Treetops Activities - Golfing

Golf is one of New Zealand's most popular sports, and one in which we excel.  Indeed many of the country's top golfers hail from Rotorua itself. It is not surprising, therefore that this country boasts some of the world's best golf courses as well as hundreds of others that can provide a pleasant day's activity. From Treetops both levels of course are easily accessible.

Kinloch Golf Course- Jack Nicklaus' vision of a Nicklaus Signature Golf Course in New Zealand was realised with the opening of the Kinloch Golf Course in February 2008.  After four years planning and construction, overlooking moody Lake Taupo, the course rumbles across a dramatically undulating landscape, it's fairways are contoured and conditioned for ground play and flecked with disheveled bunkers.  The par 72 eighteen hole championship course measures 6,734 metres Tournament Tees; 5,961 metres White Tees and 4,640 metres Red Tees.  Sir Bob Charles commented - "having just played Kinloch for the first time I can honestly say this is the number one golf course in New Zealand.  For those unable to play the great links courses of Scotland, Kinloch compares with the best of them.  A true Links experience with Jack Nicklaus at his best." A short helicopter trip or 1 hour drive.

Whakarewarewa Golf Course, home of the Rotorua Golf Club, is the closest course to Treetops being only 15 minutes drive away on the outskirts of Rotorua town. The 18-hole course has a length of 5562 metres for men and 5170 for women. Situated within a long drive of the famous Pohutu Geyser, it is located on the same geothermal field, and several steaming lakes are among its more unusual hazards!

Wairakei International Golf Course was rated in the top 100 in the world outside of the USA by the US Golf Digest in 2005. This beautiful 18 hole, par 72 course is situated next to State Highway 1 about one hour's drive south of Treetops, or 15 minutes by helicopter. 

The course is 6444 metres long and lies on 450 acres of rolling countryside. Opened in 1970, it was designed by leading English golf course designers Commander John Harris and Michael Wolveridge, and Australian champion golfer Peter Thomson.  Green fees vary from $100.00 for a New Zealand registered golfer, through $150.00 for other registered golfers, to $200.00 for a non-registered golfer.

Cape Kidnappers Golf Course is situated at the southern tip of Hawke's Bay. From Treetops it can be accessed either by helicopter - a journey of about one hour - or by chauffeur-driven car - a drive of about 3 1/2  hours. This stunning course is one of only two in New Zealand listed in the Golf Digest Top 50 in the World.

The views from the course are breathtaking, for the links are situated above dramatic cliffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The course is par 71 and 6400 metres long. It was designed by American award-winning designer, Tom Doak, who has said of the Cape Kidnappers course, "enjoy your game and enjoy the setting ... you may never play golf somewhere like this again." Green fees range from $180.00 for New Zealand residents during the winter to $400.00 for overseas visitors at all times of year.