Wairakei

Wairakei Golf and Sanctuary combines world-class golf with deep natural beauty, making it one of New Zealand’s must-play courses.  The golf course is located less than a 10 minute drive from Taupo and is New Zealand’s original resort golf course; regarded as a “must play” in New Zealand.   In 2010, a two-metre-high predator-free fence was installed. The course skillfully blends in with its natural surroundings of native bush, featuring prolific bird song and picturesque scenery creating a golfing oasis.  In the last fifteen years, over 30,000 native and exotic trees have been planted, along with introducing two hundred mixed-colour pheasants, Kiwi and a small herd of deer. 

Today, golfers love the feeling at Wairakei of “owning” the fairways.  It is are laxing to place to play.  You rarely see any other golfers on the course and there are some great views of the surrounding land.   

The course is a par-72 layout, stretching over 6,460 metres/7,000 yards from the championship tees.  Originally designed in the early 1970’s by Commander John Harris, it was then updated in 1996, by the design team of  Michael Wolveridge and Peter Thomson.  The course makes good use of the land’s natural undulations.  It is not an easy walk with the elevation changes and some of the holes have steep drops, elevated greens, challenging water features and bunkers that demand precision.  Greens and fairways are maintained to a high standard; there was a substantial green-restoration project recently, and the tee-to-green experience is praised by visitors.

The course opens with a lovely par 5 that sets you up for the rest of the course and the 18^th Hole is also a challenging par-5, with water coming into play. The par 5, 14^th Hole is also known as the “Wrecker” and it is appropriately named; it has wrecked many a good round of golf! Meanwhile the short par 4 holes at #11 and #12 require precision and delicate approach shots.  

If you enjoy golf in a natural environment that makes you think and rewards strategy rather than brute force and gives you awe-inspiring scenery plus wildlife; then this course delivers. It’s not just about playing a round — it is about enjoying the setting, slowing down, and experiencing the golfing environment. You will leave feeling like you’ve been challenged, and happy that you made the time to play this course.

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