Taupō is one of New Zealand’s great secrets for golfers. Within 30 minutes of the town centre, you have a world-class Jack Nicklaus signature course, the country’s only predator-free golf sanctuary, one of New Zealand’s most popular public courses, a freshly renovated lakefront attraction, and a state-of-the-art indoor simulator. Throw in some of the best holiday homes in the country to come back to at the end of the day, and you’ve got a golf trip that’s genuinely difficult to beat.
Here’s your complete guide to golf in Taupō — from bucket-list championship courses to a sunset session hitting balls across the lake.
Wairakei Golf + Sanctuary — Golf on a Wildlife Reserve
There is nowhere else like Wairakei in the world. It’s a world-class championship golf course and a fully functioning wildlife sanctuary wrapped into one extraordinary place. The course sits inside a 5km predator-free fence that keeps out rats, stoats, possums, and every other threat to New Zealand’s native birds. Inside, the wildlife thrives. As you play your round, you’ll share the fairways with fallow deer, pheasants, guinea fowl, and if you’re lucky, a glimpse of takahē — one of New Zealand’s rarest birds — or hear a kiwi calling from the native bush.
As at 2026, Wairakei is home to 16 takahē, a pair of nesting kārearea (New Zealand falcon), and a dedicated kiwi incubation and hatching facility run in partnership with Save the Kiwi. Around 25,000 native trees have been planted across the course to encourage birdlife and enhance the park-like surroundings. It’s the brainchild of owner Gary Lane — an ambitious conservation project that also happens to feature some of the best golf in the North Island.
The course itself is an 18-hole championship layout set across 444 acres of natural rolling countryside. Water features, streams, and waterfalls frame many of the holes, and the pumice soil drainage is exceptional — even in wet weather the course plays firm and fast. Open daily mid-September to mid-May, 8am–6pm.
📍 Wairakei Drive, Wairakei — wairakeigolfcourse.co.nz
The Kinloch Club — New Zealand’s Only Jack Nicklaus Signature Course
If Wairakei is Taupō’s best-kept secret, Kinloch is its showpiece. The Kinloch Club is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in New Zealand — and it shows. Designed personally by the Golden Bear, who played all 18 holes on completion and declared himself satisfied, Kinloch is a championship par 72 measuring 7,363 yards from the back tees. It is not for the faint-hearted.
The Director of Golf puts it bluntly: “If you don’t come out of Kinloch mentally exhausted, your score’s going to blow out.” The only flat lie you’ll find is on the tee box. Undulating fairways, extensive bunkering, elevated greens, and punishing rough demand accuracy and reward patience. Sir Bob Charles, New Zealand’s greatest ever golfer, played it and called it the number one course in New Zealand. The World Golf Awards agreed, naming it New Zealand’s #1 Golf Course. The back nine offers sweeping views across Lake Taupō that make even a difficult round feel worthwhile.
Kinloch is about 30 minutes from Taupō town. With only 60 tee times per day at 15-minute intervals, it delivers a wonderfully uncrowded round — book well ahead, particularly in summer.
📍 Kinloch, Taupō — thekinlochclub.com
Taupō Golf Club — Two Great Courses Right in Town
While Wairakei and Kinloch attract international attention, Taupō Golf Club is the locals’ course — and it’s genuinely excellent. Located close to the town centre in a stunning mature park setting beneath Mt Tauhara, the club offers two full 18-hole courses: the Centennial Course and the Tauhara Course.
The Centennial Course rewards course management and consistent ball-striking. The Tauhara Course — a par-71 layout spanning 5,645 metres — is more approachable and ideal for social rounds, corporate groups, and junior golfers. Both are immaculately maintained, with a driving range, practice putting and chipping greens, and a welcoming clubhouse café that’s become a favourite post-round stop.
The club is in the middle of an exciting new era. A 33-year lease secured in 2024 has given the board confidence to begin a major improvement programme, with a goal of positioning Taupō Golf Club as a premier visitor destination for a new generation of golfers. Green fee players and membership are both at all-time highs — and the club is also home to 12th Tee (see below).
📍 Centennial Drive, Taupō — taupogolf.co.nz
12th Tee Indoor Golf Simulator — Play St Andrews Without the Flight
Based at Taupō Golf Club, 12th Tee is one of the best golf experiences in the region — and it’s available in any weather. State-of-the-art indoor simulators let you play the world’s most famous courses: St Andrews, Pebble Beach, Augusta National, Carnoustie — all from a climate-controlled bay in town.
For serious golfers it’s a perfect way to warm up, work on your game, or tick off a course that’s otherwise out of reach. For groups it’s brilliant — book a bay, grab some drinks, and spend a few hours competing head-to-head across a bucket-list layout. It’s become one of Taupō’s most popular group activities.
📍 Taupō Golf Club, Centennial Drive — 12thtee.co.nz
Taupō Hole in One — Freshly Renovated, Now with Café
No visit to Taupō is complete without a crack at the Hole in One Challenge — one of the most iconic lakefront experiences in New Zealand. Hit a golf ball from the shore across 100 metres of water into the hole on the floating island. Land a hole in one and win a prize. Simple in concept, deceptively difficult in practice, and endlessly entertaining for everyone from scratch golfers to people who’ve never held a club.
The attraction completed a $1 million-plus refurbishment in late 2025 and returned better than ever. Six covered golf bays make it a genuine all-weather, year-round experience. A striking new structure designed with a nod to local iwi Ngāti Tūwharetoa reflects the significance of the lakefront location. A new café means you can grab a coffee or a bite between shots — and a new “Ball Blaster” feature adds another dimension for those wanting more. Perfectly positioned on the Taupō lakefront, it’s ideal before or after a round at any of the courses above.
📍 Lake Terrace, Taupō town centre
Where to Stay for Your Taupō Golf Trip
A golf trip is only as good as the base you come back to. After a long day on the course, you want space, a proper meal, and something to soak the aches away. Fine Stays holiday homes are made for golf groups — large enough for everyone, fully equipped kitchens for group dinners, and private spa pools that are genuinely brilliant after 36 holes.
Two properties stand out for golf groups:
Unbeatable Location — 8 bedrooms, sleeps 14, 50m from the lake and walking distance to town. Private spa pool and outdoor fireplace. The best option for large groups wanting to be central.
Amazing Views — 5 bedrooms, sleeps 12, 50m from the lake with a large private spa pool and sauna. The sauna is particularly good for post-round recovery after a tough day at Kinloch.
All Fine Stays properties include private spa pools, full kitchens, Smart TVs, and our best rates when you book direct. Browse all our Taupō holiday homes →
Planning Your Taupō Golf Trip
Book Kinloch early. With only 60 tee times per day, it fills up fast — book at least a few weeks ahead in summer.
Play Wairakei in the morning. Early starts give you the best chance of spotting wildlife, and the light across the course in the first couple of hours is extraordinary.
Allow two days minimum. To do justice to both Wairakei and Kinloch you need two full days. Add Taupō Golf Club and a session at 12th Tee and you have a brilliant four-day golf trip.
Bring your camera. Between the deer at Wairakei, the lake views at Kinloch, and the backdrop of Mt Tauhara at Taupō Golf Club, this is some of the most photogenic golf in New Zealand.
Taupō is an easy drive from Auckland (3.5 hours), Wellington (4 hours), and Hamilton (1.5 hours) — making it one of the most accessible world-class golf destinations in the country.
Fine Stays is a collection of premium holiday homes in Taupō, New Zealand. All properties feature private spa pools, lake views, and our best rates when you book direct. Proudly Airbnb Superhosts with over 800 five-star reviews.
