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Best golf destinations in Oceania

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Melbourne
The heart of culture and coffee
8.7
November to March is the prime season on the Sandbelt, a stretch of sandy dunes south of the city. Royal Melbourne West, an Alister MacKenzie design, hosted the 1998 Presidents Cup, the first held outside the United States. Kingston Heath has over 130 bunkers. Most clubs are private, so plan ahead.
Highlights:
  • 🏏 Watch a match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
  • 🌆 Admire city views from the Eureka Skydeck
  • 🎨 Explore the laneways full of vibrant street art and cafés
Hawke's Bay
Sunlit shores and vibrant marine life
8.9
Sea wind sweeps over the clifftop holes at Cape Kidnappers, a Tom Doak design near Te Awanga. American developer Julian Robertson funded the course, which was designed in 2004. Golf Digest ranked it tenth among courses outside the United States in 2007. The ridges give long views over the Pacific.
Highlights:
  • 🏄‍♂️ Surf at Bream Bay's renowned break
  • 🏜️ Hike Te Paki Track through sand dunes
  • 🗼 Explore Cape Reinga's iconic lighthouse and flagpole
Sydney
Where urban life meets stunning beaches
8.7
The New South Wales Golf Club is older than the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Alister MacKenzie and Carnegie Clark designed it at La Perouse in 1926. Two holes run beside the Tasman Sea and Botany Bay. It hosted the 2009 Australian Open, which Adam Scott won. The club is private.
Highlights:
  • 🏖️ Relax on the golden sands of Bondi Beach
  • 🎭 Admire the Sydney Opera House from Circular Quay
  • 🌉 Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge for panoramic views
Fiji
Tropical paradise with diverse landscapes
8.2
Vijay Singh, a Fijian star, designed the Natadola Bay Championship Course, which opened to the public in 2009. Fifteen holes show the reef and the Pacific. The Fiji International has been played there. Denarau Island has a Pacific themed course with water on 15 holes. The Pearl runs through rainforest at Pacific Harbour.
Highlights:
  • 🐠 Explore the underwater coral gardens at Rainbow Reef
  • 🏖️ Relax on the pristine sands of Natadola Beach
  • 🌊 Snorkel in the crystal-clear waters of the Mamanuca Islands
Queenstown
Adventure capital with alpine beauty
8.5
The New Zealand Open pairs amateurs with pros in a best-ball pro-am at Millbrook and The Hills. Jack's Point is named for Jack Tewa, a gold finder. It has 360 degree views of the Remarkables and Lake Whakatipu. Its 7th is a par 3 with a steep drop to the lake.
Highlights:
  • 🚤 Cruise Lake Wakatipu on the historic TSS Earnslaw
  • ⚡ Zipline through the pine trees at Bob's Peak
  • 🚡 Ride the Skyline Gondola for panoramic views
Tasmania
Wilderness, Wildlife and Wild Coasts
8.7
Barnbougle Dunes, by Tom Doak and Mike Clayton, is a links course with the Southern Hemisphere's largest bunker. Lost Farm, by Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, has 20 holes. On King Island, Cape Wickham Links is ranked first in Australia. Tasmania has more than 65 courses.
Highlights:
  • 🏛️ Tour the convict ruins at Port Arthur Historic Site
  • ⛰️ Explore Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park trails
  • 🏖️ Hike to Wineglass Bay and marvel at its white sand
Arrowtown
Gold Rush History Amid Mountain Beauty
7.8
The Arrowtown Golf Club opened in 1937 and has fairways built around schist rock and old stone cottage ruins. Millbrook Resort has two 18 hole courses, the Remarkables and the Coronet, in an alpine bowl. The Hills is a private course. It covers about 500 acres in a glacial valley.
Highlights:
  • 🍂 Admire dazzling autumn colors in the surrounding hills
  • ⛏️ Pan for gold in the Arrow River like early settlers
  • 🏡 Stroll the historic gold rush-era streets and heritage cottages
Lake Tekapo
The Glacial Gem of the South Island
8.6
In the high country of the Mackenzie Basin, Mackenzie Golf Club has nine holes about 4 km from town. Cairns Alpine Resort Golf Course is also close. Twizel's Ben Ōhau club has nine holes and 16 tees. Nights bring stargazing in a dark sky reserve.
Highlights:
  • ♨️ Relax and soak in the Tekapo Springs hot pools
  • 🌌 Stargaze in the Aoraki Mackenzie Dark Sky Reserve
  • ⛪ Visit the iconic Church of the Good Shepherd
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