that, although it has an oceanside location, it looks and plays like an "inland golf" course, complete with rolling hills, vales, and natural water hazards.
After your game, continue on to top lodge Kauri Cliffs. Relax in the spa.
Day 7
Accommodation: Kauri Cliffs Golf Course & Lodge
Transport: Foot
Activities: Kauri Cliffs Golf, Relaxation
A highlight of your luxury golf vacation. Play the world-famous Kauri Cliffs golf course in the morning.
This course has superb views and was selected as the 49th best course in the world by Golf Magazine. It was designed and built by David Harman and measures 6,510 metres. Fifteen holes view the Pacific Ocean, six of which are played alongside cliffs which plunge into the sea.
That afternoon, relax either in the spa or at the beach.
Day 8
Accommodation: Huka Lodge
Transport: Helicopter
Activities: Scenic flight, Quad Bike Tour
More diversity in this, your luxury golf vacation of a lifetime.
Take a helicopter north to Cape Reinga.
This is the northernmost tip of New Zealand, a spiritual place for Māori, and the meeting place of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. Fly down remote 90-Mile Beach, and stop and enjoy a scenic quad bike tour over 300-ft high sand dunes.
Re-board your helicopter for a two hour flight to the Central North Island, overflying the geothermal areas of Rotorua before touching down at Huka Lodge.
Huka Lodge is the longest-established of the New Zealand lodges, and has regularly entertained visiting royalty, including Queen Elizabeth II.
Day 9
Accommodation: Huka Lodge
Transport: Foot
Activities: Wairakei Golf, Bush Walking
Return to the essence of your luxury golf vacation and play the Wairakei Golf Course in the morning. This course was rated in the Top-20 in the World outside the US by Golf Digest.
In the afternoon, explore the Taupo area with your guide. This special-forces trained individual will take you deep into remote New Zealand bush (rainforest). This is rugged, primaeval terrain and well off the beaten track. You may sight wild deer. This can be as challenging or relaxed as you wish.
Day 10
Accommodation: Greenhill - The Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Cape Kidnappers Golf, Relaxation
Drive down to Hawke’s Bay in the morning and take in a game at Cape Kidnappers.
This is the new course developed by the owners of Kauri Cliffs and designed by Tom Doak. It is in a spectacular clifftop setting and rightly constitutes part of your luxury golf vacation.
After your game, settle into historic Greenhill - The Lodge, which hosted Queen Elizabeth’s mother in 1958. This is a classic old lodge which accommodates just 12 guests at a time.
Day 11
Accommodation: Greenhill - The Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Hawke’s Bay Wine Tour
Spend a day in the Hawke’s Bay area sampling the wines and relaxing at your lodge.
Your guide is an international wine marketing specialist who will give you an insight into not just the area and the wines of Hawke’s Bay, but also of New Zealand wine as a whole and its position in the international wine industry.
Day 12
Accommodation: Greenmantle Boutique Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Paraparaumu Golf
Enjoy a scenic half-day drive to Paraparaumu Golf Club to continue your luxury golf vacation.
The course is a links built on the site of an earlier nine hole course which was established in 1929 with a second nine added in 1937. The modern course was conceived in the 1940s.
Former Australian Open Champion, Alex Russell completed the course design by 1949 which remains essentially unchanged to this day. Paraparaumu Beach Links ranks 99th in the world.
After your game, move onto Greenmantle Lodge, a superb small lodge, to spend a quiet evening...
Day 13
Accommodation: The Lodge at Paratiho Farms
Transport: Helicopter, Launch
Activities: Scenic Helicopter Tour, Eco-Cruise
Today, more luxury than golf in your luxury golf vacation. Enjoy a scenic helicopter ride.
Cross to the South Island, overfly the beautiful Marlborough Sounds and land at a secluded farm to transfer to your classic launch for an eco-cruise of the Sounds.
See dolphins, gather and eat shellfish and be guided by a 6th generation Māori family which understandably has very deep roots in the area. Spend the night at The Lodge at Paratiho Farms.
Day 14
Accommodation: Claremont Country Estate
Transport: Helicopter, 4WD
Activities: Whale Watching, 4WD Tour
Be picked up by your helicopter for a whale-watching safari.
After your safari, drive 90 minutes to classic Claremont House where the owner will take you across his land and through rivers in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
Day 15
Accommodation: Grasmere Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Clearwater Golf
Back to the golf component of your luxury golf vacation...
Drive down to Clearwater Resort for a round on this par 72 course, home to the NZPGA Championship. Designed by John Darby in consultation with New Zealand golfing legend, Sir Bob Charles, the course combines elements of links golf, inspired by the great Scottish courses, with parkland golf, more reminiscent of Florida.
After your game, drive up to the middle of the Southern Alps and stay at high-country lodge, Grasmere.
Day 16
Accommodation: Grasmere Lodge
Transport: Car
Activities: Terrace Downs Golf
Play golf at Terrace Downs in the morning. Terrace Downs is an internationally designed 6500-metre high country course. That afternoon, relax at Grasmere Lodge or take in one of their activities.
Day 17
Accommodation: Grasmere Lodge
Transport: Jetboat
Activities: High-Country River Tour
Spend a day on a custom jetboat deep in the wilderness of the Southern Alps.
These craft were originally designed in New Zealand to navigate the shallow reaches of high-country rivers. And this is exactly what you will be doing.
Your guide is a perfect host and a gentleman. Try your hand at catching a fish for lunch or dinner.
You are most likely to be completely alone on the river, except for some flocks of ducks and birds.
Day 18
Accommodation: Punatapu
Transport: Helicopter
Activities: Scenic Flight
After a leisurely breakfast, board your helicopter for an awe-inspiring helicopter flight down the West Coast of the South Island. Past glaciers and Mount Cook and down into the remote and awesome beauty of Fjordland before coming back to land at Punatapu in Queenstown.
Lunch will be a picnic on a remote mountaintop. Who'd have thought that this could be part of a luxury golf vacation?
Punatapu is a delightful private lodge in Queenstown with superb cuisine and a very relaxed atmosphere.
Day 19
Accommodation: Punatapu
Transport: Car
Activities: Millbrook Golf
After a leisurely breakfast, continue your luxury golf vacation at Millbrook. This is an established Championship Course designed by Sir Bob Charles, and nestled in the mountains.
Day 20
Accommodation: Punatapu
Transport: Car
Activities: Queenstown Golf
Today, play the Queenstown Golf Course. This is a classic course set on the edge of Lake Wakatipu and is the perfect way to round out your luxury golf vacation in New Zealand.
Day 21
Accommodation: Punatapu
Transport: Raft, 4WD
Activities: Whitewater Rafting, Lord of the Rings 4WD Tour
In the morning try one of Queenstown’s signature activities – whitewater rafting on one of the spectacular rivers – the Shotover or the Kawarau.
In the afternoon, slow down the pace a little with an exclusive 4WD (four wheel drive) tour of Lord of the Rings sites. This tour takes you offroad in modern four-wheel drive vehicles. See spectacular scenery, not often seen by tourists.
The driving is quite exciting and, if you've seen the film...
Day 22
Your luxury golf vacation in New Zealand is complete. Fly to Auckland and onto your international flight...
Accommodation: Your International Carrier
Transport: Your International Carrier
Activities: Planning the next visit...
Inclusions/Additions
- Breakfast and dinner included
- Helicopter time as per itinerary included. Extra hours charged at NZ$1912 per hour.
- Helicopter flights on single-engined Squirrel (twin engined helicopter can be substituted on request)
- Full-time guide included
- All indicated activities and meals included (not including alcohol)
- Full 24-hour in-country support included
- All local taxes included
- Interpreter available on request
- Bodyguard available on request
Notes:
Ahipara Luxury Travel and the helicopter operators reserve the right to cancel or amend portions of this itinerary due to weather or technical reasons. All efforts will be made to arrange alternative activities and/or transport
Cost:
For Two (2) People: from USD70,000 per person
For Four (4) People: from USD58,000 per person
Please contact us for Terms & Conditions
Use this luxury golf vacation itinerary as a base, then take advantage of the fact that all Ahipara's itineraries are customizable.
Simply let them know what you would like to change and they will respond with a new itinerary within 48 hours.
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